Seminars & Demos Schedule
Our show features a comprehensive lineup of seminars and demonstrations! Use the buttons below to find what interests you!
Fishing
Outdoors
Fishing Seminars
Daily Schedule
We have two rooms full of fishing seminars. Below is the daily schedule. Seminars listed in white take place in Seminar Room 1. Seminars listed in green take place in Seminar Room 2. In addition to these fishing seminars we will also have fishing demonstrations on the Hawg Trough and the Fly Casting Pond. Look for those details in the sections below.
Friday, March 20
4p – Capt. Brian Coombs – Trophy Striper Bass
4p – Chris Stefanou – Land Based Shark Fishing with LISHARKMAN
5p – Tammy King – Striped Bass Catching from the Beach. Subtle Tricks that Change Your Game
5p – Capt. Mike Roy – Fishing for Trophy Striped Bass
6p – Capt. BJ Silvia – Ice Fishing
6p – Capt. Jason Colby – How to Become a Better Fisherman
Saturday, March 21
10a – Capt. Ron McKee – The Effect of Wind Upon Fishing
10a – Jonathan Bunker – Fishing the Deerfield River
11a – Tammy King – Striped Bass Catching from the Beach. Subtle Tricks that Change Your Game
11a – Chris Stefanou – Land Based Shark Fishing with LISHARKMAN
12p – Capt. BJ Silvia – Electronics
12p – Derrick Kirkpatrick – Euro Nymphing 101
1p – Capt. Brian Coombs – Trophy Striper Bass
1p – Capt. Mike Roy – Fishing for Trophy Striped Bass
2p – Tammy King – Fall False Albacore Run (catching and breaking a beach record of 13 pounders from shore.)
2p – Jonathan Bunker – Fishing the Deerfield River
3p – Capt. BJ Silvia – Ice Fishing
3p – Chris Stefanou – Land Based Shark Fishing with LISHARKMAN
4p – John L. Field – Seasons on the Alagnak River, Alaska
4p – Capt. Jason Colby – How to Become a Better Fisherman
Sunday, March 22
10a – Chris Stefanou – Land Based Shark Fishing with LISHARKMAN
10a – Jonathan Bunker – Fishing the Deerfield River
11a – Capt. BJ Silvia – Electronics
11a – Capt. Mike Roy – Fishing for Trophy Striped Bass
12p – Capt. Brian Coombs – Trophy Striped Bass
12p – Derrick Kirkpatrick – Euro Nymphing 101
1p – Tammy King – Striped Bass Catching from the Beach. Subtle Tricks that Change Your Game
1p – Capt. Jason Colby – How to Become a Better Fisherman
2p – Capt. BJ Silvia – Electronics
2p – Jonathan Bunker – Fishing the Deerfield River
3p – Capt. Ron McKee – How to Catch the Big Ones & Get Them to Shore
3p – Capt. Brian Coombs – Trophy Striped Bass
Speaker Bios & Pics
Want to learn more about our featured speakers? Click their names below for their bio and pictures.
BJ Silvia Bio
Owner of Flippin’ Out Charters
Captain Brian Coombs Bio
Captain Brian Coombs runs Get Tight Sport Fishing. A full time Massachusetts based guide service, that operates from Boston through Cape Cod & The Islands. Brian is best known for targeting trophy sized striped bass out of Boston, he also offers trips for black seabass, false albacore , haddock and bluefin tuna.
Captain Jason Colby Bio
Details to come
Captain Mike Roy Bio
Captain Mike Roy is the founder and operator of Reel Cast Charters, a full-time fishing charter based out of Connecticut. His angling pursuits have taken him across country, as well as internationally, fishing in both fresh and salt water from large mouth bass to giant bluefin tuna. An innovative angler, he is constantly applying new techniques, and his enthusiasm and passion for the sport are contagious. Captain Mike is a United States Coast Guard OUPV Licensed Captain and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s and Masters Degree in Education.
