10 reasons to go to Northwest Sportshow

Perhaps you want to nurture your inner cowboy. Maybe you fancy yourself a hunter on horseback or a seeker of trout from mountain streams. Regardless of your specific recreational interests in the West, you'll find information, inspiration and perhaps even an accommodating outfitter at the Northwest Sportshow.

Seminars at the show feature angling heavyweights, including Jason Przekurat, 2007 FLW Walleye Tour Angler of the Year, who will talk about -- what else? -- walleye fishing. Terry Tuma will offer crappie fishing tips. Steve Nelson's specialty is fishing the BWCA. Pete Maina will discuss suspended spring muskies. Canadian woman angler Tasmin Kaliska will discuss fishing for trophy walleyes and northerns in Canada. Ron Schara will be on hand, too, to spin a few fishing tales.

Whether you own a tent or an RV -- or want to purchase one or both -- you'll find information about where to camp this summer in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest, as well as in Ontario and Manitoba.

Perhaps no summer adventure is more Minnesotan than renting a houseboat and setting sail for the horizon. Water travel, camping and fishing -- houseboat travel offers each. Vendors from Crane Lake, Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake and elsewhere will be on hand at the show to discuss options, prices and how you, too, can sneak away to an island campsite of your own.

Whether the economy is up or down, everyone needs a vacation. Eager to get away from their routines, thousands of Minnesotans this summer will descend on campgrounds. Others will check into five-star resorts. Still others will hike the Superior Trail. Stretching back to early last century, the Northwest Sportshow has been the Midwest's dream-trip headquarters.

With all the talk about "bucket lists"' -- things to do before you kick the bucket -- a reminder here: Put "shore lunch in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness" at the top of your list. Dinner never tastes better than at a campsite that is yours alone, with loons singing and fresh fish topping the menu.

Long before Minnesota became famous for its Fortune 500 companies, it was an invention hotbed for all things fishing. The nation's top fishing lures, inland-water boat companies and tackle manufacturers either have a Minnesota connection or are themselves headquartered here. Count among these Rapala, Lindy, Northland Tackle, Alumacraft, Ranger, Aqua-Vu, Crestliner, Lund, Minn-Kota, Vexilar, Humminbird, We-no-nah and many, many more. All of which will be represented at the Sportshow.

Highlight of the summer for many Minnesotans is a fly-in fishing trip to a remote Canadian lake. Experts on what's available, from short hops just north of the Minnesota border to lengthy expeditions above the Arctic Circle, will be on hand at the show.

Travel the world over and you'll not find a better or more diverse state park system than Minnesota's. Whether your thing is hiking, tent camping, fishing, boating or horseback riding, there's a state park with you in mind. Here, fall hikers at Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth trek across the St. Louis River. More info will be available at the show from state tourism representatives.