McClory: Much on plate this week

Well, this week there is a lot going on. I’ll start with suggesting that you mark your calendar for Feb. 7-10 to experience the great outdoors at the 32nd Annual Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition at Worcester’s DCU Center in Worcester. The Expo is the longest-running sportsmen’s show in New England. True to tradition, it features a world-class lineup of fishing and hunting exhibits, celebrity seminars, and activities for the entire family. Returning this year will be the Whitetail Superday on Saturday, Feb. 9. This educational program, emceed by yours truly, will feature a continuous series of whitetail seminars by many of America’s greatest hunters, including Realtree TV star Tim Andrus, Peter Fiduccia, the “Deer Doctor”, and New England’s favorite deer hunting family, the Benoits. Fishermen will be drawn hook, line, and sinker to the fishing exhibits, which feature most of the major fishing tackle manufacturers in the country. Don’t miss the Sportfishing Boat Show. The newest models make waves in one of the largest displays of sportfishing boats and motors. The Expo is also the place for family entertainment featuring Brody, the 1,500-pound live Kodiak Brown Bear, and new this year is Jonathan Custead and his fascinating live reptile show. Audiences will hold their breath as Custead goes face to face with some of the world’s deadliest snakes and a seven-foot alligator. Returning to the Expo this year will be The Blue Northern Trading Company of Ayer and its showcase of sporting firearms. The Shooting Gallery will be one of the largest upscale displays of sporting firearms ever showcased at a sportsmen’s show. Many of the leading firearm manufacturers like Beretta, Sako, Rossi, Savage, Uberti, Smith & Wesson, Rossi, Sig-Sauer, Benelli, and Thompson are scheduled to exhibit. This promises to be the finest sporting firearm display ever presented at a sportsmen’s show in New England. Show hours are Thursday and Friday, 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 for adults, and $3 for children under 12. Children under five are admitted free. Worcester’s DCU Center is located in downtown Worcester. From I-290, take Exit 16 and follow the signs.Due to this week’s bone-chilling, single-digit, deep-freeze temperatures, ice-fishing conditions improved substantially this past week. While the larger ponds are finally frozen over, anglers are still cautioned to test the ice depths as they go. Some of the larger lakes may have several inches of ice near shore, but deeper water locations may be skimmed over or just appear to have thick ice. It is not uncommon for the larger lakes to freeze one day and become unsafe the next. Sebago Lake in Maine is a good example of this. The lake will skim over at night and then daytime winds tend to open it back up again. Smaller coves tend to hold ice. Lake trout and cusk are hitting on Sebago. Trickey Pond in Naples, known for its trophy landlock salmon, has produced some nice salmon over the last week. Brookies and splack are also being landed. Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire is now iced-over behind the islands and bays where anglers are scoring lake trout, rainbows and an occasional salmon that must be returned immediately to the water.Locally, Ippi’s with the 4-Winds Pub annual kickoff ice fishing derby was held last Sunday at Sluice Pond. Richmond Deamelio, from Lynn, caught a 22-inch, 2-lb., 6-oz. pickerel and Mark Eliuk, from Peabody, scored a 15.5-inch, 1-lb., 15.2-oz. bass. Both were awarded $75. No trout or salmon was entered.All for now.