| With the holidays behind us and many hunting seasons over or winding down, this is when the winter blues really start to drag you down. There is ice fishing and it has been good this year but it is just not enough to make up for all of the shoveling, spreading salt and chipping ice that we've had to do so far this winter. We need a shot in the arm, a little boost, a pep talk that will carry us through the rest of the winter with an “I know spring is coming” grin on our face!
Taking a trip somewhere warm is ok but can be expensive and for most of us burns up precious vacation time that we could use for a fishing trip when it warms up. A day trip is the perfect thing! A great day trip includes a show. No - not a movie - a boat show, sports show or whatever it is called should be the core of your day trip.
If the show is close to home like the ones coming up at the UNI dome, get some friends together, go have a good meal at a local restaurant then head to the show. Make sure you take in everything the show has to offer, stop by and look at all of the exhibits. That’s what they are there for, that’s what makes it fun.
Look at things you wouldn’t normally think of looking at. One may never take up scuba diving but it is fun to think about. I like to stop at the kayak display knowing that my butt will probably never fit into one but to see the look on the venders face when I stop - priceless!
Most shows offer seminars included in the price of admission, these are an awesome source of information. Regardless of how seasoned of an angler you are, no two people fish the same and what a great way to learn how others do things. Many shows are bringing in experts on lots of different outdoor activities so that seminars are not limited to fishing.
Out of all the shows I will be at this year there is one seminar in particular that I am looking forward to and encourage anyone that is interested in bass fishing to see. Chris Aswegan is doing one seminar only at the UNI dome on Saturday January 24th at 3pm. Chris is a superb fisherman from Iowa so all of his information will be right on for us.
Shows farther away from home are worth the trip as well. A few of us will get together and hit the road. Go to Cedar Rapids for the shows at Hawkeye Downs and Des Moines for the fisherman’s swap meet at the fair grounds. These are great and inexpensive day trips. Yes, the shows are the main focus and there is always plenty to see, but to add to the fun we also like to hit the area tackle shops. What a fantastic way to spend some time with your fishing buddies rehashing past trips, planning future adventures and getting fired up for the spring time that's on the way. Until next time keep your lure wet!
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