2017 Recap of the Pantagraph's Fish and Feather Expo

During expo season there are always those shows that you don't make it to. Whether it is because it is too far away, too expensive or in some cases the show is a waste of time. That was how we felt about this show last year. We didn't attend because we didn't find it worth our time and money.

However, optimism took over this year when we found out that the Pantagraph bought the Fish and Feather Expo. Within social media circles people were very excited about this because last year's show was not up to par. When you are competing with shows like the Quad Cities, Elmwood, Tinley Park and Collinsville it is easy to see how you would be let down.

We applaud all the hard work that went into this years show. It was not only noticed by us but by many other people that we talked to during the show. It is because of people like Terry Brown, President at Wired-2-Fish an Illinois and McLean County resident who is going to help take the Fish and Feather next level. As hunters and anglers we want to hear from people within the industry and gain more insight through their knowledge. And with several major highways and over half million people living within an hour drive it's just a matter of time until this show grows.

With about ten minutes to spare we made it to the show in time to attend Terry Brown's seminar. With industry knowledge about electronics Terry gave a unique perspective on what electronics are out there. There are so many options and it is so easy to become overwhelmed. It's like buying fishing line, there are just so many options out there. Terry said that you should buy electronics to fit your needs and that may not necessarily be the top of the line.

As we continued throughout the show we were able to catch up with Tim from Bass-ett Baits. Like so many people, we met Tim at a past year's show and built a relationship through the years. A couple weeks ago I got a chatterbait from him and was immediately impressed by the quality of the product. Being able to discuss that and other topics reminds me of why I enjoy the small shows better than the big ones. You are able to talk and meet and really have one on one conversations with the owners of these companies as well as the leaders in the outdoor industry.

Not all the leaders we talked to were involved in the hunting and fishing industry. We talked to our friends at Illinois Pheasants Forever,` a strong leader in the conservation arena and were able to discuss ongoing conservation projects right here in Illinois. It was at this booth that we also received wildflower seeds from the Prairielands Preservation Foundation. We look forward to planting them this spring, in order for our pollunator friends to have more flowers.

Overall the Fish and Feather expo greatly improved this year and many would agree. We were able to talk to many in the outdoor industry and ended the day talking with our friends at Brushpile Jigs and Empire Fishing

There were other non profits, companies and outdoor vendors booths that we could talk about, but we will let you attend next year and see what it is all about for yourself. We look forward to seeing what the Fish and Feather Expo will entail next year.