Ron McKee Bio
Hi I’m Ron McKee the maker of Striper Maine-iac custom lures. I’ve been a striper fisherman since the mid 60’s. Growing up I had the luck to meet and become a friend of Bob Pond. Bob was known for Atom Lures which he developed and started making in the 40’s. Bob also was one of the founders of Stripers Unlimited a striped bass preservation club which I was a member and supporter. I also got the chance to meet Stan Gibbs while staying with my family on the Canal in the 60’s. Both took the time to teach me and put ideas in my head. I’ve been a tournament fisherman since before 1970. I’ve placed in the Marthas Vineyard Striped Bass a Bluefish Derby many times in the over 40 years that I’ve fished it. I also fished in the R.J. Schaefer tournament, winning many awards in it as well as the Tri – State Fishing Tournament of New England since the 60s. I was eventually the President of the Tri-State Fishing club and on the executive board. I’ve had the luck to land several stripers over 50 lbs. The largest was 56 lb 7oz. Several of the big girls were released after being measured and weighed. I’ve been a plug fisherman and collector for many years which has led me to a vast treasure trove of plug history and knowledge which I freely share.
Chris Stefanau Bio
Chris Stefanou, notably known as “LISHARKMAN” is well known for his extreme, action-packed fishing social media pages (Instagram, TikTok, Youtube etc.), with videos reaching over 700,000,000 views and over 1,800,000 subscribers on Youtube! He is an extremely passionate angler who specializes in Land Based Shark Fishing on Long Island, New York, but often ventures out to different states along the east coast of the U.S. He also books private land-based shark fishing charters for anyone interested!
Highly conservative with his shark studies and tagging, Chris loves sharing his experiences and knowledge with fishing fanatics and shark enthusiasts. Chris has been helping various research associations by tagging and documenting thousands of sharks of different species. This helps to better study these sharks and protect them, and the ecology of our oceans.
Derrick Kirkpatrick Bio
Derrick Kirkpatrick is a professional fly-fishing guide specializing in technical trout fishing year-round. As the owner of CT Fish Guides, he brings decades of on-river experience, a focus on entomology, and a practical approach that helps anglers build real-world skills quickly. Derrick has taught hundreds of anglers how to find and catch fish under challenging conditions.
John L Field bio
John Field is an FFI Master Casting Instructor, photographer, writer, and angling host. To date, he has written three books, Fly-Casting Finesse (2015), ACA’s Beginner’s Guide to Fly Casting (2018), and Fly Fishing for Trophy Striped Bass (2024). John’s articles have been published in Tail Fly Fishing, MidCurrent, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Canadian Sportfishing Magazine, and more. He was a co-producer and cameraman for Larry Dahlberg Productions for Larry’s show, Hunt for Big Fish, on ESPN. John served as president of the American Casting Association and president of the New York Chapter of Trout Unlimited. You can find more about John’s hosted trips, schedule, and projects at fieldflyfishing.com
Seminar Title: Seasons on the Alagnak River, Alaska
The Alagnak is a designated Wild and Scenic River located in Bristol Bay, Alaska and within the Katmai National Park and Preserve. This presentation will describe the inhabitants and conditions from spring runoff through September, the end of the salmon runs. It includes run timing, tackle, angling techniques, gorgeous photos of fish, wildlife, and the flowing river. John covers the lifecycles of resident Alaskan rainbows, five species of salmon, Arctic Char, and Arctic Grayling, and how to catch them!
Johnathan Bunker bio
Square-Tail Anglers Guide Service Owner/Head Guide
Although I do not recall the time, I am told my father hiked with me on his back at 10 weeks old. From that point on I have had a deep passion for the outdoors. I was handed a fly rod at the age of 10 and have yet to put it down. My passion, or what some might say “my obsession” for fly fishing has brought me to many areas of North America where I have learned to sharpen my skills and knowledge on many varieties of water.
I grew up on the Deerfield exploring every riffle and run, hiking miles along the riverbank to catch trout that rarely saw another fisherman. A trout’s menu may remain the same for weeks or change daily, but either way requires multiple seasons of year-round angling and observation to consistently entice these big brutes to run you into your backing.
I have been guiding on these waters since 2010, initially as a wade guide until I realized the greater opportunity and potential that drift boats encompass for clientele success and enjoyment on these rivers. Thus, my guiding has been directed solely to the use of our 13′ Aire rafts with custom NRS fishing frames. The accessibility to remote sections of these rivers is not only a joy to float through, but offers more chances at absolutely spectacular brutes, some easily in excess of 6 lbs.
