The Chicago Muskie Show at Harper College has been an area fixture for years. The show, run by Steve Statland, drew the best outfitters, guides, boats and tackle manufacturers catering to those fishermen who chose to chase big fish with big teeth.
Statland announced 2014 was the last year of existence for his show. The show seemed to be shrinking in size, both in number of exhibitors and also in number of people in attendance.
Doug Reuter, who had been running the Milwaukee Muskie Expo for the past few years, announced he was filling the void by establishing the Chicago Muskie Expo and staging it Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates.
I had not planned to write about the new Chicago show because it is in its first year and I wanted to see what the show was all about before I promoted it. I wanted to make sure the show was going to be a worthwhile event for my readers before I wrote about it. That’s just the way I do things.
Well, lo and behold, as they sometimes say, I received a call from a friend, Jay Garstecki. I learned Jay had formed a partnership with Reuter and was the co-owner of the show. That fact made me change my thought process. Garstecki is a great guy and a quality human being. Anything he applies himself toward becomes successful. His passion for muskie fishing is intense. I know anything Jay is involved with is worth taking part in. I am certain the inaugural Chicago Muskie Expo will be a great show and a big success and plan on being there this weekend.
The show features much of what made the Harper show a success, plus more. The best of the major muskie gear manufacturers will be in attendance and there will be plenty of the latest gear for sale, much of it at special Chicago Muskie Expo pricing.
Hands-on is the watchword at the Chicago Muskie Expo as many top pros will be doing 30-minute audience participation seminars throughout the show. The indoor swimming pool from the Harper Show will be replaced by a giant casting pool at the Sears Center. A lot of the instruction will be given by the top pros from “Musky Road Rules,” Gregg Thomas and Tony Grant.
One thing I noticed about the show was the old Harper Show seemed to be more heavily slanted toward a seminar hall full of top musky anglers giving one-hour lectures, back-to-back during the entire length of the show. The Chicago Muskie Expo is featuring seminar hosts who might not be as well-known as past speakers, but have special subjects to offer.
“We think that people were beginning to burn out on hearing the same seminar presenters year after year," Garstecki said. "It may have been becoming a little too repetitive. We will have to see. Polling our audience, we found that two things that people are really interested in hearing about are the use of electronics and the use of cameras. We are addressing that by bringing in experts that can really help muskie anglers learn the latest tips and tactics in using their electronics and their cameras to catch more fish and bigger fish."
One thing that is new at the Chicago Muskie Expo will be their New Product Showcase. Modeled after the event of the same name at the big annual ICAST Show in Florida, the major trade show for the fishing industry, the New Product Showcase is Chicago Muskie Expo’s flagship feature and recognizes innovation and rewards manufacturers for bringing the latest and greatest new products to the public. The products will be selected by an independent panel of experts.
The Chicago Muskie Expo show hours are from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The Sears Centre Arena is located at 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway in Hoffman Estates, just west of Route 59 and just north of Route 72.
For more information, check out www.muskieexpo.com/chicago.
HUNTING AND FISHING REPORT
Northern Illinois: Dave Kranz from Dave’s Bait, Tackle and Taxidermy in Crystal Lake reports: “We asked for cold weather to make ice and we got it. Most lakes and backwaters have five inches of ice, but, as always, be careful. I have had good reports of panfish on Bangs Lake, Crystal Lake and the backwaters of the Fox River. I like to use a wiggler on a tungsten jig. Northern pike and bass seem to want a large golden roach minnow.
"Archery deer hunters have until Jan. 18 to fill their tags. The last CWD season is Jan. 16 through 18. Call for an updated report and ice conditions.”
Call 815-455-2040 for an updated report.
To see the statewide fishing report for Illinois, go to www.ifishillinois.org/fishing_reports/digest.php
Wisconsin: You can call Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Fishing Hotline at 414-382-7920 to hear the latest fishing information for Lake Michigan and its tributaries.
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The Crystal Lake Anglers are holding its 41st annual Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday, Jan. 24. The cost is $10 a person and the payouts are based on 50 percent of the ticket sales. The event starts at 7 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. In the event of bad weather, the makeup date is Feb. 7. There will be prizes for the biggest pike/muskie; largemouth bass/smallmouth bass; walleye; crappie/perch/bluegill. There will be raffles for a power ice auger, an ice shanty, rods and reels and many other great items. There will be a separate kid’s derby and many other contests and raffles. Bait will be available on derby day on-site and parking is free. This is a great event. Please consider attending – you’ll have a great time, no matter what. For advance ticket sales, call the Crystal Lake Park District at 815-459-0680.
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Now that we finally are seeing some snow, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reminds snowmobilers to focus on safety to avoid accidents and serious injuries while enjoying time on the snow and ice. Sled owners and operators should review the rules of operation; have registration and insurance in place; never drink and drive a snowmobile; and always have landowner permission to ride and respect private property rights, the environment, other snowmobilers and other people outdoors enjoying winter recreation.
During the 2013-14 winter season in Illinois, there were 27 snowmobile incidents reported, resulting in five fatalities. Safety experts report that in North America, more than half of all snowmobile fatalities involve intoxicated operators. The IDNR encourages everyone to take a snowmobile safety course before their first ride of the season.
• Shaw Media outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarley@shawmedia.com.