1st big show is on fly fishing.

Byline: Mary Anne Magiera

COLUMN: OUTDOORS

The ninth annual Fly Fishing Show opens a three-day stint in Marlboro on Jan. 19, signaling the beginning of a strong round of annual outdoor sports shows and expositions within easy driving distance for Central Massachusetts residents.

If you enjoy a show that focuses only on fly fishing, don't miss the Marlboro show. It is now the only show of its kind in New England. Previous events in Wilmington and Danbury, Conn., will not be held this year.

The Marlboro show will be held at the Royal Plaza Trade Center, off Route 20. It will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday; 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturday; and, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Entertaining experts who have fished popular and remote waters in just about every fly fishing venue in the world will be at the show and more than willing to share information. There will be hourly seminars, workshops, and casting demonstrations detailing techniques for all species of fresh and saltwater fish, and exhibitors will be selling all of the newest rods, reels, and gear.

In a change this year, Jack Gartside, popular fly-tyer, author, and expert on Boston Harbor stripers, will leave his vice at home. Instead he will be a featured speaker, leading a seminar on successful striper strategies.

Also, well-known area guide and author Marla Blair will have an expanded role at the show. She will take a new spot on fly tyers' row and lead a seminar on fishing for pink and silver salmon in Kodiak, Alaska.

Canadian competitive fly fisherman Tim Rajeff has been added to the roster of the few select experts who will give casting demonstrations and lead seminars. Rajeff, who owns a small fishing lodge on a lake in Manitoba, has been a consistent finalist in the International Fly Fishing Masters tournaments featured on outdoors sports television channels. Rajeff will join a star-studded roster of casting experts - including Lou Tabory and Cathy Beck - who will give demonstrations about every two hours at the show.

This year's show also will mark the return of several popular tyers and seminar speakers such as Barry Beck, Ben Furinsky, Phil Camera, Alan Caolo, Fishy Fulllum, Wendell "Ozzie" Ozefovich, and Brad Burns.

For more information, call [phone], or visit flyfishingshow.com.

DCU hosts Outdoor Expo

The Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition returns to the DCU Center in Worcester on Feb. 8-11. The show is now owned by the American Sportfishing Assoc., but popular show manager Paul Fuller is returning for the event's 31st year and remains very much in charge of the details that make this a world-class event. The show is sponsored by Toyota Trucks, the Telegram & Gazette and the Outdoor Channel.

More than 350 exhibitors are expected to show the best of the best in outdoors equipment with emphasis on the newest gear for fishing, hunting, and boating. Fuller is calling this year's event a "show of discovery" because so many new products are scheduled to be unveiled. For example, show-goers will get a sneak preview of the new 2007 Toyota Tundra.

Bass fishing superstar Kevin Van Dam will return to the DCU Center show. Winner of bass fishing's premier tournament twice in this century, Van Dam has earned more than $2 million fishing for a living. The affable Michigan fisherman will give a seminar on Friday and is usually at the Quantum booth and willing to answer questions from those attending.

New to the roster of fishing and hunting experts this year is Maine guide Wayne Hockmeyer. Inventor of the banjo minnow, reportedly the biggest-selling lure in fishing tackle history, Hockmeyer will share techniques on both bass fishing and deer hunting.

Mike Laptew, the diving fishermen, also will be at the show with anecdotes and spectacular footage from his recently released DVD, "Stripers Gone Wild", along with a host of saltwater fishing stars such as author and legendary striper fisherman Frank Daignault.

Saturday will be Whitetail Super Day at the show with the focus on hunting. A whitetail deer head of exceptional proportions will be exhibited. Named "Big Jake", the deer was shot in Oklahoma and reportedly sports the heaviest set of antlers ever recorded-16 pounds. The rack has 30 points and has been given a non-typical score of 344 by international antler scoring systems.

Also appearing on Saturday will be the Benoit family, the most successful deer-hunting family in America, and Peter Fiduccia, author of the best-selling "Whitetail Strategies," and host of the syndicated "Woods and Water" television series.

For more information, visit www.sportshows.com.

Other shows

The CMTA Boating and Fishing Show will be held Jan. 25-28 at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford. For information, call [phone].

Just past its half-century mark, the annual New England Boat Show is slated for Feb. 17- 24 at the Boston Convention and Exposition Center in Boston. For information, call [phone] or visit www.naexpo.com.

Rounding out this year's show season is the Springfield Sportsmen Show Feb. 22-25 at the Eastern States Exposition (Big E) in West Springfield. Covering more than a half-million square feet of booths, exhibits, seminars, and activity areas, the show provides a somewhat different perspective on hunting and fishing.

The show draws exhibitors, outfitters and guides from some of the southern and mid-western states and New York. The event also features a different set of hunting and fishing experts than are available at the DCU Center show.

Archery Shoot Saturday

The Century Sportsmen's Club will host a 3-D Archery Shoot beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday at the club's grounds at 351 Rochdale St. in Auburn. The event is open to the public.

The course has been changed to offer more challenges to this season's shooters. The club's kitchen will be open during the event. For more information, czall Ray Hurd at [phone].