Minnesota Anglers’ Expo Feb 8-10 at National Sports Center’s new Sport Expo Center
OutdoorHub 01.28.13
The National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine will host the second annual Minnesota Anglers’ Expo, February 8-10, at the NSC’s Sport Expo Center.
The event premiered last year as the Minnesota Bass Expo, and has been retitled to include all facets of sport fishing. Visitors can see and purchase the latest in fishing tackle, electronics and boats, as well as learn fishing techniques, how to use electronics, and obtain environmental information.
“The Minnesota Anglers’ Expo will be a great show for deals on fishing equipment,” said expo director Greg Savino. “Both close-outs from the ice fishing season, and pre-season deals on open water fishing gear. This will be a great show to load up for open water fishing.”
Donations will be collected to support the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
The Anglers’ Expo is owned by the National Sports Center, and is the second of four annual outdoor shows owned by the NSC. The Hard Water Ice Fishing Expo was held last November, the Minnesota Deer Classic, will be held March 8-10, and the Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, March 22-24. All the outdoor expos will be held at the Schwan Center on the NSC campus.
Location: NSC Schwan Center, 1750 105th Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55449.
Hours: Friday, February 8, 4 – 8 p.m.; Saturday, February 9, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday, February 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $10/day; youth (12-17), $7/day. 11 and under admitted free. Unlimited free parking.
Features: fishing celebrities, seminars and classes, guide services, youth programs, travel destinations, new equipment, outdoor equipment testing. Attendees can join fishing organizations, such as the Minnesota Bass Federation and Fishers of Men, and also register for their tournaments.
Seminar presenters
Joel Vasek, owner/operator of Missouri Valley Guide Service and Missouri River Lodge in south central South Dakota. He is native to this area and has fished Lake Francis Case of the Missouri River for the past 20 years, the last 15 professionally. Fishing over 245 days a year as a trophy walleye fisherman throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Michaela Anderson, a Lino Lakes, Minn. native currently represents the University of St. Thomas, krugerfarms.com and Rapala USA on the FLW and B.A.S.S Master College Tours. In 2012, she finished 23rd in the B.A.S.S Master Carhartt College National Championship in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the only woman out of an accomplished field of 110 top-notch college anglers. She was also the 2009 Minnesota Federation of Bass Anglers Junior State Champion.
Brent Haimes, from Mazeppa, Minn., has 25 years of tournament angling under his belt with a long list of accomplishments. Haimes is a 20-time Minnesota Bass Federation Tournament of Champions qualifier and a 4-time Minnesota Bass Federation Regional Qualifier.
Glenn Walker grew up in Wisconsin and fished the Mississippi River his whole life and then moved to Shakopee, Minnesota in 2009. He has been fishing tournaments since 2001 and has been involved in the fishing industry doing seminars, writing articles for several magazines and websites and short web videos for close to ten years.
Forest Lake, Minnesota’s Dusty Minke has been professionally fishing walleye since 2003, which led to tying his good friend Bill Shimota in the 2010 points total for the FLW Walleye Angler of the Year. Dusty loves to catch big walleyes, and is eager to teach others about the techniques and quality products he relies on for success. Dusty will be representing Crown Royal, krugerfarms.com, Tempstar Heating and Cooling Products, Ranger Boats and Evinrude on the newly formed National Walleye Tour this summer.
Gary Klinger has been fishing tournaments since 1979 and has qualified for several national championship tournaments. The owner of Big Dog Fishing Guide Service, he has been providing instructions and training to fishermen for over 20 years and is currently the host of Wright County Outdoors on KRWC AM1360. Gary is sponsored by Ranger boats, Yamaha motors, MinnKota trolling motors, and Humminbird electronics.
