The largest pure fishing show in the country opens in Metro-Detroit, the largest freshwater fishing market in the country, when the Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit drops anchor Jan. 10 through 13 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi.
Here are some of the highlights you can expect to find at the 2019 show:
- Two of the biggest names in bass fishing, Michigan natives Kevin VanDam and Mark Zona, will make special appearances at the largest pure fishing show in the country. VanDam, a four-time Bassmaster Classic champion and seven-time Angler of the Year, will be at the show on Friday, Jan. 11, only. Zona, a passionate and opinionated angler and expert on bass tournament fishing, hosts his own show on the Outdoor Channel – Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show. He’s a regular on several ESPN Outdoors shows and also will appear at the show on Friday, January 11, only.
- Some of the fishing professionals returning to the seminar stages of the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit include Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame inductee Mark Martin (walleye), Joe Thomas (bass), Mark Romanack (walleye), Marianne Huskey (walleye), Lance Valentine (walleye), Brian “Bro” Brosdahl (ice fishing), Jake Romanack (Great Lakes), Joe Thomas (bass), Wayne Carpenter (bass), Gerry Gostenik (bass), Chip Cartwright (walleye), Mike Schultz (fly fishing), Dan Armitage (kids fishing), Mike Gnatkowski and many others.
- The 2018 ice fishing season is underway in southern Michigan. Ice anglers will find everything they need to put fish on the ice at the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit’s expanded Ice Fishing Extravaganza and Shanty Truck Load Sale.
- Special two-hour Ultimate Clinics will be held for Bass Fishing, Walleye Fishing and Salmon Fishing.
- Two Virtual Reality Simulators will be on hand at the Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit and will allow patrons to experience the thrill of what it’s like to tangle with a 20-pound king salmon, or a hard-fighting Dorado.
- Lake Ultimate, a 110,000-gallon indoor lake that doubles as a seminar stage.
- The Hawg Trough, a 5,000-gallon fish tank that doubles as a seminar stage.
- A Trout Pond – stocked with rainbow trout – in which kids can fish for a nominal fee.
Admission is free on Thursday 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 area food banks.
Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 14. There is no charge for children 5 and under.
On-site parking is $5.
Show hours are 1 to 9, Thursday; 11 to 9, Friday; 10 to 8, Saturday; 10 to 5, Sunday.
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.
