A SHOW FOR ALL OUTDOORS EXPO COMES TO FAIRPLEX.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

When the International Sportsmen's Exposition comes to Fairplex Park in Pomona in three weeks, show promoters are betting Southern Californians will take to the fairground's main building like ducks take to water.

The company's effort, its first in the Southern California market in nearly 20 years, will be held Jan. 10-13.

John Kirk of ISE admits that the show has a daunting challenge: Keeping pace with the ever-popular Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show, which will hold its annual show March 6-10 at the Long Beach Arena and Convention Center.

``We are competing against them,'' Kirk says. ``We're competing for the consumer's time. We have a different appeal. For the diehard outdoors person, there's no question which one they'll want to go to, both. They'll have nine days a year of shows. And if they don't like our show, they won't come back. If they do like it, we know they'll return.''

There is a difference in the shows, Kirk said. The ISE, which also holds eight other shows throughout the West, features fishing, hunting, travel, camping, cooking and other activities. At the Hall Show, there's seemingly nothing like fishing and fishing-related topics. At the ISE, Kirk says a fly-fishing exhibit might be next to a bass exhibit.

``They do an excellent saltwater show,'' Kirk said. ``They get a lot of hot products that come in there. We have a broader selection of products.''

Kirk says a fly-fishing exhibit might be next to a bass-fishing exhibit. He says that type of cross-mixing allows anglers to learn about other types of fishing, even exploring those avenues.

One of the first avenues that the show took when it first began 27 years ago was including camping and cooking, the first show to include something that nearly every outdoors person does. It's something that will be featured inside the main building and surrounding the building.

More than 300 exhibitors and between 15,000 and 20,000 people are anticipated.

``Those are good numbers for a first-year show,'' Kirk said. ``We've needed to come to Southern California for awhile. Our wholesalers requested, no demanded, that we come here. If this show is like (the) Salt Lake City (show), which began four years ago, it can double next year and double again the next year.''

The company's biggest show is currently in San Mateo, with more than 700 exhibitors.

Many hands-on exhibits will be interspersed with some of a discipline's top experts. World-champion caller Chad Shearer will have demonstrations, along with national fly-fishing experts Gary Borger, Richard Bean and Gary Graham. Southern California hunting expert Jim Matthews also will have demonstrations and there will be plenty of Baja California experts, too.

``Chad is amazing,'' said Scott Linden, who is helping organize the show experts. ``He can do any type of game and non-game calls, too. Like donkeys.''

Some of the hands-on areas will include a fly-casting pond, a fish and game cooking area, campsite, 48-foot aquarium with catch-and-release fishing for youths, a 48-foot Safari Club International truck and a BB-gun target area. There also will be an Outdoor Sports Youth Fair.

Those seeking exotic habitat trips, like to Africa, Alaska or Southeast Asia, or other parts of the nation and world, can check out what is being offered.

Show hours will be noon to 8 p.m., Jan. 10-11; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Jan. 12; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 13. Tickets are $8 and youths ages 12 and under will be admitted for free. There are $1 discounts at Sportmart, Turner's Outdoorsman and Long's Drugs.

Information: (909) 623-311.