Contact: Trey Carskadon O’Loughlin Trade Shows

Phone: 503-246-8291

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show “Bigger Than Ever” And Opens With New Features, Personalities & Products

The 19th annual Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show opens March 1st and runs through the 4th at the First Interstate Bank Center and Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo in Redmond, OR. The largest show of its kind in Central Oregon, 2018 is shaping up to surpass previous years with exciting new features, products and personalities. “It’s more than the largest sportsmen’s show in Central Oregon, it’s a celebration of fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation”, observed Bill O’Loughlin, manager of the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. “This show’s been around for decades and continues to be one of the best in the nation because of the diversity, sheer size of the event and all the major players are here --- including manufacturers, retailers, guides and outfitters and hundreds of opportunities to learn and improve your fishing, hunting and outdoor skills.” The first-ever kokanee tank makes its Central Oregon debut at the Sportsmen’s Show. The Bi-Mart kokanee tank presented by Mack’s Lures features dozens of catchable size kokanee salmon in a specially-built, thermostatically-controlled tank. This is the first time kokanee have ever been raised to this size in a hatchery environment and then transported for display and demonstration purposes. Les Schwab Tires brings the Cowboy Fast Draw back to the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. This has been a popular, fun attraction that measures just how quick a trigger-finger people have. Using wax bullets, participants are timed in how quickly they can hit the target. It’s a show-within-a-show with the area’s largest RV sale on-site at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. With 13 dealers and acres of display space it’s an ideal opportunity to land a great deal on a new RV. Selco Community Credit Union will be on-site offering show-only rates and financing. Several boat dealers are bringing their inventory to the fairgrounds too with fishing, ski and pleasure boats all expected to be displayed and for sale. With so many brands in one place it’s an opportune time to shop, compare and buy. The Head & Horns competition returns with several impressive, record-setting antlers, horns and heads already logged in this year’s sweep across the northwest. Hunters that would like their horns measured can bring them to the show and for $10 they’ll be measured and scored. If they meet the minimum requirements they may be a winner and eligible for entry into the

competition for another $20. The prizes for top winners are well worth the entry fee including a Fort Knox gun safe, Ruger rifle or any one of several other prizes provided by Gerber, Les Schwab, Final Approach, Federal Premium, Danner and Bushnell. The competition is also open to entries from past hunts that may be unscored, unknown and gathering dust in an attic, garage or family room…those can be entered too. More than one “a-ha” moment has been inspired by a forgotten set of horns that came into the show and raised eyebrows. The Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show Camp Cooking area is always a huge hit with hours and hours of useful information shared daily by our camp cooking experts. This year’s line-up of camp cooks includes: Scott Haugen, Roger Neufeldt, Bethy Rossos, Glenn Thornton, Milt Gudgell, the Smokin’ Hot Chix and Mark Schneider. These are the best-of-the-best presenters in outdoor and camp cooking and food preparation. There isn’t a year that goes by that an adult angler doesn’t stop by the show office and say, “I caught my first fish at this show”. The Kids Trout Pond sponsored by Baxter Auto Parts for nearly 20 years returns filled with trout up to 8 pounds. With 1,500 pounds of trout to catch the bite’s always on at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show! All gear is provided, and it’s free with admission into the show for kids 12 and younger. There are more than 40 hours of hunting and fishing seminars of all descriptions every day at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. That’s a work week’s worth of seminars a day! Free with admission to the show. Salmon, steelhead, trout, kokanee and bass fishing, turkey hunting, elk calling, horse and mule packing, fly tying, dog training and much, much more are covered in these seminars presented by the top names in hunting and fishing. These seminars are your passport to better fishing and hunting…make a point to check them out. With over 300,000 square feet of display space, there are miles of aisles to wander and take-in with truckloads of fishing, hunting and camping accessories on display and most available for sale at the show. Along with a dizzying array of products are boats, ATV’s, RV’s, outdoor art, apparel, knives, books and optics. Great adventures far and near start here at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. Book your next adventure at the show, or at least start your planning there. Whether it’s a close-to-home hunting or fishing trip or any one of more than a hundred out-of-state opportunities, you can get your plans underway, face-to-face at the show. Talk to the dozens of Alaska guides and outfitters at the show about their packages. From Africa and New Zealand to Mexico, Canada, South America and all points in-between you’re sure to find that trip-of-a-lifetime at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. Be sure to take advantage of all the expertise you’ll only find at this show for only 5 days a year! Some of the top names in hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation make the show their home for the week and it’s your opportunity to talk to them one-on-one. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect and learn!

For complete show details, seminar schedules, admission, show hours and directions visit otshows.com.

