East Aurora Advertiser

Column: Find Fun and Adventure at Outdoor Show



Our chilly weather has been chilly too long for many folks, but ice anglers are thrilled for the hard water fishing fun they have been experiencing all across WNY this year. On the other hand, the rest of normal folks are searching for a way to fly south to Texas or Florida for a few days of warm respite at the beach.

Either way, if you’re here this weekend, you’ll find news and tips for doing all things outdoors at the WNY Sport and Travel Expo that is running Thursday through Sunday (March 7-10), at the Erie County Fairgrounds complex at 5600 McKinley Ave. in Hamburg.

For the kids, Bwana Jim’s wildlife show presents the most educational wildlife show anywhere. Animal handler, Bwana Jim Moulton and wife, Linda, are witty and funny. They have that rare gift for safely handling snakes, alligators, turtles, armadillos, wallabies and lots of exotic birds. All the while, presenting knowledge for kids to learn from and in an entertaining way. For parents to know, it’s better than a classroom experience, the kids will remember it.

If you hunt birds, every good bird hunters knows you need a well-trained dog, such as a pointer and retriever. The show will feature multiple seminars where dog owners can ask questions and learn need-to-know aspects about dog health with Jim Beverly, even with your non-hunting dog. Learn about how to train your puppy from day one.

Bwana Jim Moulton will entertain kids at the WNY Sport and Travel Expo this weekend in Hamburg.

Show-goers can learn how fish react to artificial lures while watching the see-thru Cabela’s Interactive Bass Tank, where local fishing experts will demonstrate how to set up fishing rigs, including a NED rig, Wacky Worm Rig, plastic worm rigs and other methods to catch bass locally. You’ll be able to learn about fishing as they share secrets to provoke a fish to strike their lure. For most bass anglers – me too – it’s catch and release wherever we fish. Bass are domiciled to their range wherever you catch them. So removing them from a shoal, for example, removes that fish from their home range and it may never be replaced. Anglers too, need to think about sustainability.

For the kids that like to fish, the Southtowns Walleye Association is hosting the Kids Fishing Live Trout Pond. There is nothing quite as exciting as catching a fish! Local experts will show the kids what to do.

For walleye anglers, Captain Jim Steele and Captain Jim Skoczylas will offer seminars where they share what works for them when walleye fishing Lake Erie. Planer boards, lures, boat speed, lines, rods, reels, learn it all from these guys.

For hunters – deer, elk, moose and varmint seekers – Ralph and Vicky Cianciarulo are the feature show attendees. Firearms and archery tactics, learning to call the critters to come to you is a tactic skill that not many hunters ever achieve. These two folks will teach methods for you to learn from. This event will be educational and fun. Similarly, if you’re out in the mountains out west or in the long distance open fields and woods of our southern tier, Bob Hart is on hand to share long-range shooting tips.

Several other seminar speakers that are expert on the water and in the woods will be there. Texas Roadhouse angler Jim Delvisco will present a special seminar on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on “Getting Your Kids into Fishing.” Parents might want to start down this adventure trail early this year.

Turn the TV off and get over to the show. Show entry is $10, kids 10 and under are free. Show times are noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. on Sunday. For a discount ticket and more information on show details, visit eriepromotions.com/wny-sport-show/.

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Share life with others, make new friends in the outdoors, lead by example. Send comments to nugdor@yahoo.com.

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