Hall of Fame Fishing Speakers Increased Fishing Show Seminar Lineup
Chicago, IL – October 1st
The Tinley Park FISHING, Travel & Outdoor Expo is growing much bigger and adding more fishing exhibits for February 2026. All about fishing tackle, rods, reels, electronics with more boats, the expo adds Hall of Fame Fishing Seminar Speakers, 27 booths and a Hawg Trough seminar series.
Chicago’s Longest Running Fishing & Outdoors Expo is growing over 20% in size and emphasizing fishing tackle, bass and walleye boats, fishing electronics and more fishing experts. 167 booths for tackle, fishing guides, fishing resorts, hunting, camping and outdoors will offer Chicago fishing fans a winter learning opportunity to get ready for fishing and hunting. The addition of 20% more booths will solidify the Expo as a top destination for learning to fish in Chicago.
Top regional experts will help you learn to fish a the expo with live fish in a 40’ long tank with over 4,000 gallons of water. Brand new this year at the fishing show, the Hawg Trough fishing tank seminar. In addition to more fishing exhibits and more fishing tackle, this expo will feature Hawg Trough fishing seminars. See bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish interact live with lures, baits and presentations.
Weekend passes are available so that you can tour the show, catch more seminars and learn more fishing, camping and resort information to get you ready for the 2026 season. A weekend pass will give you full access to our Learn @ the EXPO™ program. Multiple exhibitors, fishing guides and outdoor experts will literally hand you sheets with tips and treasured tackle setups. Learn @ the EXPO™ is free and can improve your fishing. Spend more time at the EXPO and take advantage of free seminars, and this great learning opportunity. Great food is available this year! Come and go with your weekend pass.
This year’s fishing expo features added fishing experts and two Fishing Hall of Fame presenters. Increased fishing seminars, Learn at the Show™ and the brand new Hawg Trough fishing seminar are among the increased fishing content at the EXPO.
Fishing Hall of Fame member Mike Mladenik (Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike and Walleye) will speak on fishing rivers and the North Woods waters. Author, River Expert and Northwoods Guide – Mladenik will put you on the best tackle, presentations and methods to help you catch more fish.
Another Hall of Fame fisherman – Mike Norris (Largemouth, Crappie, Walleye, Muskie) will show you how to fish Central Wisconsin Lakes for more success. An expert guide and former tournament angler, Mike will show you the best fishing setups and how to make your gear catch more fish. Save a lot of time and money and learn from a legend in the fishing business at the EXPO. Use your weekend pass and a seminar schedule to get the most out of the weekend February 13 – 15, 2026
USA Fishing Team Member and Chicago Fishing School’s Guide – Johnny Wilkins will show you tips to catch fish in tough conditions. Live bait expert and 3-time World Championship fisherman – Wilkins will provide you with live bait essentials that catch when everyone else is struggling. Tactics that work in local forest preserves, on Lake Michigan, Wisconsin & Canada. Clear water tactics and stained water killer setups will help you Learn @ the EXPO.
Kenneth O’Malley – Husker Outdoors will teach you bass fishing, walleye tips and regional fishing lake tricks for Hiedeke Lake, Shabbonah State Park and local ponds. Regular contributor to several outdoors publications such as Chauncey’s Fishing Report ESPN 1000 and Chicago SunTimes Dale Bowman – O’Malley will show you the bass rigs and how to make them sing.
Midwest Outdoors Jim O’Neil will feature fishing tips and stories from his travels around the Midwest & Canada. Featured on the Midwest Outdoors Podcast, catch O’Neil live with some of the best, new tackle, rods and reels to help you catch more fish.
The shortest walk of any event and easiest parking are by far the best of any Chicago fishing show. The fishing show offers the shortest walk to either entrance at the Tinley Park Convention Center. From parking lot to show floor is as short as 110 feet, far closer than any show in Chicago’s history. Carpeted floors, easy access to restrooms and food at the show make this the best fishing show experience available. Gone are the long walks through halls, shuttles from remote parking lots and a lot of concrete between visitor and show. Get inside the show in under a minute. Other shows and past shows suffered from quarter-mile walks to the entrance, remote lots and long hallways just to get to the ticket window.
This year’s fishing show will feature added attendee entrance on the North End. The shortest walk to get into a show, no long hallways and parking right next to show doors will mean this year’s show will be the most accessible fishing show. A convenient drop-off out front makes handicapped assistance very easy. 15 feet from curb to entrance will make helping friends and family get inside very convenient and fast. The Tinley Park Fishing, Travel & Outdoors Expo is dedicated to being the most accessible family fishing and outdoors event in Chicagoland.
The board of directors for the fishing expo has also decided to improve the atmosphere of the expo. Reduced loud sounds, removal of music and music performances will improve the show experience. The directors made the decision to remove loud speakers and distractions to provide an improved environment for learning fishing, boating, camping and kayaking at the show.
Elvis has left the building. While some attendees enjoyed the fun of seeing performances, the show organizers have decided that the environment for conversation, learning about and seeing the new fishing rods, reels and lures is top priority.
