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Illinois Outdoor Shows

Dave and Wendy Maas prepare for the influx of fishermen looking for crappie fishing help at the Midstate Fish and Feather Expo.

We're in the middle of the sport show season in Illinois so that means fishing is not far off for those of us who haven't already braved the elements.

A rundown of the remaining shows can be seen by visiting our Events page and clicking on the appropriate month. There are still shows to attend in Lockport, Rockford, Springfield, Tinley Park, St. Charles, East Peoria, and Rock Island.

ILFishing.com spent some time at the Midstate Fish and Feather Expo held recently in Bloomington. In addition to the tackle booths from several manufacturers and retailers, there were displays of specialty products related to fishing, such as rod sleeves and holders, bait buckets, boat covers, and taxidermy services.

There were also some interesting homemade lures, catfish dip bait, custom-built fishing rods, and custom-painted fishing lures.

For those fishermen looking to wander from Illinois for their fishing adventures, there were booths from Missouri's Mark Twain Lake, Kentucky Lake, and the Southern Illinois Tourism Bureau. Resorts from Wisconsin and Minnesota also offered plans to enjoy the variety of fishing up north.

Some shows offer trout ponds that keep the kids occupied while you tour the show.

The Expo featured several private hunting and fishing sportsman's clubs and campgrounds, as well as guides, outfitters, and Lake Michigan charter services.

You don't have to leave the wife or girlfriend at home when heading to a show. There were several craft booths at the Bloomington show that offered framed outdoor artwork, scented wax figures, and beautifully crafted game calls, just in case she needs an idea for your birthday gift.

If you get hungry during the show, there is the standard concession stand, but other alternatives as well. Booths were selling nuts, fudges, and other foods, as well as seasonings, sauces, and salsas to take home.

Fishing rigs in all sizes and price ranges are featured at many  Illinois outdoor shows.

Most outdoor shows wouldn't be complete without an assortment of fishing rigs to tempt the little boy in us. Aluminum or fiberglass, big motor or small, there's something available for any size dream... and price tag.

The Bloomington Expo scheduled plenty of fishing seminars by guides, professional tournament anglers, and other experts to teach techniques about fishing for a wide variety of species.

Various fishing organizations, from local clubs to regional and national tournament groups, attended the show to promote largemouth, smallmouth, muskie, and walleye fishing and conservation.

Seminars are enhanced when the "fish trough" is there and full of fish.

The Illinois Department of Conservation is usually on hand at outdoor shows to pass out brochures, give information on our lakes and rivers, and answer questions.

We did pretty good keeping our wallets in their pockets at the tackle booths, craft displays, and even the food booths, but there were two things that even a cash-poor fisherman on a diet couldn't pass up.

I just kept thinking of those sad brown eyes looking up at me, tail wagging furiously, when I open the door at home so I had to buy some homemade dog treats to keep the peace at home.

Smiley's Sports Shop offered a variety of fishing lures and tackle for those attending the Bloomington show.

Then I came to the booth selling
T-shirts with pictures of different breeds of dogs silk screened on the front. Being a typical pet owner, I
just couldn't resist.

On a rainy, dreary weekend in January, the Bloomington show was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

Check our Events page for information and links to the remaining Illinois outdoor shows.