CLEVELAND, OH (February 22, 2008)-Take a skilled pro -- or at least their advice -- on your next hunting or fishing excursion! During the 71 st annual Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, renowned experts divulge trophy-worthy trade secrets and invaluable tips to ensure a successful 2008 sporting season.

The 2008 Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, taking place March 12-16 at the I-X Center, is the only place to interact with the best outdoorsmen in the country. Guests hungry for success can ask questions, participate in discussions and hone techniques before the spring hunting and fishing season begins.

Whether your passion is whitetail deer, spring gobblers or fly-fishing, the daily topics and speakers scheduled for this year's Cleveland , Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show will surely lead to big trophies and even bigger fish stories.

"The opportunity to learn from the outdoor world's most well-known hunting and fishing experts is a big crowd pleaser and major Show attraction," said Chris Fassnacht, Show producer. "The seminars are a great forum for visitors to interact with the pros and also gain some techniques they wouldn't find anywhere else."

At press time, the following professionals will appear at the 2008 event. For many, this event marks their exclusive Ohio appearance*. Please visit www.sportandtravel.com for updated lecture dates and times. (Topics and speakers subject to change.)

I. FISHING SEMINARS

*Doug Strickland-"Tournament Bass Fishing Techniques" (Daily)

Doug Strickland, a nationally ranked fishing authority, will be on hand daily to share some of his best bass fishing tips and techniques. An avid tournament fisherman since age 16, Strickland is a member of the Ohio B.A.S.S. Federation, the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society and the National Rifle Association.

*Dustin Kjelden-"Turning Lookers into Biters" (March 15 & 16 only)

Eager to reel in a big catch? Championship fisherman Dustin Kjelden will reveal several of his most successful techniques at the Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show. A South Dakota native, Kjelden has captured awards in several major fishing competitions. His latest accomplishment was a first place victory in the 2007 Forrest L. Wood Wal-Mart Walleye Tour Championship held on Lake Erie last September. Kjedlen is the youngest pro to win both an FLW Walleye Tour event and an FLW Championship.

Jeff Liskay-"River Fishing for Steelhead" (Daily)

Where, When and How? The answers came as a result of 30 plus years of on-water steelhead fishing across the Great Lakes region. Liskay has won various walleye and steelhead tournaments on the Great Lakes and has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles. Liskay's seminar includes one-of-a-kind illustrations and pictures that are highly informative and entertaining for anglers of all levels. Hands-on instruction will take place at the conclusion of the discussion.

Jeff Liskay-"Fly Fishing for Steelhead" (Daily)

This 50-minute seminar covers all aspects of fly-fishing for steelhead trout in and around the Great Lakes region. Liskay's classroom-style presentation offers invaluable information for the beginner and plenty of tips for the advance angler. Learn how to choose the correct fly rod, reel section, casting tips and more. Liskay will offer a hands-on casting instruction immediately following the seminar.

*Doug Stein-"Lake Ontario Salmon Fishing" (March 12 & 13 only)

Doug Stein, a resident of Grand Island, New York, is a veteran angler of over 30 years. His expertise is with the Eastern Basin of Lake Erie, the lower Niagara River and the Western Basin of Lake Ontario. Stein will share tips and strategies for salmon fishing in Lake Ontario during the 2008 Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show.

II. HUNTING SEMINARS

Don Small-"Calling Spring Gobblers" (March 12 to 15 only)

Now here's a man who really knows how to "talk turkey!" Don Small has gobbler hunting for more than 40 years and is a senior Pro Staff member for Penn's Woods Products. Many of Small's hunts have been captured on film and aired on the popular television show "Hunting With Penn's Woods."

*Ohio Department of Natural Resources /Wildlife Division (ODNR)-"Field Dressing Your Deer the Right Way" (March 15 & 16 only)

From the moment the animal is harvested, deer field dressing guidelines are essential to preserving the meat and your trophy. F or the first time in Cleveland, the Sport Show will offer an in-depth deer field dressing demonstration to highlight proper techniques, best practices and safety precautions.

Brian Laux & DeWayne Knight-"Goose Hunting & Calling Tactics" (March 12, 13, 14, 16)

Brian Laux and DeWayne Knight team up to share 35 years of combined waterfowl hunting experience. Brian has competed in both duck and goose calling contests and is the reigning Ohio State Goose Calling Champion. DeWayne has hunted in several states as well as two Canadian Provinces picking up diverse methods of waterfowl hunting along the way. Brian and DeWayne are partners in HonkerBonker Guide Service and work for Flambeau Outdoors in Middlefield, Ohio.

III . THE GREAT OUTDOORS

*Dr. Jeffrey M. Reutter-"How Can I Help Lake Erie" (March 14 only)

The Ohio Sea Grant program at Ohio State University will be well represented with lectures given by Dr. Jeffrey M. Reutter. Dr. Reutter will discuss what he considers to be the six most important issues/problems facing Lake Erie, including the changing Lake Erie ecosystem, invasive species and coastal economic development. Dr. Reutter is an esteemed aquatic biologist and limnologist, as well as the author of over 100 technical reports and journal articles.

*Steve Borecky-"Training Hunting Dogs for the Field - Correct Use of Sportdog E-Collar" (Daily)

Steve Borecky, the award-winning hunting and field dog trainer from Pine Haven Kennels in Westlake, Ohio, will share more than 20 years of experience and passion for the hunt with the help of his beloved four legged friends. W hether casual hunting or competing in field trials, Borecky offers a training plan designed to create a good owner/dog team using one of his favorite training tools the SportDOGT 400. Borecky will give retrieving demonstrations daily at the event.

General Information

AAA is the official Advance Ticket Source for the Cleveland Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show. Advance tickets are available for $8.50 at Northeast Ohio AAA locations ( www.aaa.com / tickets ). Need not be a member to purchase. Group rates are available by calling 216.529.1300 . Admission at the door is $10.50 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 6-12. Children age 5 and under are admitted free. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that attend the event in full uniform are admitted FREE . $1 off admission discount coupons are available at Discount Drug Mart.  

The 71 st Annual Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show is held at the International Expositions Center (I-X Center) located at 6200 Riverside Drive, just off of Route 237 near Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dates/Hours

2008 DATES/HOURS:
Wednesday, March 12 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Thursday, March 13 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday, March 14 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday, March 15 10:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday, March 16 10:00am - 6:00pm

The 2008 Cleveland Sport, Travel & Outdoor Show, presented by Toyota Tundra and sponsored by Labatt Beer, WNCX 98.5FM and WTAM 1100, is produced by Cleveland-based Expositions, Inc. the Midwest 's largest show producer. Established in 1937, Expositions, Inc. has a 71-year history producing high-quality sport and travel shows.