Seattle Boat Show 2018: Jan 26 – Feb 3

The Seattle Boat Show, Indoors + Afloat, is known far and wide for the quantity, quality and variety of its free boating and fishing seminars. For the 2018 show, there will be more than 200 free seminars on everything from sailing around the world, to transiting the Ballard Locks using a ‘no-mayhem’ approach, and advanced seminars for a fee through Boat Show University.  On the fishing and crabbing stage there will be 55 free seminars by the Northwest’s top-notch fishing experts providing anglers with an in-depth wealth of knowledge on how to catch fish and crab across the Pacific Northwest. Loyal seminar attendees from previous years will notice some new faces and new topics this year that are sure to get anglers hooked into new locations and varieties of fish.

“I can’t think of a better place to live where fishing is a year-round proposition, and one day you can be chasing fish on a river, and then hit a lake or marine area the following day. We are fortunate to have so many excellent choices on where to catch fish, and so many local experts who are more than happy to share their vast knowledge of sport fisheries with show attendees,” says Mark Yuasa, director of Grow Boating Programs/NW Salmon Derby Series for the Northwest Marine Trade Association. “The greater variety of seminars offered this year have enormous value that anglers can take on their next outing.”

Of interest and great value to those considering attending numerous seminars on multiple days will be the new Unlimited Pass. The $40 e-ticket to the Seattle Boat Show includes admission on all nine show days as well as free parking on any or all days at Bell Street Pier Garage or on weekends at the Yale Avenue Garage at South Lake Union. (A single-day ticket is $15.) Alternatively, a walk-up only, multi-day ticket is $30 and does not include any free parking.  A free shuttle runs continuously between all three show locations.

Kayak fishing has gained in popularity as many anglers are finding out this “new school” way to fish from pedal-powered models to paddle kayaks with customizable decks for attaching fish finders, rod holders and a variety of accessories. Brad Hole, kayak fishing guide and founder of Kayak Fishing Washington has taken this style of fishing to a whole new level. In his seminar Brad will go over how to get started, plus share tips on how to catch everything from trout, salmon and bass to monster-sized sturgeon as well as filling a pot with Dungeness crabs.

Many anglers are finding out just how excellent winter and early spring fishing can be for trophy-sized kokanee in eastern Washington’s expansive Lake Roosevelt. Austin Moser, owner of Austin’s Northwest Adventures is the “go to” person on what to use for gear and bait, trolling tactics and location of these excellent tasting fish commonly known as a landlocked sockeye salmon. He’ll share his tips for catching those beauties.

Keith Robbins, owner of A Spot Tail Salmon Guide in Seattle is not new to the show with his seminar on the “old school” way of catching salmon via mooching in Puget Sound. But he also has a vast knowledge of how to fly-fish for coastal cutthroat and salmon that inhabit nearly all bodies of water in the Pacific Northwest. He’ll share his knowledge in his new “Fly Fishing in Puget Sound” seminar. Robbins has been pursuing cutthroat trout for many years and understands their importance to our local waters as well as what a fun sport-fish they are to our ecosystems.

West Marine Northwest Salmon Derby Series

While at the show, stop by to view the grand prize for next year’s Northwest Salmon Derby Series – a KingFisher 2025 Falcon Series powered with a Honda 150hp and 9.9hp trolling motors on a EZ-loader galvanized trailer and fully rigged with Scotty downriggers, Raymarine electronics, WhoDat Tower and a Dual Electronics Stereo – a $65,000 value.

When an angler purchases a derby ticket to any of the 15 derbies, they are automatically entered into the drawing for the grand prize boat, which will take place at the conclusion of the Everett Derby in September or November in 2018. If an angler enters all 15 derbies, the angler’s name will be entered 15 times into the drawing.

The 2018 Northwest Salmon Derby Series kicks off with the Resurrection Salmon Derby in Anacortes, Jan. 5-7 and concludes with the Everett No-Coho Blackmouth Salmon Derby, Nov. 3-4.  http://northwestsalmonderbyseries.com/  

About the Seattle Boat Show

The show features three locations, 1,000 recreational vessels and more than 400 exhibitors. There are more than three acres of the latest innovations in accessories, technology and boating gear on display indoors, plus hundreds of world-class yachts on the water at South Lake Union and Bell Harbor Marina. There are approximately 200 free seminars during the nine days of the show and advanced training classes for a fee through Boat Show University. A free shuttle runs continuously between all three locations.

For a complete list of exhibitors, seminars, travel package and ticket prices, please visit www.SeattleBoatShow.com  E-tickets are on sale now.