Tammy King bio
Tammy King is the founder of Fish Girl Guides and a three-time “Angler of the Year.” A Nantucket native, Tammy has turned her lifelong passion for the ocean into a career dedicated to mentorship and surfcasting excellence. Through her popular women-only clinics and workshops, she has become a leading advocate for inclusivity in the sport, empowering anglers of all skill levels.
Beyond the shoreline, Tammy is a respected conservationist and community leader, serving on the Massachusetts Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Panel. Whether she’s appearing on On The Water TV or guiding on the island’s shores, Tammy is committed to preserving maritime traditions and fostering the next generation of stewards.
Hawg Trough Demos
One of our more popular features on the show floor is our Hawg Trough, where you can see pro anglers teach, demonstrate and catch live fish right in front of your eyes! This year, the Hawg Trough is sponsored by Renewal of Andersen!
Daily Schedule
Below is the daily schedule of demonstrations on the Hawg Trough (Giant Fishing Tank).
Friday, March 20
3:30p – Ryan Nye – Demo
4p – Bryan Mayo – Hand Poured Baits Best Kept Secret
4:30p – Sheron Brown – Early Spring Fishing Tips; Nikko Nest Generation Soft Baits
5p – Joe Diorio – Best Lures and Techniques for Trophy Bass
5:30p – Mike James – Stop Fishing, Start Catching: Perfecting Your Spin-Casting and Retrieval Game
6p – Sheron Brown – Early Spring Fishing Tips; Nikko Nest Generation Soft Baits
6:30p – Shane Shanhower – Demo
Saturday, March 21
10a – Mike James – Demo
10:30a – Sheron Brown – Early Spring Fishing Tips; Nikko Nest Generation Soft Baits
11a – John Field – Drop Shot Fishing with the HellaMite; How & Where
11:30a – Joe Diorio – Best Lures and Techniques for Trophy Bass
12p – Sheron Brown – Early Spring Fishing Tips; Nikko Next Generation Soft Baits
12:30p – Mike James – Stop Fishing, Start Catching: Perfecting Your Spin-Casting and Retrieval Game
1p – Ryan Nye – Demo
1:30p – Joe Diorio – Best Lures and Techniques for Trophy Bass
2p – Bryan Mayo – Hand Poured Baits Best Kept Secret
2:30p – Mike James – Stop Fishing, Start Catching: Perfecting Your Spin-Casting and Retrieval Game
3p – Ryan Nye – Demo
3:30p – Sheron Brown – Early Spring Fishing Tips; Nikko Next Generation Soft Baits
4p – Brian Mayo – Hand Poured Baits best kept secret
4:30p – Joe Diorio – Best Lures and Techniques for Trophy Bass
5p – John Field – Drop Shot Fishing with the HellaMite; How & Where
Sunday, March 22
10a – Joe Diorio – Demo
10:30a – Ryan Nye – Demo
11a – John Field – Drop Shot Fishing with the HellaMite; How & Where
11:30a – Shane Shanhower – Demo
12p – Mike James – Stop Fishing, Start Catching: Perfecting Your Spin-Casting and Retrieval Game
12:30p – Joe Diorio – Best Lures and Techniques for Trophy Bass
1p – John Field – Drop Shot Fishing with the HellaMite; How & Where
1:30p – Bryan Mayo – Hand Poured Baits Best Kept Secret
2p – Shane Shanhower – Drop Shot Fishing with the HellaMite; How & Where
2:30p – Mike James – Stop Fishing, Start Catching: Perfecting Your Spin-Casting and Retrieval Game
3p – Joe Diorio – Best Lures and Techniques for Trophy Bass
3:30p – Ryan Nye – Demo
Speaker Bios & Pics
Want to learn more about our featured speakers? Click their names below for their bio and pictures.
Bryan Mayo Bio
Bryan Mayo is a 7 time RI Bass Nation State team member and 2021 Club Champion.
Captain Joe Diorio
Captain Joe Diorio is a well-known for fishing throughout the New England community. He has been fishing the coastal waters of CT, RI and NY for over 25 years. He is the owner and operator of Joe Diorio Guide Service, which runs out of CT on his 22’ Bluefin.
