For Immediate Release:

New products abound at the Ultimate Sport Show –
Grand Rapids, March 18 to 21 at DeVos Place

GRAND RAPIDS – When thousands of West Michigan sportsmen and women attend the Ultimate Sport Show, March 18 to 21 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, they will find more than 4 acres of new boats and accessories, fishing tackle, hunting gear and other equipment.  

Almost every booth has something new.  In fishing tackle, for example, there are new lures and colors in every line, and major rod and reel manufacturers like Shimano will present their 2010 model series of exciting new products.  

New exhibitors are bringing many new products to the show.  For the first time, patrons will be able to shoot new-model crossbows from three manufacturers at a special indoor range.  A new electric fishing boat from North Carolina makes its West Michigan debut, along with Rope-A-Boat, a new, hands-free method for loading and unloading at the boat launch.  Specialty seminars on habitat development for deer and other wildlife on private property are new to the show, too, along with exhibits by the seminar experts.  

Here are the new vendors and their offerings at our press deadline.  Call Adam Starr at 616-299-6090 (cell) for updates and more information.  

New Fishing and Boating Products:

• Quality Mark, Inc.  The Minnesota company will unwrap several innovative products, including Rope-A-Boat, Smarte Jack, Launch Alert and Bow Step.  These products are designed to make boating and fishing safer and more efficient.  Rope-A-Boat, for example, is the answer to no-power boat loading in Michigan.  One man can now launch and load his trailerable fishing boat with ease.  Live demos at Lake Ultimate, or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV2BorhngGQ for video demos.  

Contact:  Mark Ebbenga; 651-462-2513, mark@qualitymark.com.  

• Sea Quest Lures, Inc. This Portage, Indiana company makes a wide assortment of trolling spoons for Great Lakes trout and salmon.  Inventor Richard Holm has many years of lure-making experience and has new research to share regarding how fish see colors.  His specialty seminars are a Powerpoint presentation called “How Color Changes Above and Below the Water.”

Contact:  Richard Holm; 219-689-5769; seaquestluresinc.@comcast.net

• Anchor Wizard.  The Evart, Michigan inventor has a patent pending for this ingenious device for raising and lowering anchors to 100 pounds.  Made from both forged and anodized aluminum, the hand-cranked Anchor Wizard holds up to 400 feet of rope, mounts anywhere on a fishing boat, and works so simply that an 8 year-old can operate it.  A Junior Model, which mounts to canoes, kayaks and cartoppers is new for 2010.  See You-Tube video demos at www.anchorwizard.com.

Contact:  Bruce VanScoyoc; 231-388-1497; www.anchorwizard.com.  

• Hyde Spring and Wire Company in Dearborn, Michigan has a new product called the Beverage Holder.  Made from galvanized spring steel, the product is designed for campers, shore fishermen and other outdoor lovers who want their canned or bottled beverage readily available.  Simply stick the holder in the ground.  The company sold out of this new $10 product (4 for $25) at the Ultimate Fishing Show—Detroit in January, but will have plenty on hand for the Ultimate Sport Show—Grand Rapids.  

Contact:  Blake Hyde; 313-272-2201; www.beerholder.net.    

• Carolina Electric Boats debuts the Twin Troller, a hands-free, quiet-running boat with minimal environmental impact.  The electric motors are completely recessed in the hull, a design that produces little wake to disturb weed beds or create shoreline erosion.   This whisper-quiet boat puts you in the environment and not on the environment.  

Contact:  Roscoe Worth-Jones; 276-274-9889; www.carolinaelectricboats.com.  

• Grayden Outdoor LLC in Brainerd, Minnesota brings the new line of Fish Hawk electronics to Grand Rapids.  For more than 30 years, Great Lakes trollers have looked to Fish Hawk for accurate water temperature and boat speed readings.  Capt. Dave Engel, a veteran Lake Michigan expert, has this to say about the new model X-4:  “We’ve used the new probe in up to 300 feet of water with perfect signal returns.  And the battery life is incredible—we fished for over a month using one set of AA batteries.  The super-size LCD digits are easy to read, even from the back of the boat.”  

Contact:  Fish Hawk Electronics; 727-234-4962; www.fishhawkelectronics.com.  

