Learning about Fishing at the Washington Sportsmen’s Show

The Washington Sportsmen’s Show is a huge event that every Northwest fisherman should see at least once. It’s the time of year when the weather’s cold and few fisheries are open, so it’s the best time of year make plans for the upcoming season. I brought my fishing buddy Dave along. He had never been before, and he was amazed at just how much there is to take in there. The five-day show is attended by more than 15,000 people, and has more than 550 vendors. Half of the show is about hunting, which neither of us are into, but there were a lot of displays about 4×4 overlanding, a lot of camping trailers and cabovers, and a whole building full of new fishing boats for sale. They had a great big trout tank set up, so that little kids could catch their first fish for free (which is kind of like how drug dealers get you addicted…). They had three seminars on three stages all going at once. One of them was an artificial steelhead river, complete with moving water, big rocks, and fallen trees. Somebody really went the extra mile to build that whole thing. 

Vendors came from far and wide. Companies from South Africa and New Zealand were selling hunting safaris in those faraway countries. Lots of fishing charter operators were there, from Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. There were multiple huge fishing tackle shops set up, and every imaginable gizmo for your fishing boat or 4×4. Somebody was selling a small room-sized gun safe, fit for a bank, and there was a nonprofit demonstrating their trained falcons and hawks. 

The first seminar we attended was all about kokanee, taught by the astoundingly knowledgeable Brianna Bruce of Livin’ Life Adventures, who has been a full-time, year-round fishing guide for 14 years. I had actually hired her for a kokanee charter three years ago when I first got my boat, but haven’t really fished for kokanee since, because I got more into saltwater fishing. Dave loves to catch kokanee from his kayak though, and I’d like to give it a try again this April. The seminar was full of valuable information, and I took copious notes.

The other seminar we attended was a fun one on Trout Fishing 101, held in the steelhead river. It’s rare to find a fisherman who has never fished for trout, but that’s me. I figured I needed that essential skill. The instructor was Leif Stiffney of the popular ‘NW Fishing Secrets’ YouTube channel, who has a very relaxed and down-to-earth style. He presented three ways of trout fishing: the spinner rig for catch and release, the Carolina rig for bottom fishing, and the bobber rig, which is for constant-depth fishing. The show was a lot of fun, and we both learned a lot in a short time. 

A few days after the show, Leif posted the fun video below of the huge trout catch and cook he did that day, including his scavenger hunt for various materials he needed to do the event.