OFF-SEASON
Classes help outdoor enthusiasts stay on top of their game BY KEN PERROTTE
24 HUNT & FISH | SUMMER/FALL 2018
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Professional anglers Bill Dance and Jimmy Houston lead a Bass Pro Shop Fishing Classic seminar. The company offers classes throughout the U.S. headquarters for all Bass Pro and Cabela’s locations. These events have become annual traditions with customers, who enjoy getting firsthand looks at the latest products and learning valuable field tips and techniques during seminars led by professional hunters and anglers at store locations across the U.S. and Canada, Mitchell says. He adds that an estimated 7 million people attend the Spring Fishing Classic each year. One innovative offering is a rod and reel trade-in program. Anglers upgrade to new >
BASS PRO SHOPS
Skills, Set
hether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice looking to cut your teeth in the hunting and fishing world, you’ll find not only gear but knowledge at Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops stores. Bass Pro Shops acquired Cabela’s in the fall of 2017, and changes are ongoing at the corporate level, but one consistent goal is to continue offering relevant, informative seminars at the stores, and much of the seasonal event planning is consolidating, according to Katie Mitchell, Bass Pro Shops communications manager. The Spring Fishing and Fall Hunting classics and the Family Summer Camp events are being planned from the company’s