• Magnetic Marine Products, LLC is a new Grand Rapids-based company headed by local inventor and entrepreneur John Gesik.  The company will introduce Gear Grabbar, a patent-pending boat accessory that relies on powerful magnets to provide a holding platform for fishing lures and tools.  Jig heads, topwater lures, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, worm hooks, spoons, pliers, scissors, hook sharpener, knife, line snips and other items can now be safely and securely organized.  The new product is useful for boats of all sizes.  

Contact:  Jennifer; 616-719-7667; www.magneticmarineproducts.com.  

• Captain Hay’s Downrigger Tag Line Isolation System is the newest trolling aid since the invention of the downrigger.  Designed by an Alaskan charter boat operator, the patent-pending accessory eliminates noise and vibration from downrigger cables that typically attach to trolling lines.  The Tag Line Isolation System attaches to the downrigger boom by way of a pulley and separate cable.  The kit sells for $69.95 and is available in models to accommodate Penn, Scotty, Cannon and other downrigger brands.  

Contact:  Dennis Hay; 866-973-2423; www.alaskaproangler.com.    

Hunting Products:

• Mor Archery Targets in Chesterfield, Michigan presents a safe and competitive archery target system that lets shooters use their own arrows, provided the tips are blunted with the company’s new product.  The portable shooting system includes a two-way collapsible target stand that offers a white-tailed buck on one side and 9 squares on the other side.  A dozen blunt arrow tips are provided, along with four containers of chalk powder and a carrying bag.  The system can be used by shooters of almost any age and level of experience.  

Contact:  Mark Penrose; 586-214-8038; www.morarcherytargets.com.  

• Ten Point Crossbows in Ohio is a major player in the Michigan crossbow market.  The company, which has built its reputation on “refining crossbow technology through innovation,” unveils new models for 2010, including the Turbo XLT and Phantom CLS-S.  The company also encourages customers to build their own crossbows and offers scopes, sights, arrows, strings, cables, shooting aids, silencers and other accessories for consideration.  

Contact:  Richard Bednar; 330-628-9245, e-201; www.tenpointcrossbows.com.  

• Horton Crossbow also in Ohio is America’s largest and one of its oldest crossbow manufacturers.  The company makes more than a dozen models including the Eagle for young shooters, the Scout HD for youth and women, and the tactical-rich Vision 175. These and other models will be at the show for enthusiasts to compare and test fire.

Contact:  www.crossbow.com.  

• Barnett Crossbows in Florida has combined 50 years of quality manufacturing with crossbow engineering to sell more than 1 million crossbows to date.  Product innovation and design are key reasons.  Barnett introduced self-cocking crossbows, compound crossbows and the patented quick-detach front-end model to American archery enthusiasts.  The company’s new Predator model fires a 475-grain arrow at 375 feet per second.  The nation’s largest manufacturer of youth archery equipment also makes slingshots.  

Contact:  727-234-4962; www.barnettcrossbows.com.    

• Gun Glyder.  A laid-off auto worker named Bob Moeller has invented a new product designed to safely transport firearms when driving an ATV.  Moeller, an avid deer hunter who lives in Mt. Pleasant, has a patent pending for his product, which is so new he doesn’t yet have a website.  The product mounts on any ATV rear rack and still leaves room for transporting game.  It keeps your rifle scope zeroed and doesn’t conflict with the driver’s arms or legs.  

Contact:  Bob Moeller; 989-330-3129.

Food Plots and other Private Land Habitat.  

• Ed Spinnazola, a Quality Deer Management spokesman from Ray Township, Michigan, is also an expert at growing food plots for deer.  He will use drawings and materials from his book to help other deer hunters enjoy success on their property.  

Contact:  Ed Spinnazola, 586-784-8090;

• Paul “Doc” Morrow, owner of Back Forty Habitat Solutions in Haslett, Michigan, offers tips and techniques for attracting wildlife to private property in his “Habitat 101” seminars. Morrow earned national reputation from Field & Stream magazine as a “Hero in Conservation.”  

Contact:  Doc Morrow, 517-339-1304

Both experts will have booths in the show and are available for interviews.  

Show hours are Thursday, from 3:00 to 9:30; Friday, from 11:00 to 9:30; Saturday from 9:00 to 9:00; and Sunday from 10:00 to 5:00.  Admission is $9 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 14.  Kids 5 and under get in free.