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Conference Seating

Seminars

2024 Seminar Titles & Speaker Bios

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HOT Walleye Jigging and Casting Techniques

Denny Sharrone

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 5:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 11:00 am on Stage 1

Sunday, March 10th at 11:00 am on Stage 1

Owner of 22 Sport Fishing Charters, Captain Denny Sharrone, is a United States Army Veteran who grew up fishing inland lakes and Lake Erie. He's been Walleye fishing for over 35 years. He's a 2-time state champion and has qualified for several national championships in the RCL, MWC and Cabela's Circuits. His tournament success provides the experience he uses to give his clients awesome days on the water.

Kayak Fishing on Lake Erie for MONSTER Walleye

Chuck Earls

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 4:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 1:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 4:00 pm on Stage 2

Sunday, March 10th at 2:00 pm on Stage 2

If you’re in Northeast Ohio and want to kayak fish in the big waters of Lake Erie, there is only one guy – Chuck Earls. Chuck has been fishing Ohio waters for over three decades and is known for three things: safety, extreme weather fishing, and catching monster walleye! Chuck is a licensed Lake Erie Kayak Fishing guide, YouTuber, Podcaster, storyteller, Cold Water Kayak Safety Expert, kayak outfitter and ACA instructor. When you fish with Chuck, you get a lot of information to help you build your angling skills. He takes the time to explain the “why” not just the “how.” He targets walleye, steelhead, and smallmouth bass although when you love to fish as much as Chuck does the species is secondary. Chuck is a member of USA Kayak Fishing Team, Team Native Watercraft, Team Torqeedo, and Team YakAttack and is also a FishUSA ProStaffer. Chuck took his love for kayak fishing up another level in 2022 by adding a new kayak division to the 2022 Fall Brawl and the Lake Erie Walleye Trail. Interested in tournament fishing? Let Chuck get you ready to rumble.

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The Ultimate Guide for Slab Crappie Fishing

Dan Elko

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 4:00 pm on Stage 2

Saturday, March 9th at 12:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 3:00 pm on Stage 2

Sunday, March 10th at 1:00 pm on Stage 1

Dan was born and raised in Northeast Ohio where he grew up hunting and fishing with his father and brother, he mostly fished the local lakes like Mosquito Lake, Ladue Reservoir, Pymatuning and Lake Erie fishing for Walleye and Crappie. Over the years, he and his brother, Bob, competed in several local Crappie and regional tournaments on Mosquito Lake, Buckeye Lake, Delaware lake, Berlin and others. Success has led the duo to  2 Local Mosquito Lake Madness Crappie Tournaments and a few Top 5 finishes. In the Northeast Ohio Crappie Tournament Trail, Dan & Bob have won 7 tournaments and have 15 top 5 finishes and have been in the top 3 in points for the past 4 years. Over a decade ago, his desire was to start his own crappie trail in Northeast Ohio where we could provide a club where avid anglers could come out and compete in a Tournament where it was cost effective while having a great time. This became Northeast Ohio Crappie Club. His love of fishing and the support of his family and brother paved the way to educate and help Crappie anglers across Ohio and Pennsylvania providing a great effective tournament trail where anglers supported one another and educated each other on tactics. 

Crappie Fishing with "Big Daddy"

Carl Bachtel

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 2:00 pm on Stage 2

Saturday, March 9th at 1:00 pm on Stage 2

Carl "Big Daddy" Bachtel is a multi-species angler with over 55 years of experience. A fan of all types of fishing, his favorite species to target are crappie. 

Though he has fished and done well in a few tournaments, his focus is more on teaching the everyday, regular angler the basics of fishing. He's one of the original owners of Ohio Game Fishing. com, spent eleven years on the Pro Staff of Bass Pro Shops in Toledo, developed an outdoors franchise segment and fishing report for his employer, WKYC TV 3. He is currently a co-host of Inside the Great Outdoors radio with Joe Kastaway Kulis and a member of the Pro Staff of Ohio tackle company Cast Cray Outdoors. Carl is married with six children and lives in Cuyahoga Falls. 

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Effective Deer Hunting Techniques: Tips from a Seasoned Hunter 

Tom Bechdel

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 3:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 2:00 pm on Stage 2

Sunday, March 10th at 1:00 pm on Stage 2

Interest in coyote hunting is increasing as the predator becomes a larger presence, threatening both domestic animals and wildlife. Nationally-recognized predator hunter and published author, Tom Bechdel of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, brings his nationally acclaimed seminar and hunting tips to video for the first time. A hunter for more than 40 years, Bechdel's coyote seminar includes information about the life of the coyote, how to find them, how and when to call coyotes, and how to use electric and mouth calls and how to use decoys. 

