Covering Every Angle for Anglers

Doug Stadelhofer and son Kraig arrived early Wednesday for the opening of the big fishing show in Long Beach, as they have for the last four years.

It was an important day for the father, who said the annual extravaganza represented one of the great American pastimes in fishing and gave his son something wholesome to be interested in.

And it was a monumental day for the 10-year-old son.

"It's the only day my dad actually lets me miss school," he said with a smile.

They came from Altadena and were among an estimated 2,000 people waiting in a line snaking through the courtyard of the Long Beach Convention Center, before the 2 p.m. opening of the 57th Fred Hall Fishing Tackle and Boat Show.

The largest show of its kind in the West, it has become a rite of spring every bit as traditional as baseball's opening day.

"The Fred Hall show is the start of everything," exclaimed Newhall's Tom Bradley, 62, standing dozens deep in line with wife Christina. "It means it's time to go fishing. It means warmer weather and longer days. Plus, you can find more bargains here than at any other show."

Jay Stammerjohan, 47, of Culver City, arrived four hours early to have first crack at the bargains, but as the opening drew near and those long hours began to take their toll, he became aware of a flaw in his plan. "First I'm going to run to the bathroom," he said. "Then I'll go hunt for the stuff I came here to look for."

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At precisely 2 p.m., the doors swung open and into the halls flooded the first of an estimated 35,000 people there for the first of five show days. When the doors close Sunday evening, about 200,000 will have walked through aisles packed with fishing gear and boating equipment.

They will have discussed or booked trips with outfitters from throughout and beyond the West. They will have inspected or bought their dream boats. They will have intently watched the experts give seminars on everything from bass fishing to choosing the proper lure.

And, since this is an adult male-dominated affair, they will have ogled the ever-popular Bongo girls before, during and after their daily fashion shows at the Bongos Sportfishing booth.

"It's an attraction, that's what this show is, for first-timers and old-timers alike," Stammerjohan said.

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