There will be a lot more pickup trucks parked downtown later this week. The 36th annual Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition runs Friday through Sunday at Worcester’s DCU Center. Exhibitors will showcase tackle, hunting gear, boats, and exciting fishing and hunting trips. The expo is always fun for window shoppers, serious buyers, armchair adventurers, hard-core sportsmen and people watchers.

The stars of the show are the personable guides, lodge representatives, charter boat captains, retailers, manufacturers and seminar lecturers. This is the place to find exciting hunting and fishing adventures, pick up helpful tips and buy equipment at special show prices. This year’s expo includes several outstanding hunting and fishing seminars by local and national experts prepared to share their secrets.

Anglers can experience a graduate course in bass fishing from the Bass University of Bassin’ Magazine on Saturday and Sunday. Register online at www.sportshows.com. Lecturer Mike Iaconelli fishes 200 days a year, and spends the rest of his time guiding, writing and designing lures. He has been recognized as the Bass Angler of the Year. Renowned bass pro Mark Davis is the only angler to have won the Bass Angler of the Year and the Bass Master Classic Tournament in the same year. Lou Consoli, touring bass pro and CEO of SkippyFish Bait Co., has been competing since 1989. He’ll present Deadly Finesse Fishing Techniques for Monster Bass.

“Deer Doctor” Peter Fiduccia, author of Whitetail Strategies, and co-host of the Woods N’ Water television series, will offer tips on deer hunting. His beautiful and bright wife Kate is always a highlight. A graduate of Cornell’s University’s Hotel School and host of “Cooking Wild in Kate’s Kitchen,” Kate is author of culinary articles on game cooking in Outdoor Life and Deer Deer Hunting magazines. She’s even been a featured expert in the New York Times, Newsday, and the CBS Evening News with Brian Williams.

She’ll share her expertise on wild game cooking. In addition, volunteers from the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs will provide bow hunting advice and instruction to help you get a deer ready for the table next season.

Renowned underwater cinematographer, Mike Laptew, has selected his most sensational footage from the last 20 years, bringing his audience under the waves to watch stripers, fluke, tautog, flounder, false albacore hunt and feed. He discusses tides and locations to find schools of giant stripers, blitzing bluefish and feeding fluke. His 50 years of diving experience can put fish on your hook.

Moose, trout, and grouse guide, Dave Kelso, will share his secrets for limiting out in Maine.

Stu Bristol, outdoor writer, Maine Guide, and navigation expert will teach Land Navigation 101, focusing on the use of handheld GPS receiver alone or in conjunction with topographic maps, and orienteering-style compass in a non-technical formula.

Dave Pickering, outdoor writer, surf fishing expert and photographer, has landed and released over 45,000 striped bass from shore and in recent years has averaged over 2,000. Find out how he does it.

Show director, Paul Fuller, host of Bird Dogs Afield, which chronicles him and his dog Dillon bird-hunting around the country, will screen grouse and woodcock hunting trips in New England and pheasant and quail hunting in Kansas.

Lisa Savard will share her experiences as a northern New Hampshire guide for trout and grouse. She and her husband live in Pittsburg, N.H., with their Brittanies, operating the Cabins at Lopstick.

Fly casting instructors include Captain Mike Corblies, director of American Fly Fishing Schools. Mike, a videographer and exceptional teacher, can get your casting to the next level. Jack Montague, Federation of Flyfishers Master Casting instructor, with experience from the Keys to Alaska, and owner of the Wolf Glen Fly Fishing School offers top-notch instruction, too.

Brian Downs, a hunting pro for Bass Pro Shops and Foxpro game calls, hosts Foxpro’s Predator Hunting Talkcast radio show. He’ll conduct a class in Predator Hunting 101.

Some show surprises include the Swampmaster, alligator handler Jeff Quattrocchi and his 7-foot gator; and gemstone-panning and hunting for fossils with Cold River Mining. There’s also a chance for entrants to win a luxury fishing trip to the Zancudo Lodge in Costa Rica.

Show hours are Friday, 12:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Children under 5 are admitted free.

Mark Blazis can be reached by email at markblazis@charter.net

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