In an attempt to both save lives and encourage fishing, boating, and other waterborne activities, organizers of the Evergreen Sportsmen’s Show at the Monroe fairgrounds this week will be giving away a free lifejacket to every youngster 12 and under who walks through the door. This is good-quality gear, made by Mustang Survival (said to be worth up to $50, retail), and there will be proper sizes (or rainchecks) provided for kids of varying proportions.
The program, sponsored by Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and Washington State Parks, requires that children and their parents participate in a brief 5-10 minute boating safety presentation. Washington state regulations require that children 12 years and younger wear a properly-sized Coast Guard-approved lifejacket on any boat under 19 feet. In addition, all boats, regardless of size, must carry a properly sized lifejacket for every person aboard.
To help kick off the program, popular “Survivor: Pearl Islands” star Rupert Boneham will greet showgoers at the lifejacket center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday (opening day) only.
The show runs Feb. 22-26, noon to 8 p.m. Wed. through Fri.; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saat., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is free.
Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for juniors 6-16, and free for children under 6 when accompanied by an adult. Discount coupons, valid for $2 off adult admission on weekdays only, are available at participating KeyBank and Les Schwab locations, and on line at www.sportshow.net/monroe.
The feature-packed show includes a live bear exhibit featuring Brutus, a 650-pound grizzly, along with displays of fishing, hunting, camping, sportfishing boats and travel destination booths, and a full lineup of other family-friendly fare. Outdoor enthusiasts can shop for true bargains in boats, RVs, truck campers, tent trailers, cargo trailers, 4x4s, ATVs and accessories.
Fishing boat dealers planning to exhibit include:
* Three Rivers Marine, Woodinville, with a new Alumaweld and the 22-foot Starcraft Islander.
* Master Marine Services, Mount Vernon, Skagit Orca Pilothouse glass sportfishers, 22-27 feet, plus warranty promotions on Yamaha and Suzuki engines.
* “Bass Central,” Nixon’s Marine, with three Tritons and three Skeeters, 18-21 feet.
* Bayside Outboard, Everett, eight North River welded aluminum models, 16-24 feet, plus Duckworth and G-3.
* Olympic Boat Center, Trophy 2006 models, 17-18 foot range, plus Lowe aluminum boats, 12 to 18 feet.
* Clearwater Marine, Triumph 15 to 17 feet, and Crestliner 12 to 19 feet.
Bring your grampa’s fishing tackle to the show and have it evaluated, free, by the antique tackle guy, Dick Streater, in the Collector’s Tackle booth, number 804. Buy, sell, or just shoot the breeze, Streater is a fun guy to talk to, as well as the reigning old tackle expert in this area.
Or bring your trophy heads and/or sheds for the bigger-than-ever area Head &Horns competition. Measured by certified scorers, top entries in several categories will win prizes, including the chance at a new grand-prize ATV. Complementing the local competition will be a display of Northwest Record Book heads, featuring the region’s top-scoring big game trophies of all time.
The free trout pond is back, popular as ever, where youngsters 12 and under can catch a fat rainbow trout and either keep or release it, with the assistance of local fishing club members.
The Montana Grizzly Encounter and Great Bear Show combines the resources and expertise of two bear education and care centers, featuring Brutus the grizz, and three black bears. Top experts will share their knowledge of the bears’ unique characteristics and how to avoid conflicts with the great animals in the wild.
Always one of the most popular venues at the show, the Camp Cooking Center will feature three top professional camp cooks, sharing recipes and techniques for smoking, canning, and cooking savory meals. C.W. Welch, “Cee Dub,” a former game warden from Grangeville, Idaho, will cover Dutch oven cooking from breads through entrees to desserts. Hobart Manns of Portland, Oregon, will share three of his best recipes – smoked salmon pasta, salmon and bacon, and Johnsonville Bratwurst chili with lentils – plus tips on gourmet breading for white fish. For a full camp cooking demonstration schedule, go to www.sportshow.net/monroe.
Sporting dog expert Dan Mar will share his encyclopedic knowledge as part of the Petco Information and Education Center, concerning basic obedience training tips and techniques.
A wide range of seminars (see accompanying schedule) will be available daily on three stages and at the casting pool, for enthusiasts of every skill level, including elk and turkey calling, angling tips for fresh and saltwater, and more. You can’t get any closer to home than with Jim Stahl’s seminar on Snohomish River coho techniques, for instance. Anton Jones tells you all about deep-trolling for those big Lake Chelan Mackinaw, and Columbia River guide Ed Iman will deal with tips on trophy walleye and sturgeon. If you can’t find something of interest and real value in the list of show seminars, you’re not half trying.
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