"Within the past 10 years I have become a predator hunter in earnest," said Bechdel. "I have a very high success rate of harvesting Eastern coyote. During any three year period I have harvested 257 coyotes in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The largest was 72 pounds, and the most I have harvested in one day is eight. 

Tips from Champion Call-Maker Shawn Kotchey on How to Upgrade your Turkey Game 

Shawn Kotchey

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 1:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 2:00 pm on Stage 1

Sunday, March 10th at 12:00 pm on Stage 1

Shawn, owner of Millcreek Valley Game Calls, is an expert, award winning call maker specializing in turkey calls. Shawn has won over 50 call making contests and has placed in over 100 call calling contests. Simply put - his calls work. Shawn is a hunting education teacher and certified guide in the state of Pennsylvania, and he has over 7 grand slams to date. Shawn has performed seminars all over the country, and he has many pro staff. You can buy his calls at the Millcreek Valley Game Calls booth. Be sure to catch one of Shawn’s turkey hunting seminars for expert tips and tricks to upgrade your turkey game! 

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Fly Fishing 101 for Beginners 

Johnta Kirton

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 3:00 pm on Stage 2

Saturday, March 9th at 12:00 pm on Stage 2

Sunday, March 10th at 12:00 pm on Stage 2

Bio coming soon!

Unleash Your Inner Angler: Bass Fishing Tips and Tricks  

Vic Vatalaro

Seminars Times:

Saturday, March 9th at 3:00 pm on Stage 1

One of the veterans of the FLW Tour, Vic began fishing the Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournaments in 1995, posting his first win at the Ohio River event two years later. He fished his way up through the EverStart Series, joining the FLW Tour in 2005. A finesse fishing specialist, he loves lakes that hold large numbers of smallmouth and cites lakes like Erie and Champlain as his favorite bodies of water to fish. Victor runs his own Ranger boat dealership - Vic's Sports Center -  in his hometown of Kent, Ohio.

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The Top Muskie Lure Tips that will Drive Fish Crazy

Aaron Pratt

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 2:00 pm on Stage 1

Saturday, March 9th at 11:00 am on Stage 2

Saturday, March 9th at 4:00 pm on Stage 1

Sunday, March 10th at 2:00 pm on Stage 1

My name is Aaron Pratt, owner of Churning Waters Bait Co, LLC and Churning Waters Guide Service. You are here because you want to hook into Muskie but you are unsure of where to start. This is where I come in. Heavily influenced by my father, I have been fishing my entire life and have been specifically targeting Muskie in the state of Ohio for the last 29 years. I am passionate about getting you onto fish and will not quit until you do so. Pursuing the fish of 10,000 casts has become a huge part of my life. My passion to share this knowledge with other people has grown also to help you be successful on your own musky adventures. 2023 will be our 7th year guiding for musky in Ohio, in the past 7 years over 1,000 musky have hit the net. Each year and each trip is always a different adventure. 

Tips for Steelhead Fishing Success

Curt Wagner

Curtis Wagner, the district fisheries supervisor with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, grew up in Chamberburg, Pennsylvania and was an avid small game and deer hunter as a kid. After pursuing a degree in fisheries science and wildlife at Penn State University, he continued his education at the University of Illinois for his master's degree in fisheries. Wagner states, "I got way into bass fishing and left stream fishing in the dust. Then I found stream fishing for smallmouth bass, and it's now my real passion." Wagner did his master's thesis on the mighty muskellunge and was part of a state-funded research program on muskies.

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 1:00 pm on Stage 2

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Waterfowl Hunting Secrets Revealed - Top Tips for Bagging Your Limit!

Chris Skrank

Seminars Times:

Friday, March 8th at 5:00 pm on Stage 2

Saturday, March 9th at 5:00 pm on Stage 2

Sunday, March 10th at 11:00 am on Stage 2

Chris Skrant is the owner of Flyway Outdoors Ltd, a hunting guide service based out of Medina County. He has been a professional hunting guide outfitter for the past 17 years. Chris has been a hunter most of his life and hunted waterfowl all over the USA. Flyway Outdoors is a partner of Vycah camo, Realgeese decoys, Field proven calls, and Redmond hunting products. Chris has provided seminars and education in many states and venues including Cabela's. 

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