Joe is best known for catching trophy sized Stripers in the New England area throughout the year, but also has an extensive knowledge targeting various other species in the area. Joe is a 3 time On The Water Magazine, “Angler of the Year” and has won and placed numerous tournaments. He has landed many Stripers over 50 pounds, one 60+ pounder, and this past season Joe caught and released a massive Striper over 70+ pounds. This past season alone Joe and his clients have boated over 10 plus Stripers at an astonishing 50 plus pounds. Each of those Stripers were released to assure the protection and future of Striped Bass. Recently Joe did a TV show with On The Water Magazine that will be aired in February 2019.
He is affiliated with some of the very best companies in the industry which allows him and his clients to fish with some top of the line products the fishing world has to offer. Joe’s seminar is one that you will not want to miss.
John Field Bio
John is an avid freshwater fisherman with a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Mainly a smallmouth bass fisherman, he enjoys fishing for a variety of species, embracing the diversity of nature. Driven by his love for the sport, John and his business partner founded Fresh Baitz, a company dedicated to bringing a fresh and unique perspective to fishing. Their mission is to educate and inspire the next generation of anglers, with a special focus on getting young people excited about the outdoors and the joys of fishing with new and innovative bait designs.
Ryan Nye Bio
Ryan is a freshwater kayak tournament angler from Andover, Connecticut. He has been fishing national level events since 2020. Ryan’s favorite species to target are largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Ryan has been on the BHO team since 2022. His favorite part of kayak fishing is having the ability to get anywhere and fish everywhere.
Sheron Brown Bio
Sheron K. Brown Sr. also known as “The Lunkerman” a nickname earned by his peers is a professional tournament angler and fishing guide pursuing his passion. From the City of Worcester, Massachusetts, Sheron has 30 years of experience fishing glacier formed natural lakes and river systems throughout the Northeast. “The Lunkerman” has won numerous big fish titles on every level he has fished sharing his his vast knowledge and diverse background to anglers all over the world various avenues to include social media, the tournament trail, at the dock, various trade shows and seminars throughout New England. Come and see SKB representing Ardent Outdoors where he will be discussing cold water tactics in depth.You can find him on social media by using the hashtag #SKBfishing
Fly Casting Pond Demos
Daily Schedule
Below is the daily schedule of demonstrations on our Fly Casting Pond.
Friday, March 20
4p – Derrick Kirkpatrick – Demo
5p – Ian Devlin – Demo
6p – Joey Takeman – Demo
6:30p – Fred Wilson – Flip N Fly Open Water Finesse Style Casting Tips & Techniques with Micro Jigs, Trailers & Flies!
Saturday, March 21
10a – Ian Devlin – Demo
11a – Fred Wilson – Flip N Fly Open Water Finesse Style Casting Tips & Techniques with Micro Jigs, Trailers & Flies!
12p – Mark Dysinger – Fly Casting Physics
1p – Ian Devlin – Demo
2p – Localfly Co. – Closest to the Trout Fly Casting Competition
3p – Localfly Co. – Closest to the Trout Fly Casting Competition
4p – Localfly Co. – Closest to the Trout Fly Casting Competition
Sunday, March 22
10a – Mark Dysinger – Fly Casting Physics
11a – Fred Wilson – Flip N Fly Open Water Finesse Style Casting Tips & Techniques with Micro Jigs, Trailers & Flies!
12p – TBD – TBD
1p – Mark Dysinger – Fly Casting Physics
2p – John L. Field – Loop Control & Better Back Casts
3p – Fred Wilson – Flip N Fly Open Water Finesse Style Casting Tips & Techniques with Micro Jigs, Trailers & Flies!
Speaker Bios & Pics
Want to learn more about our featured speakers? Click their names below for their bio and pictures.
Captain Ian Devlin Bio
Captain Ian Devlin offers charter fishing. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/people/Captain-Ian-Devlins-Charters/100057594372011/
Captain Mark Dysinger Bio
Captain Mark Dysinger has fished the New England salt most of his life. Although he is skilled in many angling methods, he is most accomplished with the fly rod. He specializes in the northeast slam of striped bass, bluefish, and false albacore. Athough he guides in Long Island Sound and its surrounding waters, he is also passionate about freshwater fishing and is a recognized authority on flyfishing for northern pike.
