2026 International Sportsmen’s Expo returns to Cal Expo this weekend. What to expect
OUT THERE, CAL EXPO IS THE PLACE TO BE THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. LET’S GO TO KCRA 3’S. TEO TORRES RIGHT NOW. LIVE FROM THE SPORTSMEN’S EXPO. AND WOMEN’S TO SPORTS AND MEN’S AND WOMEN’S EXPO OR WHATEVER IS YOUR FANCY HERE. WE’RE SURROUNDED BY SO MUCH COOL GEAR. IF YOU LOVE THE OUTDOORS, IF YOU LOVE, IF YOU LOVE FISHING, THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME. JOINING ME RIGHT NOW IS ANDREW CERAR. HE IS WITH THE FISHERMAN’S WAREHOUSE AND NAME. YOUR BUSINESS KIND OF SAYS IT ALL. YOU KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT FISHING. LET’S TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE’S PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT JUST WANT THE LATEST, GREATEST OF WHATEVER TECH TVS. YOU KNOW WHAT I’M SAYING? WHAT ABOUT FISHING? AND YOU GOT A POLE HERE. LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS POLE. ABSOLUTELY. YES. SO FISHING HAS COME SO FAR WITH TECHNOLOGY OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 10 TO 15 YEARS. AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF IT RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE DAIWA TATULA XT. I GRABBED A SPINNING MODEL HERE. BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS YOU GET SO MUCH NEW TECHNOLOGY IN RODS FOR GREAT AFFORDABILITY. STILL, THIS IS GOING TO RETAIL AT 99.99. IT’S VERY HARD TO FIND A ROD THAT IS ULTRA SENSITIVE, ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT. YOU CAN FISH IT FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY AND NOT GET FATIGUED. BOY, THAT IS THAT IS REALLY LIGHT. AND IT’S PROBABLY PRETTY STRONG TOO, RIGHT? OH, ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, YOU CAN CATCH FISH UP TO 10 OR 12 POUND BASS EVEN BIGGER THAN THAT ON THE STRIPER SIDE. WELL, YOU’RE GOING TO NEED A REEL. YOU CAN’T JUST TY I SUPPOSE YOU COULD TIE A LINE TO THE END. WE’VE SEEN THOSE OLD FASHIONED CARTOONS. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE REELS HERE. WHAT MAKES THESE REELS? REELS? SO, YOU KNOW, STATE OF THE ART. ABSOLUTELY. SO THIS IS REALLY NEAT ACTUALLY. THIS IS A DEBUT FOR US ACTUALLY AT THE SHOW. WE’VE NEVER HAD THEM UNTIL NOW. BUT THIS IS A COMPANY CALLED CASKING. AND THEY MAKE HIGH QUALITY REELS FOR AFFORDABILITY. AND YOU’RE KIND OF SEEING A THEME HERE WITH THE AFFORDABILITY FOR GREAT TECHNOLOGY. THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE FOR THOSE OF YOU ESPECIALLY UP HERE, WE HAVE THE CALIFORNIA DELTA, WHICH IS FULL OF GRASS, FULL OF TOOLS. AS WE ALL KNOW, AND CATCHING FISH OUT OF THE THICK STUFF CAN BE PRETTY DIFFICULT TO DO. SO THIS REEL ACTUALLY DOES NOT HAVE A DRAG SYSTEM. SO WHAT A DRAG IS, IT ALLOWS THAT FISH TO PULL LINE OUT. THIS DOESN’T DO THAT. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN THOSE FISH GET STUCK IN THAT REALLY HEAVY GRASS, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CRANK AND PULL AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO GET THEM OUT OF THERE. AND WITHOUT DRAG SLIPPING, THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ACTUALLY PULL THOSE FISH OUT. FASCINATING. THAT’S REALLY COOL. ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE LATEST AND GREATEST WHEN IT COMES TO TO LURES. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT HERE. ALL RIGHT. SO ON THE LURE SIDE OF THINGS I’LL START ON THIS SIDE. OBVIOUSLY WE’RE GETTING TOWARDS SPRING HERE. WE’RE FINALLY FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF WARMTH HERE IN CALIFORNIA AFTER OUR REALLY BAD COLD SPELL. AND NOW TOPWATERS ARE GOING TO BE A HUGE PLAYER. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE ONES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THIS IS MADE BY BERKLEY. THIS IS CALLED THE CHAPO. THIS IS ONE THAT IS REALLY COME TO ACTUALLY WIN A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS NATIONWIDE. SO DOES IT FLOAT ON TOP OF THE WATER? KIND OF IT DOES. IT FLOATS ON TOP OF THE WATER. AND WHAT THIS TALE DOES RIGHT HERE, THIS TAIL DESIGN ACTUALLY SPINS IN THE WATER AND MAKES A LITTLE ACTUALLY LIKE A PLOPPING NOISE. SO IS IT LIKE KIND OF PRETENDING TO BE LIKE AN INJURED FISH OR SOMETHING, MAKING IT A BETTER TARGET? EXACTLY. IT’S AN INJURED FISH. IT’S LOUD. IT’S MAKING A LOT OF COMMOTION FOR THOSE BASS TO LOOK UP. ALL RIGHT. SO LET’S MOVE ALONG HERE. WE DON’T HAVE A TON OF TIME. