By Steve Weisman

Hey, ice fishermen! Mark your calendar for the second annual “Shop with the Pros 2013” day scheduled for Saturday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  at Kabele’s Trading Post in Spirit Lake.

After the success of their first “Shop with the Pros” last November, owners Thane and Tanya Johnson are excited about what this year’s day will offer ice fishermen. “We think having approximately 250 ice fishing enthusiasts last November was a pretty successful day.”

To prepare for this event, Thane and Tanya have recently remodeled Kabele’s Trading Post to provide more space to display more product. Tanya says, “W had been contemplating taking down a wall to add additional floor space and wall space. It was just time, so we did all of the work ourselves, aside from some electrical and plumbing. We are trying to add availability of items that people could not get here before, becoming bigger, but still maintaining our one-on-one customer service.”

A day to look, talk and listen

That’s what “Shop with the Pros” will be all about. A wide array of product will be on display, and Thane and Tanya want customers to browse and look. As with last year, seminars will be placed strategically throughout the day to give anglers “food for thought” followed by a chance to talk with the pros and other anglers.

Cornerstone of the day will be seminars by three different pro staffers.

Heading the list will be Jason Mitchell, Clam and Ice Team Pro Staffer. Mitchell hosts the highly acclaimed outdoor program, Jason Mitchell Outdoors that airs across the Midwest on Fox Sports North and Fox Sport Midwest channels. In addition, Mitchell has earned a renowned reputation as a top walleye guide on North Dakota’s Devils Lake often guiding well over 250 days on the water and ice each season.

John Grosvenor, who has his own guiding service JTG Expeditions on the Iowa Great Lakes, will also present a seminar. During the ice season, Grosvenor is an Ice Force and Berkley Pro Staffer and has been a professional fishing guide on the Okoboji chain of lakes since 2001.

Steve Weisman, outdoor writer and communicator from Spirit Lake and a Clam and Ice Team Pro Staffer, will also present a seminar. Weisman has been an outdoor writer for the past 20 years.

“We are incredibly honored to have Jason Mitchell at our event and in our community. He truly is an icon to the fishing world. Local guide and Ice Force Pro-staff John Grovesnor has had years of experience fishing the clear waters of Iowa Great Lakes. We are happy to have him in our seminar lineup this year and representing, Ice Force and Berkley. Steve Weisman is a favorite among the locals, a long time fisherman and free lance writer,” adds Tanya.

Kevan Paul, Clam and Ice Team Pro Staffer and Trevor Fey of Ice Force will be on hand to answer questions about the array of products offered by Clam and Ice Force.  J & K Snowmobiles will also be on hand to display the latest in the Arctic Cat line of 4-wheelers and snowmobiles.

Seminar schedule and topics

10:30 a.m.  Steve Weisman will share a general fishing forecast for northwest Iowa lakes and how he views ice as the great equalizer-especially if anglers are set with cutting edge equipment.

11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Jason Mitchell will offer two seminars (with a break for noon lunch, of course). Topics include panfish insights: strategy, tactics and details to catch more panfish this winter.

2 p.m. John Grosvenor will focus on sight fishing clear water.

Kabele’s Promotions

Thane and Tanya working together with their ice fishing manufacturers have come up with a wide range of promotions for the day. They include:

• Specials on Vexilar LCD Color Camera
• Specials on MarCum LCD Black/White camera
• Ice Force sweatshirts and tackle pack with select items
• Travel covers and hoodies with select ice shacks
• Shucks Jigger Minnow special
• Free set of auger blades with Jiffy and Ion augers
• Instant rebates
• Promotional items with rods, reels, lures, ice line and clothing.
• Giveaways every hour
• Grand prize drawing

Just have fun

That’s the name of the game. “It will be a busy day that is for sure,” say Thane and Tanya. “We like to greet everyone who walks in the door that day, giving them multiple items they can enjoy after the event. We do not charge for this event, but if you are looking for any ice fishing equipment, this will be the time to get it!”

Oh, and don’t forget the lunch. Thuls West River Meats and Catering will be offering a brisket sandwich, baked beans, chips and drink for $5.

Sponsors for “Shop with the Pros 2013” include Clam, Ice Team, Vexilar, Ice Force, Berkley and Iowa Sportsman magazine.

Thane and Tanya are surrounded by just a sampling of the ice fishing gear at Kabele’s Trading Post. (photo by Steve Weisman)