Fishing in the Central Valley: Local anglers to talk at International Sportsmen’s Exposition

It’s once again the time of year when Northern California hunters and anglers congregate for the largest outdoors exposition in this part of the state. The International Sportsmen’s Exposition 2025 arrives at Cal Expo in Sacramento on Jan. 16-19. The California Sportsmen Theatre, Ultimate Bass Demo Tank, Kayak City Theater, and Adventure Theater will all be back with some of the top sportsmen along with a how-to-center for fly-tying and the combo casting pond.

Many of the speakers are regular contributors to the Bee’s Fishing Report. A sampling of seminar speakers at the California Sportsman’s Theater include: Captain Steve Mitchell on Delta sturgeon at 3 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday; Captain James Smith of California Dawn Sport Fishing on In the Bay/Out the Gate at 3 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Saturday; Alan Fong of Alan Fong Outdoors on Forward-Facing Sonar at 2 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Saturday, and Randy Pringle, the Fishing Instructor, on Delta bass/stripers at 2 p.m. Friday at 3 p.m. Sunday.

On the Western Bass Aquarium Tank, highlights include northern California native Skeet Reese on Reese Fishing at 1:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, and U.S. Open champion, Bryant Smith on Lures to Forward-Facing Sonar at 2:30 p.m. Thursday and 12:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday.

The Kayak Theater once again features the popular Women on the Water panel by Clara Ricabal, Annie Nagel, and Virginia Salvador at noon Saturday along with Keith Nguyen, aka ‘The Lost Anchovy,’ on Kayak Packing, a How-To, noon Friday.

New to the expo this year are a survival campsite, RV/Camper Pavilion presented by Happy Daze RV, and a Shooting Simulator. Fourteen boat dealers will be on-site along with retailers of Fishermen’s Warehouse, Kayak City, and Fly Fishing Specialties.

The Youth Faire returns on Saturday and Sunday. One of the highlights of the annual International Sportsmen’s Exposition in Sacramento is the induction of the incoming class of the California Outdoors Hall of Fame. These are people who have dedicated themselves to advancing the understanding of, appreciation for, and conservation of California’s great outdoors.

The 2025 class includes: Bel Lange, aka ‘The Outdoorsman,’ (posthumous), Mike Aughney, Dusty Baker, Yancey Forest-Knowles, and Brian Riley. The induction ceremony for the Class of 2025 will occur beginning at 11:30 am in the Adventure Theater on Saturday preceded at 11 a.m. by a special presentation to previous inductee Dick Pool by the Golden State Salmon Association in honor of his decades of dedication to the preservation of California’s fisheries.

Admission is $18 for adults with free entry for youth under 16 and active military with military identification. Veterans can access a limited number of free passes week-of-show at VETTIX.org.

Discounted tickets are available at select northern California Big O Tires, O’Reilly Auto Parts, or Fishermen’s Warehouse.

Expo hours are: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Parking at Cal Expo is $10. Information: https://www.sportsexpos.com.

Dave Hurley is a longtime educator, fishing writer and member of the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.

This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 12:30 PM.