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THIS CRUSH CITY, WHICH SOUNDS AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. CRUSH CITY. SO THEY’VE CREATED A LINEUP OF BAITS AGAIN IN THE TOURNAMENT SCENE HAS BECOME EXTREMELY POPULAR. BUT WITH THE INNOVATIONS IN ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY, THESE SMALLER MINNOW BAITS HAVE BECOME SUPER POPULAR. AND GUYS ARE FISHING THESE. WHETHER YOU’RE ON TOP OF THE WATER ALL THE WAY AT THE BOTTOM. DO YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR OWN HOOK IN THESE? YOU DO HAVE TO PUT YOUR OWN HOOK. THIS IS JUST A BODY. TOTALLY. OKAY. AND LET’S LET’S END WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE WE’RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME HERE. THIS LOOKS LIKE A LIKE ONE NOT TO BE RECKONED WITH. ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS ACTUALLY A CUSTOM BAIT FROM JAPAN. YOU CAN GET IT NOWHERE ELSE IN THE US BESIDES THIS SHOW RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. AND THIS IS THE VALLEY HILL OR WHIPLASH FACTORY. WAYWARD 16. THIS IS A GLIDE BAIT. THIS IS MEANT TO MIMIC THOSE BIGGER FISH. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TROUT. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT KOKANEE. WHAT WOULD YOU CATCH WITH THAT? YOU CAN CATCH BASS. YOU CAN CATCH STRIPER. AND EVEN BASS. THE SMALLEST 2 POUNDS WILL EAT THIS THING. THAT’S AWESOME. LET ME ASK ONE FINAL QUESTION HERE. ARE THERE PEOPLE THAT LIKE, LIKE COLLECT THESE, LIKE, AS IF THEY WERE LIKE POKEMON CARDS OR BASEBALL CARDS? KIND OF THE RARE ONE OF THESE TYPE? OH, ABSOLUTELY. ACTUALLY, THERE ARE MULTIPLE GUYS THAT WHETHER IT’S A BIG BAIT, A BAIT THAT’S ONLY MADE EXCLUSIVELY IN JAPAN, THEY CALL THEM JDM PRODUCTS OR LIMITED EDITION OR LIMITED EDITION. EXACTLY. GUYS LOVE TO ACTUALLY COLLECT THOSE. ALL RIGHT. WELL ANDREW, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE’LL TAKE IT BACK TO YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. A LOT ABOUT FISHING. WE COULD LISTEN TO BOTH OF YOU. JUST CONTINUE ON FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER. YEAH. 9 TO 10 MINUTES. I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE JUST ANNOYING US. YOU WERE, LIKE, BUTTING INTO OUR CONVERSATION. WE JUST KIND OF GOT IN THE WAY. I’LL GET OVER IT. I MAY LOOK ALL BUTTONED UP, BUT HE’S A SAVVY SPORTSMAN. UNDERNEATH THAT SUIT. YEAH. HE IS. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, TEO. NOW THE SPORTSMAN’S EXPO RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY. TICKETS ARE 20 BUCKS FOR ADULTS. THOSE 15 AND UNDER GET IN FOR FREE. ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS
2026 International Sportsmen’s Expo returns to Cal Expo this weekend. What to expect
Updated: 11:37 AM PST Jan 16, 2026
California’s largest consumer event for anglers and hunters is back at Sacramento’s Cal Expo this weekend.The International Sportsmen’s Expo takes place from Thursday through Sunday. Attendees can check out outdoor gear, fishing boats, RVs, kayaks and quads and book outdoor outings around the world from travel guides. There are also seven theaters that offer tips from experts and a “giant tackle store.” A youth fair in Building D lets kids climb a rock wall, catch and release a fish, tie a fly and play other outdoor games. Admission costs $20 for adults ages 16 and older and parking is $10. Children under age 16 and active military personnel with an ID get into the show for free. Veterans can get a limited number of free passes through VETTIX.com. The event is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Learn more here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California’s largest consumer event for anglers and hunters is back at Sacramento’s Cal Expo this weekend.
The International Sportsmen’s Expo takes place from Thursday through Sunday.
Attendees can check out outdoor gear, fishing boats, RVs, kayaks and quads and book outdoor outings around the world from travel guides.
There are also seven theaters that offer tips from experts and a “giant tackle store.”
A youth fair in Building D lets kids climb a rock wall, catch and release a fish, tie a fly and play other outdoor games.
Admission costs $20 for adults ages 16 and older and parking is $10.
Children under age 16 and active military personnel with an ID get into the show for free. Veterans can get a limited number of free passes through VETTIX.com.
The event is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel