ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Over the weekend, outdoorsmen and women filled the Ruth Butler Building for the second annual Daily Press U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo.
The expo featured something for everybody, from fishing lures and poles to guns and knives.
“Our show is special because it’s geared towards everybody who lives here,” said Daily Press Administrative Assistant Jessica Koth. “I don’t think there’s too many families out there that you don’t ask, ‘What did you do during November’ or ‘What did you do during February?’ ‘Hunting and fishing.'”
More than 50 vendors showed off their gear for the season, including L&M Fleet Supply.
“We’re really showcasing our new Eskimos—especially the electric and the composites—all of our lines of ice houses, and a great line of hunting apparel,” said Cody Monty, L&M Marquette Assistant Store Manager.
Monty says the expo was a great opportunity for L&M’s Marquette management crew to connect with the community.
“Just having fun with everyone, showing them what we have to offer as a family-based employer,” he said. “It’s all about family, and all of these vendors are family. We like to give back to the community with what we have.”
For 14-year-old Blake Lakosky of Blake’s Baits, this expo was his first.
“When I was about 10 years old, there was a lure-building workshop, and a guy from Munising took me under his wing,” he said. “It just took off from there. I started off just in our basement just doing a few batches at a time. Now it’s at a lot bigger scale than before.”
Lakosky had a display of jigs, trout spinners, and other homemade items at the expo, and he demonstrated how to make them. He says the event helped him to not only reach new customers, but also new business partners.
“L&M Fleet said they’d want me in Marquette at their new location, and a few people from downstate can get me in some stores,” said Lakosky. “It’s just been a good experience.”
According to U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting expo organizers, attendance increased by about 800 people from last year. Looking ahead to next year, Koth says they hope to make it even bigger and better, especially for the next generation of ice fishers and hunters.
“Next year, we’re looking to add quite a few more interactive games for kids and maybe a seminar or two to get them involved,” she said. “I mean, we live in the great U.P. What is better than going out your back door and going hunting or going down to the river and throwing a line in?”
WZMQ 19 News was proud to be a sponsor of the 2023 U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo.
