Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Steelhead fishing system highlights Sportsmen's Show

By Wayne Kruse
Special to The Herald

 Sport fishermen are generally a hidebound lot. They all tend to use the same lures and baits, and often the same ones their daddies and granddaddies used. Steelheaders are no different, and that's why it took them 10 years to forget Cherry Bobbers and embrace the Spin N Glo. Then another five or six years to accept Corkies and yarn, and (gasp) diving plugs.

So it's a little unusual -- and certainly interesting -- to see a whole new steelhead fishing system being touted at the upcoming Washington Sportsmen's Show, Jan. 21-25 at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.

The system is called Center Pin Fishing and it uses certain fly fishing approaches and modified equipment, along with standard steelhead techniques, for better presentation of bait and longer drifts. Mike Perusse and Jack Zirkle will be explaining and demonstrating the increasingly popular system on the show's indoor "steelhead river" as part of the comprehensive roster of outdoor seminar subjects (see the accompanying seminar schedule). Perusse is an Alaska fishing guide and the Northwest sales rep for G. Loomis rods, while Zirkle guides for Alaska Flywater Guides on the Kenai Peninsula.

The slate of free seminars -- fishing, hunting, camp cooking, dog training, horse packing and more -- will only be available at Puyallup this year, since the Monroe show will not be held.

Other speakers on the Puyallup show's seminar list include:

ED IMAN: The Columbia River walleye guru, talking about shad fishing on the big river and how it's a perfect fishery for involving kids in the outdoors. The June shad run, Iman says, offers the chance for kids to enjoy early success on dozens of fish in a morning's action. Tackle manufacturers provide Iman with enough fishing goodies so that every kid in attendance at the seminar goes away with a prize.

PAT BLACKWELL: A longtime Puget Sound resident and fly tier, offers a special treat this year -- how to tie and use tube flies for lake fishing. The use of tube flies in saltwater is well known, but Blackwell says there are also plenty of opportunities for freshwater fishing, including floating patterns for warmwater species.

ERIC LINDE: Comes on in the nick of time to tell us how to participate in what is predicted to be one of the largest runs of spring Chinook on the Columbia in many years. Linde tells where and how in his seminar, "Lower Columbia Salmon Fishing."

For the hunters, "Green Theater" presentations include:

CHRIS PLUMB: On where to find available duck hunting in Western Washington. He has 24 years of duck hunting experience and will talk about the basics, including how to find maps and other information showing good places to hunt on public lands; tactics, including the use of decoys in both fresh and saltwater; and much more. He will also be available in the Ducks Unlimited booth to answer questions.

GLENN BERRY: On do-it-yourself early season elk hunts in the Northwest. Geared toward hunters of all experience levels, Berry's presentation tells audiences what they need to know about elk hunting in various Northwest habitats.

Other top show features this year include:

BIG BLACKTAIL: Hunters can drool over a new exhibit titled "The Legendary Blacktail of the Pacific Northwest," displaying for the first time five world-record Columbia Blacktail racks, taken in Oregon and Washington. The exhibit offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the best this species unique to the Northwest has to offer.

SHOOTING SIMULATOR: The 40-foot long U.S. Army Marksmanship Trainer will be on hand promoting safe and responsible use of firearms by offering a behind the scenes look at how the military uses simulators in training. Experts from the Army's marksmanship unit will demonstrate rifle and pistol beam hit simulators, lasershot interactive systems, and other technology.

DIAL-A-STORM: The Extreme Weather Chamber, presented by Gore-Tex and Windstopper products, lets showgoers test the Gore-Tex guarantee to "Keep You Dry" by stepping inside and dialing up their own weather conditions -- including rainfall up to 22 inches per hour, whipping winds to 32 miles per hour, bolts of thunder and strobes of lightning to simulate the actual look and feel of a major storm.

VIRTUAL OUTDOORS: The event demonstrates a high-tech twist at the Lowrance Learning Center, where Jeff Boyer and Mike Campbell will show visitors how to take their own interactive virtual outdoor trips using sonar and GPS technology.

TROUT POND: The always popular Kids' Free Trout Pond is back, providing youngsters 12 and under the opportunity to catch and keep, or release, a plump rainbow trout. The pond is stocked with thousands of 'bows, and all the gear -- including rods, bait and take-home bags -- are provided at no charge.

HEAD AND HORNS: Competition invites hunters to bring in horns and antlers, new or old, previously entered in this event or not (including the more than 400 Washington competitors in 2008) to be professionally scored against other record trophies. Compete for prizes such as Kershaw knives, H-S Precision and Danner boots, Bushnell optics, Fort Knox safes, and others.

CAMP COOKING: Old favorites and new recipes are both on display at the Cook Tent, where master Dutch oven chef "Cee Dub" of Idaho, Herb Good of Hood River, Ore., and Hobart Manns of Portland, Ore., whet your appetite and camping fever with around the clock camp cooking demonstrations. Five-can casserole, white bean chili, home-made sausage, one-pot dinners, "hillbilly" cooking, sourdough recipes and Dutch oven breakfasts are just a few of the subjects covered at the popular venue. Printed recipe handouts to take home.

And, as usual, the five-day show is a true buyers market, with hundreds of exhibitors and dealers offering aggressive show discounts on fishing and hunting gear, clothing, camping equipment, sport fishing boats and RVs, and a wide array of professional guides and outfitters to help you plan a trip in 2009.

The Puyallup show is the only one in Western Washington this year. Don't miss it.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA