By JOHN D. FERGUSON World Correspondent on Feb 22, 2013, at 1:54 AM Updated on 2/22/13 at 6:29 AM
Holly Lane, wife of last year's Bassmaster champion Chris Lane, moves her husband's standing poster in a booth inside the Bassmaster Expo at the Tulsa Convention Center on Thursday. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Bassmaster Classic coverage: From the morning launch to the evening weigh-ins, get complete Classic coverage. And find more on the event, including a Google Maps video tour of Grand Lake and maps of Tulsa’s entertainment districts and restaurants.
It took Kevin Devereaux more than six hours to fill the Dick's Sporting Goods fish tank, but it only took seconds for the Garr Corner, Okla., resident to know everything connected to fishing would be his career 25 years ago.
Devereaux was part of the army of workers constructing and gearing up for Friday's opening of the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo presented by Dick's Sporting Goods. The doors will open to the public at noon to wander through booth space in every corner and floor of the 300,000-square-foot Convention Center. Admission is free.
The three-day event is expected to attract as many as 100,000 people. It will not only showcase the latest, brightest and fastest things for the fishing and outdoor enthusiast, but live demonstrations geared to children will also be offered.
A word to the wise: Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to be overwhelmed by the size, color and variety of the booths. Oh yes, bring some cash, too. Purchases can be made on site.
Devereaux lives between Ada and Stratford, but spends most of his time on the road. He does demonstrations and grand openings for Dick's Sporting Goods. He will leave Tulsa after the Expo for Tampa, Fla., and then Reno, Nev.
"We are the largest mobile aquarium company in the world," Devereaux said. "No one's got more than we do."
Devereaux competes in some pro open fishing tournaments and does guide work in Mexico in his spare time, too.
"I've done this for 25 years," Devereaux added of the traveling Expo life.
Even the fish inside Devereaux's 5,000-gallon tank are from Oklahoma. The Inslee Fish Farm in Connerville, Okla., breeds the demonstration black bass that range from 2 to 7 pounds in size that swim in the tank.
The fish are never caught, but Devereaux shows how they react to certain lures.
The Phoenix Boats Company of Winchester, Tenn., was wrapping up its large display, too.
"We started Monday afternoon," said Duke Jenkel of Phoenix Boats.
The sleek fishing boats came through the north entrance, which was also used by other boat companies nearby.
Surrounded by a sea of crates, the Zebco fishing display was in the finishing stages with a huge photo mural as the centerpiece.
"It took two men about eight hours to set up," said Robert Huffman, who works for Display House, which handles Zebco's booth construction. "We got the photo (mural) from Zebco, but I custom built these (fishing rod) displays."
The booth sizes vary, but everyone will be able to see the latest fishing gadgets and outdoor accessories to fit every budget.
Outdoor Game Zone Schedule
at the Tulsa Convention Center/Bassmaster Expo
FRIDAY (Noon to 8 p.m.)
Daisy Range: Open to public, National Wild Turkey Foundation, noon to 5 p.m.
SRS Eukanuba Super Dock
Noon: Super Dock Dogs
1 p.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts: Ducks and Dogs at Work
1:15 p.m: Pro Super Dock Dogs Competition
2 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
3:15 p.m.: Casting with Pro Fishermen
3:30 p.m.: Pro Super Dock Dogs
4:30 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
5 p.m.: Super V Pro Dock Dogs
SATURDAY (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
Daisy Range: Open to public, National Wild Turkey Foundation, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SRS Eukanuba Super Dock
10 a.m.: Super Dock Dogs
11 a.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
11:15 a.m.: Pro Super Dock Dog Competition
12:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
1:15 p.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
1:30 p.m.: Pro Super Dock Dog Competition
2:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
2:30 p.m.: Super V Pro Competition Semifinals
3 p.m.: Retriever Trial Finalists introduction on the dock
4 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
SUNDAY (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Daisy Range: Open to public, National Wild Turkey Foundation, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SRS Eukanuba Super Dock
10 a.m.: Super Dock Dogs
11 a.m.: Scott Greer and Robb Watts - Ducks and Dogs at Work
11:15 a.m.: Pro Dock Dogs Semifinals
12:15 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
12:30 p.m.: Fun Jumps audience participation
1:30 p.m.: Pro Dock Dogs Finals
2:30 p.m.: Casting with the Pros - Fishing
2:45 p.m.: Super V Finals
Original Print Headline: Expo brings big variety
Other - Outdoor
TUESDAY
Breeding in arctic tundra and wintering primarily along the coasts, sanderlings migrate through
Oklahoma in spring and fall.
