Ultimate Fishing Show in town next weekend

There's a reason they call it the Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit.

More than 30 of North America's top anglers will lead more than 100 seminars on five stages for non-stop instruction - most of which is free with admission - on everything from keeping a worm on a hook to using sophisticated fishing gear to cooking your catch.

There are plenty of other attractions coming to Rock Financial Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi, Jan. 12-15, when the curtain goes up on Michigan's biggest pure fishing show.

The most popular stage at the huge show is Lake Ultimate, a 110,000-gallon indoor lake where speakers deliver real time, on-the-water demonstrations from fully equipped fishing boats.

Kalamazoo's Kevin Van Dam, America's best bass angler and winner of the 2001 and 2005 BASSMASTER Classics, offers the "Ultimate Bass Fishing Presentation" on Friday and Saturday. Van Dam has won more than $2 million on the professional circuit. He will give seminars on Lake Ultimate on Friday and Saturday.

Mark Martin's multi-media seminar is a show stopper.

Mark Romanack, a trolling expert and book author, will also lead the Walleye Super Clinic.

Lance Valentine offers excellent advice on using GPS and other boat electronics.

In addition to Van Dam, the bass experts include Howell's Kim Stricker, whose new TV show, Hook 'N Look, combines his fishing prowess with diving skills and underwater videography.

Joe Thomas is a multi-champion bass pro from Ohio, arguably the best smallmouth angler on Lake Erie.

Dearborn's Gerry Gostenik and Clawson's Wayne Carpenter join new speaker Joe Balog from Harrison Twp. as local speakers with inside knowledge about fishing Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and area inland lakes.

Bill Bale and Dave Engel, who have won nearly every Lake Michigan trolling tournament, lead the Salmon-Steelhead Super Clinic.

Other Great Lakes angling speakers include Livonia's Jerry Lee, with 30 years of guiding experience, and new speaker Captain Jay Frolenko, whose specialty is deep-water trolling.

River steelhead fishing experts are Lansing's Jim Bedford, who has written three books and spends more than 1,000 hours fishing Michigan streams each year, and new speaker Tim Roller. Roller, named one of the top 12 Great Lakes region steelhead guides by Fish & Fly magazine, will explain crankbait casting tactics for river-run salmon.

The Muskie and Pike fishing stage will be busy with three of southeast Michigan's most successful guides.

Besides Brunner, captains Mike Pittiglio of Washington Twp. and Saline's Don Miller share their special skills.

New speaker Pete Maina from Wisconsin edits Esox Angler Magazine and is co-host of The Next Bite TV show.

Ron Peterson, who lives in Jenison near Grand Rapids, is bringing his National School of Fishing learning program to the show. His topic is "Angler's Nerve Center: Your Tackle Box."

Dan Donarski from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, will demonstrate cooking methods and hand out recipes. He's also scheduled for seminars on the best Upper Peninsula fishing spots.

Show Hours are Friday, from 2 to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; Jan 14, 10 to 6; and Jan .15, 10 to 5.

Tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 14. Kids 5 and under get in free. For the full seminar schedule and more info, call 800-328-6550 or go to www.UltimateFishingShow.com.