Knox Marine held its annual Open House March 2 and 3.
The event, which has been a staple for nearly three decades, showcased a wide array of products, including new and used boats, fishing equipment and marine accessories.
Steve Dalton, co-owner of Knox Marine, expressed satisfaction with the turnout. He said the event is one of the largest events Knox Marine engages in each year along with the Ohio RV and Boat Show and the Columbus Fishing Expo.
"We had some free merchandise for people, and I guess that’s our primary goal to do this is awareness of new people and showing the new products, that there's a lot of new products out there for 2024,” Dalton told the Mount Vernon News. "In what we sell, we really cater to the fishermen, whether it's Lake Erie walleye boats, inland bass boats, or just for every day weekend winter boats, we have a boat for about everybody if you're a fisherman.”
Dalton highlighted the range of Knox Marine’s boat offerings, from basic models to high-performance rigs.
"We have boats from John Boats with oars to big, fully blown walleye rigs with 400 horsepower," he said.
The event featured seminars led by professional fishermen.
"We had some professional fishermen here giving seminars on new electronic techniques, which went very well," Dalton said.
Included in the presenters was local angler Mike Defibaugh, who hails from Bellefontaine, Ohio. A sponsored pro angler, Defibaugh's expertise in blade bait techniques has earned him numerous accolades. Defibaugh shared insights into his favorite techniques and the latest electronic advancements in fishing techniques.
Dalton spoke highly of Defibaugh's contributions to the event.
”We had professional walleye fisherman Mike Defibaugh here, who is a top-rated angler in the country. His seminars on the new livescope fishing were a highlight of the weekend,” Dalton said.
Knox Marine's commitment to showcasing cutting-edge products was evident throughout the event.
Reflecting on the evolving landscape of the industry over the past three decades, Dalton emphasized the significance of adapting to technological advancements which are on display and for sale at Knox Marine.
"It has gotten very, very sophisticated," he noted. "If you're a competitive angler, there are people that spend more money on electronics (for the) professional sport than a lot of people pay for their boats.”
Dalton noted one newcomer to competitive fishing who has used electronics to get an edge.
“A guy just won $100,000 in a lead event and the kid is 19 years old and yes he's a great angler with experience, but his experience comes from the electronics world we offer today,” he said.
As Ohio's fishing landscape continues to evolve, Knox Marine remains at the forefront, catering to the needs of a growing community of anglers.
“Ohio fishing has changed,” he said. “Our weather has changed. More people are fishing more out of the year than they have in past years. People are fishing closer to year round in Ohio.”
See photos from the event below.
