If all goes well, Dayton will once again have an outdoor sports show next year.

The Dayton Sportsman Show will be held March 8-10 at the Airport Expo Center. The show will have a new promoter and a whole new look, a change from past shows that were unable to draw enough people and exhibitors to continue.

Jody Witsky of JW Promotions out of Mount Vernon is planning the new show. He knows the recent history of shows in Dayton, but feels his approach will bring success.

“Our reputation with the vendors who follow us and the speakers we bring to the shows will be a big boost for us,” Witsky said. “We are experienced with putting together successful shows.”

JW Productions has been in business for 12 years. In that time, it has presented home shows and sports shows in northeast Ohio and, more recently, Fort Wayne, Ind. The Northeast Ohio Sportsman Show is held annually in Dalton.

Witsky’s goal for Dayton is to have 150 vendors showcasing hunting, fishing, shooting products. He plans to have a seminar schedule that will run all three days, featuring local experts in all phases of outdoor sports.

“You have to offer a variety,” Witsky said. “We will have some boats and some RVs and plenty of vendors.”

He will also bring in some hands-on activities, including something called “Archery Tag,” a sort of a laser tag with bows and arrows. There will also likely be a trout pond and a Hawg Trough among other attractions.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dayton had an annual outdoor sports show and two boat shows. A couple of years later, it was down to one boat show and an occasional hunting and fishing show. The last hunting and fishing show and boat show were in 2010. Both died from lack of attendance and sold vendor space.

“We have had successful shows and we looked at Dayton and saw potential,” Witsky said. “Not having a show here for two years, we think the people will be ready to support one again.”

Anyone interested in buying booth space or offering ideas for the show should contact Witsky at info@OhioSportsmanShow.com or jodywitsky@ earthlink.net.

Hamilton angler wins

Ray Brunner of Hamilton weighed a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 15 ounces last weekend to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division event on Mosquito Lake. For his victory, Brunner earned $6,082, including $2,000 from Ranger Boats.

Curt Fiessinger of Ft. Loramie was second at 11-1 and won $2,041. The only other area angler in the top 10 was Clint Bissonett of Beavercreek at 9-10, good for eighth place and $612. In the co-angler division, Levi Northup of Tipp City was eighth, winning $306 for a weight of 7-14. Kenneth Garrison of Hamilton was 10th with a weight of 7-4, good for $238.

Mercer meeting set

The Ohio Division of Wildlife is putting on a special open house on Saturday, June 30 from 9-11 a.m. at the Mercer County Sportsmens Club, 7052 Ohio 703, Celina.

“This open house will provide attendees an additional chance to comment on Grand Lake St. Marys waterfowl regulations with wildlife biologist and management staff,” said Brett Beatty, acting District Five wildlife management supervisor. Regulations will be discussed and attendees will be provided comment forms to officially submit input.

For information, call (937) 372-9261.

Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached by email at sports@coxohio.com