Fishing Michigan

For the next two weekends, starting on Saturday the 17th,  Cabela’s in Dundee will be holding their Spring Expo.  There will be seminars, drawings, and sales for the spring outdoor enthusiast.  Although the focus of the event will be geared towards the Fishing and Marine Departments,  they have several activities for turkey hunters and the upcoming season.

This Saturday, Bill and Bernadine Ayers from Mack Lures will be having seminars at 12 and 3 pm.  They are a husband and wife team that have many years of experience on the walleye circuits and sponsored by Mack Lures.  They predominately fish crawler harnesses with a unique twist, the Smile Blade.  It provides flash, and does not take a lot of speed to make it turn.  Perfect for slowing down and  keeping the rigs in the zone for longer periods of time.  Had the pleasure of meeting  the couple a few years back,  they are easy to talk to, knowledgable and very unassuming.  If you get the chance to attend the seminar,  you will walk away glad that you did.

If you get there a little earlier on Saturday, there will be a turkey calling contest at 10am.  The contest is free for those who participate.  There are individual categories for calling hens, jakes and toms.  The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will be there all weekend with a table set up.

On Sunday, Tom Keifer from Snack Daddy Lures will be having a seminar at 11 am.  Keifer is an accomplished bass fisherman, and will be explaining the best methods to catch bass using tube baits.  With the growing popularity of bass fishing on Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes,  you should be able to walk away with a new trick or two to try out on your next trip.

If slinging bugs gets you out and fishing, the fly shop is well stocked.  The guys that work there are aces, look up Don, Mark, Joe (if he hasnt retired again) and Bill.  The Michigan Fly Fishing Fedaration will have a table set up and should be available all weekend.

Other events this weekend of note; Chris Brackett, the host of Extreme Air Bow Fishing and the Stihl Lumberjack show in front (outside)of the store.  Brackett takes his bow and shoots the flying carp that have migrated up the Mississippi waterways.  The lumberjacks return for another visit and will be demonstrating log rolling, pole climbing and cutting logs with their tuned up saws and axes.

The second weekend will be the “do not miss” days of the expo.  Cabela’s went to a lot of effort to organize their first ever, Captain’s Weekend.  Charter captains from around the state will be holding seminars both days, starting at 10 am. More than 15 captains will be there representing fishing on Lake Erie, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, Saginaw Bay and Lake Michigan.  They will be having a free drawing for the public with winners receiving charter for perch and steelhead on Lake Erie, muskie on Lake St. Clair and salmon/trout on Lake Michigan.

Both weekends will have vendors and fishing pros to work with the customers. I will be there both Saturdays working in the rods area.  If you have any question about your fishing, marine and boating needs, there will be a ton of experienced people there to turn to.  The fishing department is all set up for the Maumee River walleye run, your lake and river fishing needs.  There are several new exciting housebrand reels and rods, available also in combos at a good price.

Upcoming events include;  Military Appreciation Days (March 16, 17 and 18th), you can rough score your turkeys (March 15-31st) and the Relay for Life event (June 16 and 17th) hosted by the Breast Cancer Society of America.

Thanks to store manager Joe Ross (congrats on the promotion), and to Rick Garrett (events coordinator) Scott Larner (marine sales manager) and Dave Nack (fishing sales manager) for taking the time and walking me through the events and the new floor displays.