California’s largest outdoor and travel event is coming to our area next month.

The International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) will be at the San Mateo County Event Center on Jan. 10-13, then it moves to the Sacramento Cal Expo for the dates of Jan. 17-20.

More than 600 exhibits are available, including fishing and hunting lodges, guides, and outfitters from local vacation spots as well as Alaska, Canada and international destinations.

There are some great competitions for cash and prizes that anyone can enter — and can be fun to watch, too — including fly casting distance, elk-calling and a splash dogs jumping contest.

Outdoor seminars are available each day as well, including GPS classes, cooking classes, a variety of fishing seminars, a show on survival tips, a 4-wheel drive rock-crawling exhibition and a special youth outdoor sports fair.

The Ultimate Bass Demonstration Tank is always a fun stop, too.

The Department of Fish & Game has an exhibit where you can purchase your 2008 fishing license, and find out information about the many fun programs our state offers.

There are also some great exhibits where you can purchase the latest fishing, hunting and boating gear, and others that offer wildlife art and furnishings.

The ISE is a fun annual event for the whole family, and is well worth the trip.

Tickets are $12 each, with free admission for kids under 12 years of age.

“My Outdoor Meaning” to be featured on radio

This Sunday at 9 p.m., Sonoma radio station KSVY 91.3 FM will broadcast a poetry program featuring the poem “My Outdoor Meaning,” which appeared in this column last month.

This program was originally supposed to air as the debut on Dec. 9, but technical difficulties at the time prevented the broadcast.

The weekly program, titled “Moon River,” is hosted by long-time radio and television man Ward Glenn. Ward was the producer of George Carl’s outdoor television program on Napa’s channel 28, and had been a broadcasting colleague of my father for many years.

Clear Lake bass tournament on FSN

Tune in to the cable channel Fox Sports Net this Sunday, Dec. 30 at 8 a.m. to catch a broadcast of a professional bass tournament at Clear Lake.

The weekly show “FLW Outdoors” features a variety of fishing tournaments across the country. This Sunday’s edition will be a great opportunity to see how the pros fish our nearby bass haven, considered one of the best largemouth bass fisheries in the United States.

Goodbye 2007

It’s time to mark the passing of another year.

Reflecting on 2007, there were certainly some difficult times for my family, but we made some great memories, too. Plans are already in the works for many more fun adventures in the new year.

I wish you all a very happy 2008, and remember to get out there and enjoy the outdoors every chance you get!

Guy Carl is a CPA and partner with Brotemarkle, Davis & Co. Accountants and Advisors in St. Helena. Contact Guy at GC.outdoors@sbcglobal.net.