Annual Sportsman’s show attracts winter-weary crowds

March 2, 2014 at 12:04a.m.

NILES

If Saturday’s turnout for the annual Sportman’s Fishing and Hunting Super Show is any indication, outdoor enthusiasts can’t wait to get back to indulging their passions after suffering through a seemingly endless winter.

“I’m planning to book two fishing trips to Canada while I’m here,” said Joe Ballas of Ravenna who browsed through thousands of types of fishing gear displayed by a company that fittingly call itself Holy Mackerel. “I go every year with my fishing buddies.”

Ballas had plenty of choices at the Eastwood Expo Center as this year’s show features more than 150 vendors selling rifles, hunting apparel, fishing lures and tackle, boats and fishing charters.

“Fishing is always the biggest draw,” said Rick Henninger, Austintown, publisher of the Fish and Field Report, one of the event sponsors. “Walleye is the big thing at Mosquito Lake and Pymatuning.”

Henninger, who has produced the show for 20 years, declined to divulge specific attendance figures, but described himself as “overwhelmed and overjoyed” with the turnout, which he said usually numbers “in the thousands.” He cautioned that attendance figures are not the barometer for a show’s success.

“It’s not the gate, but what they spend, and that’s why the vendors tell me they’re extremely happy,” Henninger said.

One of those vendors, John Gribble, operates a fleet of nine fishing charters along Lake Erie. Gribble said the winter has not slowed down his company, despite the frozen condition of the lake. “There’s about 20 inches of ice on Lake Erie, but we’re running airboat services that skip over the ice,” he said.

Cory Begeot, 30, of Newton Falls is a hunter, but spent his time Saturday as a volunteer at the exhibit for Birds in Flight Sanctuary, which rescues wounded or injured birds. “I don’t hunt birds now,” Begeot said. “I hunt squirrels and we feed what we hunt to the birds.”

Begeot said the sanctuary relies on private donations and educational programs for fundraising. He said the sanctuary currently houses 147 such birds, a few of which were on display, including a barn owl and a red-tailed hawk. Begeot said hunters in general are very supportive of the sanctuary’s efforts.

“They’re always interested in wildlife conservation,” he said. “They know it doesn’t do you any good to hunt everything out.”

Children also can get a taste of the outdoor life. Adrian Puz, a 9-year old from Austintown, tried his luck at catching trout stocked in a large indoor pool, but he already is experienced with rod and reel. “I’ve caught a 24-inch bass and a 21-inch bass,” he said proudly.

The appeal to children is the point of another educational effort from the LaBrae Scout Alumni Association. Based in Leavittsburg, the nonprofit group hopes to attract children to physical fitness through Scouting. Its slogan: “Help save kids from video games — get them outdoors.”

The message seems to be getting through. Ashley Liberatore of Warren brought her two sons, age 3 and 5, to the show. “They already like to fish,” she said.

That kind of feedback has Henninger thinking about next year’s event.

“It’s the biggest thing by far at the Expo, and when the vendors are happy, you know you’ve done your job,” he said.

The show, which began Friday, concludes today.