Mark has fished extensively across North America, and his works have appeared in numerous print and online publications. He has been a featured innovative fly tyer for Eastern Flyfishing Magazine, and his Bunny split fly (aka Musky Bunny Twin Tail) is included in the “deadly dozen” musky patterns in Rob Tomes’ Musky on the Fly. In 2018, he was recruited as an ambassador to the American Museum of Fly Fishing, whose mission is to provide stewardship of the history, traditions, and practices of the sport while promoting conservation of its waters. Mark is a regular fixture at the northeast winter fly fishing shows, where he demonstrates fly tying techniques and shares angling insights and strategies.
Mark is an experienced teacher both on and off the water, and takes great joy in seeing others succeed. His enthusiasm and attention to detail make him a popular instructor, and his topical presentations are both informative and entertaining. Mark’s patience and enthusiasm have positively affected many fellow anglers.
Mark is licensed by the United States Coast Guard and fully insured. He resides on the Connecticut coast with his wife Anne and daughter Lucy.
Derrick Kirkpatrick Bio
Derrick Kirkpatrick is a professional fly-fishing guide specializing in technical trout fishing year-round. As the owner of CT Fish Guides, he brings decades of on-river experience, a focus on entomology, and a practical approach that helps anglers build real-world skills quickly. Derrick has taught hundreds of anglers how to find and catch fish under challenging conditions.
Fred Wilson Bio
Fred Wilson, owner of Flip Fly Tye, takes his bass fishing tournament experience and applies it to his flyfishing approaches; He is a regular contributor to the sport of fishing and encouraging youth and youth at heart to enjoy the art of fly fishing and tying. Promoting “how to” demonstrations for largemouth, smallmouth bass with conventional and Spey Style Fly Fishing techniques.
Presentation
Flip N Fly Open Water Finesse Style Casting Tips & Techniques with Micro Jigs,Trailers & Flies!
John Field Bio
John Field is an FFI Master Casting Instructor, photographer, writer, and angling host. To date, he has written three books, Fly-Casting Finesse (2015), ACA’s Beginner’s Guide to Fly Casting (2018), and Fly Fishing for Trophy Striped Bass (2024). John’s articles have been published in Tail Fly Fishing, MidCurrent, Fly Fisherman Magazine, Canadian Sportfishing Magazine, and more. He was a co-producer and cameraman for Larry Dahlberg Productions for Larry’s show, Hunt for Big Fish, on ESPN. John served as president of the American Casting Association and president of the New York Chapter of Trout Unlimited. You can find more about John’s hosted trips, schedule, and projects at fieldflyfishing.com
Presentation
Loop Control & Better Back Casts
Learn how to cast wide to narrow loops and improve casting distance, accuracy, and presentation. This demo will also help you make a better backcast, which is the set-up for a good forward cast.
Hunting Seminars
Daily Schedule
Below is our daily schedule of hunting seminars. All seminars will take place in Seminar Room 3.
Friday, March 20
4p – Safari Pike – Conservation Hunting
5p – Becket Hill GSP – Steadiness Training for Your Pointers & Retrievers
6p – Matt Wettish – Simplifying Success for Spring Turkeys … The Simple Secrets!
Saturday, March 21
10a – Matt Wettish – Simplifying Success for Spring Turkeys … The Simple Secrets!
11a – John Dellacamera – Planning Small Parcel Private Lane Hunts
12p – CT Delta Waterfowlers – Water Safety for the Outdoorsman
1p – Becket Hill GSP – All Things Dogs from Bird Dogs to House Dogs
2p – John Dellacamera – Planning Small Parcel Private Lane Hunts
3p – Becket Hill GSP – All Things Dog from Bird Dogs to House Dogs
4p – Safari Pike – Conservation Hunting
Sunday, March 22
10a – John Dellacamera – Planning Small Parcel Private Lane Hunts
11a – Becket Hill GSP – All Things Dog from Bird Dogs to House Dogs
12p – Matt Wettish – Simplifying Success for Spring Turkeys … The Simple Secrets!
1p – Becket Hill GSP – Steadiness Training for Pointers & Retrievers
2p – Matt Wettish – Simplifying Success for Spring Turkeys … The Simple Secrets!
