Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders expo planned for Sept. 27

North Olmsted, Ohio — The Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders (OCBS) would like to invite readers of Ohio Outdoor News to attend its 31st annual Steelhead Expo.

Over the years, this family-friendly event has established itself as the informal kickoff to the season for many “Steelhead Valley” anglers. This year’s expo is being held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Rocky River Nature Center in North Olmsted.

The OCBS expo promises something for everyone whether you’re completely new to steelhead fishing or a seasoned, veteran angler. Fly fishermen, conventional tackle, and folks who drift with centerpins will all have opportunities not just to gear up for the upcoming season and lay their hands on some of the latest offerings from top brands but also to hear the latest updates from the Division of Wildlife, learn new techniques, and presentations from some of the area’s top steelhead anglers.

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While the event offers free admission and is open to the public, you’ll want to bring some cash and cards with you to take advantage of the many show specials and promotional deals from the some of the top names in steelhead gear including Orvis, River Roe, Voodoo Jigs, Lamiglass, Lake Erie Kayak Fishing, and many other vendors. In addition to great deals to help you get geared up, the OCBS will also have its raffles with prizes ranging from apparel to rods, reels, terminal tackle packages, and everything in between.

Attendees can also expect a full schedule of knowledgeable speakers, including John Brochue (Orvis), Michael Durkalec (Cleveland Metroparks), Curt Wagner (Division of Wildlife), Roger Hinchcliff (Lamiglass and Steelhead Manifesto) and more. There will also be fly-tying demonstrations, bead rigging tutorials, and useful information from local conservation groups. As has become tradition, lunch will also be available for purchase from the local Girl Scouts as part of a fundraising partnership.

If you’d like to find out more about the OCBS, the expo is a good introduction. If you can’t attend the expo, OCBS has also scheduled its first monthly membership meeting of the season for Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Emeral Necklace Marina from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. This event will also feature Curt Wagner (Division of Wildlife) and several colleagues providing updates on the Division of Wildlife’s steelhead program.