If you live in Southern California and are a fisherman, your most anticipated excursion of the spring season does not result in a single catch, or even a cast, and it involves no getting back to nature whatsoever.
It's a visit to the Long Beach Convention Center for the annual Fred Hall Show, which runs Wednesday through Sunday and, as usual, has lured thousands from within the industry.
For many, this great gathering of destination reps and tackle and boat manufacturers affords a chance to rub elbows with past acquaintances, and to bump into old friends who likewise have become show regulars. I can't wait to stop by the booths of some of the friends I made over the years: Shawn Arnold of Fish Taco Chronicles; Phil Friedman of 976-TUNA; John Ireland of Rancho Leonero Resort; Jared Smith of Parchers Resort in the Eastern Sierra; Seth Bone of Kingfisher Charters in Sitka, Alaska, and many more.
There is no beating the crowds at the Fred Hall Show, which last season, despite the global recession, experienced an increase in attendance as more than 200,000 had passed through convention hall doors throughout the five days.
But as is the case with the Eastern Sierra during the general trout-fishing opener, which this year falls on April 24, you'd be disappointed if there wasn't a large crowd. Hope to see you at both events.
(Note: A smaller version of the Fred Hall show is scheduled March 24-28 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.)
-- Pete Thomas
Photo of Fred Hall Show courtesy of Fred Hall Show
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