Seminars and Hands-on Opportunities Featured in Novi, with Kevin VanDam and Mark Zona!
Kevin VanDam may have retired from competitive bass fishing, but that doesn’t mean the best bass angler in the world has retired from helping others hone their bass fishing skills and techniques. VanDam headlines a Star-Studded lineup of Seminar Speakers when the largest freshwater fishing show in the country, the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit, drops anchor January 11-14, 2024 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi.
Hundreds of New Fishing Boats, the largest Ice Fishing Display in the state, and an All-Star Lineup of Seminars by some of the best anglers in the world combine to make the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit the largest and best Pure Fishing Show in the country.
“We’re going to fill the 300,000-square-foot Suburban Collection Showplace from wall to wall with boats, motors and accessories, ice fishing gear, open-water fishing gear, outfitters and guides, seminar stages, fishing features, demonstrations and more,” says Show Manager Ben Nielsen. “Everything an angler could imagine will be on hand as hundreds of exhibitors will be bringing the latest tackle, gear, fishing boats and accessories to the show. Some of these specialty, custom baits and lures can only be found at The Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit.”
Four time Bassmaster Classic Champion and seven time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, Kalamazoo native Kevin VanDam will share some of his personal tactics and techniques with patrons at the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit on Thursday, January 11.
Mark Zona, host of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show, and an expert analyst who appears on several ESPN Outdoors shows, will present seminars on Friday, January. 12. Bass fishing experts and seminar speakers Joe Thomas, Capt. Wayne Carpenter and Jim Vitaro also will provide tips and entertainment over the four days of the show.
The walleye side of the seminar lineup is equally impressive and includes Michigan natives Mark Martin, a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, TV show host Mark Romanack – Fishing 411, Captain Lance Valentine, founder of Walleye 101 and The Fishing Education Center, and Captain Jake Romanack CoHost of Fishing 411.
Some of the other seminar speakers featured this year at the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit include: Jim Bedford (river fishing), Mike Schultz (fly fishing), Bill Mangan (fly fishing), Roger Hinchcliff (steelhead), Chris LeMessurier (kayaks) and Dan Armitage (kids fishing).
On Saturday and Sunday, show patrons may participate in any of three Ultimate Clinics: Ultimate Walleye Clinic, noon to 2 p.m. Saturday; Ultimate Bass Clinic, 2:30 to 4:30 Saturday; Ultimate Electronics Clinic 10:30 to 12:00 Sunday.
Ice is forming on many Michigan lakes and The Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit will again feature the Ultimate Ice Fishing Village with a collection of more ice fishing gear than any other show in Michigan, including a Shanty Truck Load Sale.
There are dozens of other features at the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit that include learning opportunities and hands-on activities like Lake Ultimate, a 110,000-gallon indoor lake, the Hawg Trough, a 5,000-gallon fish tank filled with native Michigan fish, a stocked Trout Pond, a Rock Climbing Wall, a National Fishing Lure Collection, a Virtual Fishing Simulator, Fish Cleaning Demonstrations, and Fly Casting and Fly Tying instruction.
Want to attend the show for free? On Thursday, January 11, admission is free for patrons who bring six cans/boxes or four pounds of non-perishable food items to donate to the annual Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger Food Drive. The food will be collected by volunteers from local conservation organizations and donated to the Red Cross and area food banks.
The first 250 attendees on Thursday and Friday receive a free, collectible Dardevle spoon from Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn. The first 250 attendees on Saturday and Sunday will receive a K&E Bass Stopper lure from Stopper Lures in Hastings.
Show hours are: Thursday, 1 to 8; Friday, 12 to 8; Saturday, 10 to 8; Sunday, 10 to 5. Admission: $12 adults, $5 children 6 to 14, free for children 5 and under. On-site parking is $10.
For more information, visit www.UltimateFishingShow.com or call 616-447-2860. You can also follow late-breaking news and developments on Facebook at ULTIMATESPORTSHOWTOUR.
