My First Blog - The Portland Sportsmen's Show

I've been meaning to start a blog for the past several years. I'm a full-time artist and I had the idea that it would be cool to blog about my various fishing trips and follow up with a watercolor painting of some part of that adventure. Since it is the middle of winter and there's not much happening at the moment, I thought I would write about the past week where I spent five days at O'Loughlin's Portland Sportsmen's Show http://www.otshows.com/.

I attend around 15 various shows each year to sell my art. The Portland Sportsmen's Show is the largest I attend -  I think there are around 700 vendors and 60,000 people though the gate at Portland Expo. The days are long - 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. and you need to arrive an hour or so early and typically stay late. I sell my art there - originals, prints, ceramic tiles, whatever. The days go by quickly as there is a steady stream of customers, new and old alike and five minutes doesn't go by without someone in the booth. Lots of people wondering how I learned to paint (never took a lesson) and if I give lessons (maybe some day). Many people remember me from the days where I competed in the shot put and discus at the University of Oregon, and even more want to talk about my kids, Sam and Haley, who are both javelin throwers. Sam broke the national high school javelin record last year and Haley won the state javelin title as a freshman. It's been a blast to coach the kids and be a little part of their experiences.

This was my third, and best, year at the show. I am located near the fly casting pond and my booth is located between Big Dave, an Alaska river guide, and Amato publishing (they have a million books on fishing). Big Dave had the ultimate prop for attracting customers - an 18 lb freshly caught winter steelhead and his booth was always packed. All of the vendors I have met are great people and over the course of a few years, you get to know their stories.

There are also a lot of familiar faces. Legendary Umpqua fly fisherman Frank Moore (left, pictured with me) can be seen at the casting pond or at the Loomis booth. He and wife Jeanne are about as classy and nice as anyone you'll ever meet. I still have to get down south to spend a day on the North Umpqua with the master and that trip would surely produce a painting. Check out Amato's "North Umpqua River Edition" book - much of it is about Frank Moore. www.amatobooks.com

Then there's Robin Healy with Casting for Recovery, a free program that introduces breast cancer survivors to the world of flyfishing. It's a tremendous program and you can find them at www.castingforrecovery.org. I will be painting a picture for their banquet/auction this year.

Across the pond is  John and Amy Hazel (right) with The Deschutes Angler in Maupin www.deschutesangler.com.  They are two of the best guides on the Deschutes and have access to some incredible trout ponds too. 22-25" rainbows on a dry damsel is a blast!


If you like old fishing tackle Harold Webb of vintageflyfisherman.com puts together some wonderful framed art featuring antique lures, magazines and flies. Great guy too. I also had a chance to visit with my old friend Tenny Mount, Senior Vice President of Wright and McGill. We used to lift weights together at McIntire's Gym back in the 80's and he still looks the same (what happened to me?). He was showing off W & M's  new raingear and if they have a 2X Tall I may actually buy some. Tenny still lives in Gresham so I'll know where to go if they don't fit.

At the end of the day the show is a grind and you are essentially wiped out by the time Sunday evening rolls around for the booth tear-down. 700 vendors trying to get out of the Expo at the same time gets a little crazy. I keep telling my kids it's the life of a carny. When Sam or Haley stop by my booth (voluntarily) I always say "One day this will all be yours", but they are very good at hiding their enthusiasm. Usually they reply with "that's okay, I'll take a raincheck", but I'm sure they aren't serious. I have found that both kids are also very good haulers and work quite cheaply when it comes to loading up after a show. All that weightlifting they do has really paid off.

I'll be back again next year at the show. It might be a lot of work, but at the end of the day it's the people that make it special.