The 42nd annual Ultimate Fishing Show — Detroit opens Jan. 9 featuring top professional fishermen offering insights on techniques and companies showing off the latest equipment.
The Suburban Collection Showplace, located at 46100 Grand River Ave. in Novi, hosts the four-day show Jan. 9-12. The event focuses on fishing across Michigan, attracting more than 35,000 attendees annually.
This year’s show features four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion and seven-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, Kalamazoo native Kevin VanDam who will share some of his personal tactics and techniques with patrons at the Ultimate Fishing Show – Detroit on Thursday only.
Mark Zona, host of “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show,” and recently retired “Bassmasters” show host, will present seminars on Friday and Saturday. Bass fishing experts and seminar speakers Joe Thomas, Capt. Wayne Carpenter, and Jim Vitaro also will provide tips and entertainment over the four days of the show.
Additionally, Michigan natives Mark Martin, a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame, “Fishing 411” host Mark Romanack, and Capt. Lance Valentine, founder of Walleye 101 and The Fishing Education Center, will be presenting.
Jim Bedford (river fishing), Roger Hinchcliff (steelhead), Romanack, and Dan Armitage (kids fishing) also provide seminars all weekend.
“We’re going to fill the 300,000-square-foot Suburban Collection Showplace from wall to wall with boats, ice fishing gear, open-water fishing gear, outfitters, guides, seminar stages, fishing features, demonstrations, and more,” says Ben Nielsen, show manager.
“Everything an angler could imagine will be on hand as hundreds of exhibitors will be bringing the latest tackle, gear, fishing boats and accessories to the show. Some of these specialty, custom baits and lures can only be found at The Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit.”
The show promises hands-on experiences, including Lake Ultimate, a 110,000-gallon indoor lake; the Hawg Trough, a 5,000-gallon fish tank filled with native Michigan fish; a stocked Trout Pond, a Rock Climbing Wall, a Shanty Truck Load Sale, Fish Cleaning Demonstrations, and Fly Casting and Fly Tying instruction.
Admission is free for patrons on Jan. 9, who bring six cans or boxes or four pounds of non-perishable food items to donate to the annual Michigan Sportsmen Against Hunger Food Drive. The food will be collected by volunteers from local conservation organizations and donated to the Red Cross and area food banks.
The first 250 attendees on Thursday and Friday receive a free, collectible Dardevle spoon from Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn. The first 250 attendees on Saturday and Sunday will receive a K&E Bass Stopper lure from Stopper Lures in Hastings. Onsite parking at the Suburban Collection Showcase for this event is $10.
