COEUR d'ALENE - Organizers of the first North Idaho Sportsman's Expo at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds April 27-28 hope to make it an annual family tradition.

"This is a fun family event that is all about the outdoors activities with exhibits by dozens of local fishing, hunting, boating and RV dealers and clubs from across the region," said Aaron Thykeson, a manager at Mark's Marine, which is sponsoring some of the exhibits.

Brad Broadwell of the Mark's Marine pro staff and Bob Ploof of the Spokane Walleye Club will present a seminar on walleye fishing.

Tony McCalmant, another Mark's Marine pro staff member, will give a talk on bass fishing.

McCalmant won the region's Bass Angler of the Year in 2005 and Panhandler Bass Angler of the Year in 2010. He has assisted with numerous kids fishing organizations.

Jim Grassi, a Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame member and author, will be the master of ceremony for the event. He will also speak on bass and general fishing.

In the main seminar hall, there will be a virtual fishing simulator, always a hit with the kids or the kids at heart. They will also have fish finders so you can touch and play with the latest fishing technology. This display will be manned by Thykeson.

Those who have fished planner boards on Lake Pend Oreille or gone river fishing on the Snake have probably heard about the TR-1 Gold, the only kicker motor auto pilot. There will be a working display at the show.

There will also be a variety of fishing boats on display.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday, April 27

11 a.m. - Bob Ploff, Brad Boardwell, Walleye Fishing Techniques

Noon - Timberworks Lumberjack Show

1 p.m. - Jim Grassi, The ABCs of Bass Fishing

2 p.m. - Seth Burrell, Salmon Fishing Our Local Lakes and Rivers

3 p.m. - Timberworks Lumberjack Show

4 p.m. - Tony McCalmant, How to Catch More Bass

5 p.m. - Brian Farley, How to Become an Outdoorsmen

Sunday, April 28

11 a.m. - Timberworks Lumberjack Show

Noon - Seth Burrell, Salmon Fishing our Local Lakes and Rivers

1 p.m. - Jim Grassi, The Deadly Dozen Bass Baits

2 p.m. - Timberworks Lumberjack Show

3 p.m. - Tony McCalmant, The Finer Points on Catching Bass

4 p.m. - Brian Farley, Hunting the Adventure of a Life Time

5 p.m. - Timberworks Lumberjacks Show