The big Sportsmen’s Expo is on now through Sunday at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento.
This is a great place to spend a day or two, especially during cold, wet winter weather. You can spend hours visiting with experts and pros from more than 600 exhibiting companies that are packed into five buildings and various outdoor spaces.
Want to learn a new outdoor skill? The Expo includes more than 200 free seminars in eight theaters and demonstration areas.
My favorite hangout is the pavilion in which they have all of the fly-fishing stuff, including dozens of outfitters and fishing lodge representatives from fishing resorts all over the world including Alaska, South America and even Europe. There is a casting pond where you can try out a fly rod you might like to buy and there are lots of casting demonstrations and even seminars scheduled.
But if fishing is not your thing, there is so much more, including new SUVs, trucks, accessories, RVs and campers, camping gear, and off-road vehicle test track, sporting dog arena and a whole lot more.
For 2018, new features have been added, including an archery contest, a new Wilderness Camp featuring all kind so new gear and gadgets for campers, a new outdoor product showcase and adventure theater seminars.
Tickets are $16 for adults, active duty military and children 15 and under are free.
The show is open today, Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information go to sportsexpos.com
From Sonoma Valley head east to Interstate 80 to Sacramento, take the Capital City Freeway exit in West Sacramento (following the signs to Lake Tahoe). Continue on Capital City Freeway, through downtown Sacramento and make the turnoff to Reno. The Cal Expo exit is just northeast of the American River.
Sturgeon fishing just south of Sonoma Valley in San Pablo Bay is red hot right now, in spite of cold, windy conditions. Keith Fraser, of Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael, is booking spots on Trent Slate’s party boat, “Bite Me,” right now for combination sturgeon and striped bass trips.
He said that Trent took out five anglers in his boat on Sunday. They fished the “sturgeon triangle,” which is bounded by the Pump House, Buoy 5 and China Camp. They landed 10 keeper-sized sturgeon and three striped bass, all on mud shrimp, they best bait right now. Call Keith at 415-456-0321.
The fishing for Dungeness crab has slowed so much that Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportsfishing has pulled his gear and is not planning any more crab trips until next season. But he is offering whale-watching excursions on his party boat on weekends and recognized holidays.
The grey whale migration is on now off our coast, and Rick’s guests will get a close look at these magnificent creatures. He charges $60 for adults and $35 for kids under 12. The trips are three to four hours long out of Bodega Bay, which is about an hour drive from Sonoma.
Call Rick at 875-3344 for more information or to book a trip.
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