The Trade Show Season…

… is over now, but we had a brilliant time meeting so many of our readers at the Vancouver Boat Show, the Victoria Boat Show, and the BC Boat and Sportsmen’s and BC Hunting Shows at Tradex in Abbotsford. The turnout was amazing and it was fantastic to get feedback on the magazine, as well as on our new TV show – BC Outdoors Sportfishing (for those who are watching, we’re just about to start filming the second season, so stay tuned!).

We were also very pleased to welcome many of our friends to the booth this season. As usual we were more than happy to act as home base for Brian Chan and Phil Rowley over the course of the Abbotsford show. Both of these remarkable fly-fishermen were giving demonstrations and seminars over the course of the three-day show, and I know a lot of visitors picked up some serious tips. If you missed it, though, you could have another chance to learn from the masters at our “Learning with the Pros” event at Ruddocks Ranch in June, where both Phil and Brian will be giving one-on-one tuition to our lucky 25 participants. For more information or to book yourself a space (there are only a couple left!) be sure to call 604-464-1876.

We were also lucky to be paid a visit by virtuoso huntsman Othmar Vohringer at the booth, who sat down for a chat with me and some of our visitors. Kevin Estrada, who runs Surgeon Slayers on the Fraser and has appeared on our TV show, stopped by over the weekend as well, along with Dave Murphy of Murphy Sportfishing (another guest-host of our show). Mike Pfortmueller was also at Tradex to represent Shearwater, where we’ll be hosting our third annual BC Outdoors Derby in July. This year’s event runs from July 18th to 22nd, and once again New Jersey Devil Rod Pelley will be joining us as we fish for tyee, Chinook, coho and halibut in one of the province’s most beautiful settings. Get in touch with Shearwater at 1-800-663-2370 to find out more, and to book yourself in!

Don’t forget to send in your reader letters and pictures to make it into the May issue of BC Outdoors – the deadline is fast approaching, and we wouldn’t want to miss you!

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Vancouver Boat Show 2011

BC Outdoors had a fantastic time at this year’s Vancouver International Boat Show, held from February 9th to 13th at the city’s lavish new convention centre, and we were thrilled to have so many readers come out to visit our booth.

As usual the Boat Show brought some of the newest and most exciting nautical products to Vancouver – including the Yamaha V8 350 HP Monster Motor, the beefiest outboard engine ever made.On opening day we were pleased to be joined by seasoned guide Rob Vodola, who was on the cover of our magazine in November. Rob had our staff and readers doubled over with laughter as he shared some of his more outlandish fishing stories.

Shearwater Lodge manager, and guest star on BC Outdoors Sport Fishing TV, Mike Pfortmueller also paid us a visit with his family and friends, as did veteran outdoor author David Wei, who edited our recent Fishing Adventures special edition.

On Friday, February 11th, visitors at the show were blown away when Canucks star forward Ryan Kesler, Superbowl champion Mitch Berger, and Vancouver fashion designer and reality TV star Jason Dussault showed up to auction off a one-of-a-kind Centurion Enzo towboat, designed by Dussault, to raise money for children’s charities Canuck Place Children’s Hospice and the Children’s Wish Foundation.It was a fantastic opening to the trade show season and it was excellent to see some of our old friends from Yamaha, Kingfisher, Harborcraft, Lowrance, and Scotty, amongst others. We even managed to pin down some of our sponsers for interviews, so be sure to check them out on our web page.

Now we’re looking forward to the Victoria Boat show this weekend, February 25th to 27th, and the Boat and Sportsman/BC Hunting Show being held at Tradex in Abbotsford the weekend after. Don’t forget to send us in your reader letters, and to check out the magazine and Facebook page for the latest contests and fishing news!

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