HOOKING A CROWD: WEEKEND SPORTS SHOW ATTRACTS THOUSANDS

Jake Williams let out some line slowly, then braced to apply just enough pressure to bring in the large fish.

The target of the young angler was a 30- to 35-pound sailfish.

"Haven't lost one yet," grinned Jake, a 7-year-old.

The action, about noon Saturday, during the 13th annual Budweiser Sports Show this weekend at the Show Me Center, came on a Sportsfishing Simulator, more commonly referred to as "Virtual Fishing."

The special simulator provides rare underwater film footage of a variety of popular game fish, with an advanced computer system to create a realistic fishing experience to anyone who picks up the rod and reel.

"The simulator is a proven crowd-pleaser, popular with resorts and lodges, dealers and marinas, tackle and sporting goods retailers," said Monte Williams, of St. Louis, owner of the "Virtual fishing" computers and father of young Jake. "He gets in a lot of practice," said Williams, who takes his system on the road to various sports shows.

Virtual Fishing was a new item at the sports show, which opened Friday night and will continue through today.

Boats and fishing are in the spotlight of the three-day show, said Steve Nicholas, who plans the annual show for its major sponsors -- KGMO Radio and River Eagle Distributing Co. The show draws from 8,000 to 10,000 people each year.

No less than 50 boat models were on display including the Scorpiion Watercraft Co., boats, made in Potosi, Mo., and Crownline, a product made at Benton, Ill.

"We produce about four to five boats a week," said Steve Silvey, owner of Scorpion, which recently produced two special water fireboats destined for Evansville, Ind. The company also makes fishing boats.

One of the Scorpion designers, Kurt Dzuba, who joined the company from Canada, designed a special boat which was used in the latest James Bond movie.

Also in evidence at the show are a number of camper rigs and motorized RV units, to go along with scads of fishing and hunting equipment.

Also present at the show were Bob and Pat Todd, publishers of the River Hills Traveler, a monthly outdoors publication, from Piedmont. The Todds started their publication some 30 years ago at Jackson.