Speaker Bios & Pics
Want to learn more about our featured speakers? Click their names below for their bio and pictures.
Becket Hill GSP Bio
Jackie Alix, owner / breeder of Becket Hill GSP, has been breeding and raising hunting dogs her entire life for the home and the field. She spent the last 4 years learning canine obedience and bird dog steadiness training with V3 Gun Dogs & Canine Academy and wants to share what she has learned with the wider gun dog community.
CT Delta Waterfowl
“Water Safety for the Outdoorsman” by William Firgelewski, certified Fire/Rescue Instructor and Firefighter and Jacqueline Alix, Nationally Registered EMT.
William Firgelewski, a longtime hunter and outdoor enthusiast, has been a certified Fire/Rescue instructor for over 15 years, leading and participating in over 30 water and ice rescues and recoveries in his 20+ years as a firefighter in the towns of Lyme and Old Lyme.
Jacqueline Alix, Chairman of CT Delta Waterfowl, had been on or near the water for most of her life, hunting for over 10 years, and an active EMT with the town of Lyme for 5 years.
This seminar will cover basic water safety practices that can significantly reduce water-related accidents as well as proper emergency response for those in an active water emergency.
Matt Wettish Bio
CT born and raised and host of the video series Real Outdoors TV, Matt Wettish has been hunting and fishing the New England woods for over 35 years.
Matt is a 2024 New England Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame inductee and a multi-state champion turkey caller Matt has taken turkey hunting to the next level. He has successfully completed the Grand Slam of turkey hunting, hunted 25 out of 50 states, taken wild turkey with archery, muzzleloader and shotgun and has qualified for the Grand Nationals of turkey calling by winning multiple state turkey calling championship titles.
He has taken his passion for hunting to television and has been the focus of shows on such networks as ESPN, EPSN2, OLN and The Outdoor Channel. He has been published nationally multiple times while being the focus of articles in such magazines as Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, NRA’s American Hunter, Turkey Call and even The New York Times.
Matt also enjoys passing on the tradition of the outdoors to the younger generation by participating in the state’s offering of Youth Day hunting opportunities by bringing out young and first time hunters, and by mentoring older high school and college level young adults. He always tries to instill a passion, respect and appreciation for the outdoors in the people he helps.
Matt is proudly sponsored by companies such as Realtree, Winchester, Carlson’s, TruGlo, Costa, Columbia, Ol’ Tom/Drake and more.
Safari Pike Bio
Safari Pike is a prominent young hunter from Vermont, recognized for her role as a 19-year-old big game hunter and her commitment to conservation hunting. She is the youngest board member of the Dallas Safari Club (DSC) and was named the recipient of the 2025 Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award.
Animal Experiences with Nature Nick
Get Ready for Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures!
Get up close and personal with some of the world’s most fascinating creatures when Nature Nick takes the stage for his incredible Animal Adventures show! This high-energy, educational wildlife experience will thrill audiences of all ages as Nick introduces amazing animals like a 10-foot python, a Eurasian eagle owl with a six-foot wingspan, colorful toucans, hedgehogs, alligators, and more.
Each show features 5–6 trained exotic animals, all presented by Nature Nick himself — a nationally recognized TV personality, author, and professional animal trainer. You’ve seen him on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, The Martha Stewart Show, and Good Day New York — now you can see him live!
After the show, don’t miss the special meet & greet, where guests can snap photos and interact with Nature Nick and some of his amazing animal ambassadors.
Bring the whole family for an unforgettable adventure that’s fun, educational, and wildly entertaining!
Presentation Times
Friday – 4pm, 6pm, & 7pm
Saturday – 12pm, 3pm & 5pm
Sunday – 11am, 2pm & 4pm
US Coast Guard Seminars
Inflatable Life Jacket Demos – US Coast Guard
- Friday – 3p & 5p
- Saturday – 11a, 1p & 4p
- Sunday – 11a, 1p & 3p
So what exactly happens when you pull that little tab?
Find out with live demos from the coast guard to prepare you for how to handle an emergency situation! We’ll talk about life jackets in general, why to wear them, when to wear them, who must wear them, etc. and then inflate one of the jackets.