Contact: Trey Carskadon O’Loughlin Trade Shows

Phone: 503-246-8291 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Sportsmen’s Shows Unveils First-Ever Kokanee Tank

Portland, OR – It’s never been done…until now. That is, raising kokanee to full-size, then transporting them and showing them at all three Northwest Sportsmen’s Shows. “The states raise kokanee and then release them as fry into selected lakes around the northwest”, started Joe Brennan of O’Loughlin Trade Shows. “Fry are only three inches or so in length. They’ve never raised kokanee salmon to a full size of 10” to 12” and tried to transport them because of high mortality concerns. So the Bi-Mart Kokanee Tank is definitely a first.” Brennan continued, “Kokanee salmon have come on strong the past decade or so as one of the high target fish species for anglers across the northwest. They’re plentiful, can be easy to catch and are delicious eating. These attributes have made them an ideal fish species to showcase through our three Sport Shows.” Kokanee salmon are a unique landlocked species of salmon. These landlocked salmon have a similar lifespan to their ocean-bound cousins. Kokanee spend 3 to 5 years in the lake before migrating out of the lake and into feeder streams to spawn. And just like saltwater salmon that migrate into freshwater to spawn, these salmon die after they spawn. Kokanee thrive in the northwest and northern California. They average 10” to 14” in most lakes with fish to 20” considered to be “trophy-sized”. Oregon’s been a particularly active state for kokanee with several productive lakes producing above average sized fish. In fact, the 9.67 pound world record kokanee was caught in Wallowa Lake in 2010. Washington has over 60 lakes that support kokanee and can be found from one end of the state to the other. These lakes are easily found on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website. “We’ve tapped Mack’s Lures, a lure company that specializes in producing kokanee tackle, to provide experts to share their knowledge in catching kokanee salmon. For the Washington Sportsmen’s Show Mack’s pros Jeff Witkowski, Ray Bailey and Mike Hall will be giving seminars. Also, professional kokanee guide Austin Mosier will be sharing his kokanee catching insights as well. In Portland at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show, Mack’s pro-staffers, Gary Miralles and Mike Hall will join Ray Bailey and Jeff Witkowski for daily seminars. Also, Kyle Neeser of Crystal Basin Tackle and pro guide Davey Jones will be presenting in Portland. For the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show Mack’s pros Jeff Witkowski and Ray Bailey will be delivering daily seminars along with Kokanee Power of Oregon representative Keith Bryan.”

Contact: Trey Carskadon O’Loughlin Trade Shows

Phone: 503-246-8291 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kid’s Trout Pond Takes Center Stage at Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show

Tacoma, WA - Over the past 74 years, hundreds of thousands of kids have caught their first fish at the Baxter’s Auto Parts Sportsmen’s Show trout pond. Those fish have fired the ambition of these youngsters to make fishing their hobby and get started into a lifetime of angling. The kid’s trout pond will be back at the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show being held at the The First Interstate Bank Center and Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, in Redmond, March 1st – 4th. “It’s remarkable the impact this long time Sport Show feature has had on northwest anglers. We started this tradition in 1944 and it’s become one of the show’s most popular features”, commented Joe Brennan of O’Loughlin Trade Shows. “We hear from anglers of all stripes and skill levels every year how they got started with the tug of that trout and landed their first fish at the kid’s trout pond at the Sportsmen’s Show. It’s become more than a feature for our shows, it’s an institution.”

“Baxter Auto Parts has been an essential sponsor of the trout pond for nearly 20 years. Their support has allowed us to make this a really unique experience with fish up to 8 pounds and two feet long along with thousands of other trout from 12 to 20 inches”, Brennan said. Thousands of trout are expected to be caught over the 5 day event. 1500 pounds of trout are purchased for the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show. It’s free for kids 12 and younger with their admission to the show. All the gear they’ll need including a fish bag is provided. There are dozens of wonderful stories associated with this longtime hallmark feature of the Sportsmen’s Show. One story in particular still brings a chuckle to the Sportsmen’s Show staff.

More than 20 years ago, a new trout farm was tapped for providing fish to one of the Sport Shows. The trout farm owner asked how many fish were needed and when the reply was 2,000 pounds, he laughed thinking the Sportsmen’s Show representatives had no idea of how many trout 2,000 pounds was. They did of course, having purchased trout for this purpose for decades. When asked if he had enough fish to cover their request, he said he did, and with that The Sportsmen’s Show relied on the trout farm to fulfill their promise. The day of reckoning came as the pond was erected and filled with water. The first batch of fish arrived without incident. These were spectacular trout. 12” to 18” full bodied, beautiful rainbow trout were delivered. The kids descended on the pond and made short work of that batch. As the trout were depleted the Sportsmen’s Show was on the phone ordering more. The next batch showed, and again, gorgeous fish were deposited in the pond. Then another truckload was ordered but the fish in this delivery were noticeably smaller ranging in size from 10” to 12”…still nice fish. And yet more truckloads came. By the time the fifth load of trout arrived it was apparent that this trout farm was not ready for the volume of fish for the Sportsmen’s Show as small 6” to 8” fish were dumped into the pond. Still, in spite of the relatively small size of the fish, kids squealed their approval as trout-after-trout came over the rail and into the waiting hands of young anglers intent on catching their first fish. Special thanks to the Central Oregon Flyfishers for their volunteer help in staffing the Baxter’s Auto Parts Kid’s Trout Pond. The Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show runs March 1st – 4th at The First Interstate Bank Center and Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center, in Redmond. For complete show details and information on dozens of other show features visit www.otshows.com.