It's show time folks!

That would be the

, the largest gathering of outdoor sportsmen and women west of the Mississippi River - opening a five-day run Wednesday at the

.

Headliners include

sponsored by Bi-Mart, with daily seminars on how-where-when to catch a fish heretofore scorned in public waters stretching from St. Helens to Spokane and beyond.

So scorned that in 2016, Oregon and Washington lifted all walleye limits in the Columbia River.

Scorned for its evil looks, barrel-stave fighting ability and undeserved reputation for the deaths of baby salmon and steelhead.

But this invasive fish is also treasured for its delectable flesh and targeted by visitors from across the nation, where walleye in most native waters aren't nearly as large as ours. The next world record may be swimming somewhere well within a days' drive of Portland.

at the Sportsmen's Show offer even more to anglers and hunters.

While salmon and steelhead numbers are down, they're certainly not out. This year should see a better return of coho and the first Willamette spring chinook salmon are due.

offers an array of hunting, fishing, boating, camping and outdoor activity in the world's most diverse outdoor setting.

Fly-fishing, all forms of hunting, archery, travel, salmon and steelhead techniques, equipment and tackle, trout, taxidermy, even gold-panning are among thousands of attractions. Need a duck call? An earplug? Wildlife jewelry? A boat?

also trend toward social media, with several well-known Internet hunting and fishing personalities attending and presenting. They include Scott Haugen of Springfield, prowling with camera in hand, ready to blog-on-site.

Need help navigating Oregon's new high-tech license system? The Department of Fish and Wildlife will have hands on deck.

Thursday afternoon, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold an open-house from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the show's Green Theater, above the show office. Commissioners will conduct their monthly meeting Friday at Embassy Suites Portland Airport.

The free childrens' trout pond is back for kids 12 and under.

A few pointers:

- Expo parking is $8 ($7 for three or more in the same vehicle). Avoid the fee by taking the MAX light rail yellow line directly to Expo.

- Traffic on nearby Interstate 5 is worst when the show opens each day, especially Wednesday.

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All admissions are half-price after 4 p.m. (adults - $7.50; kids 6-16 - $2.50, five and under are free). Active, retired and reserve military can get a 2-for-1 at $15. Full price at other times, although a two-day pass is available for $24.

- Discount coupons are available online for Wednesday through Friday, sponsored by Toyota.

Columbia salmon management:

A working group of fish and wildlife commissioners from Oregon and Washington (three each) will continue its public meetings Wednesday in Ridgefield.

- but not deciding - sport and commercial harvest management of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River.

Decisions on changes, if any, will be made by each commission after conclusion of the joint meetings.

Wednesday's is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regional office in Ridgefield.

They'll meet again Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Salem headquarters of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and return to Ridgefield on March 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sea lions: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has trapped and euthanized five California sea lions captured in traps below Willamette Falls.

Biologists report more California and Steller sea lions have arrived. Trapping will continue under a permit allowing the department to kill California sea lions (only) in an attempt to stave off extinction of the wild Willamette River winter steelhead run.

While only five were taken by this past week, one was an animal usually positioning itself at the entrance of the fish ladder leading steelhead over the falls.

It's too early to tell what impact the sea-lion control will have, although early numbers over the falls are nearly the same as last year. This winter steelhead season has been slower than last, however, which could mean the control is helping.

The department hopes to have a more liberal permit by 2020 to allow the capture and killing of both California and Steller sea lions in a far-greater area than the Willamette River and Bonneville Dam.