Joe Lutz viewed traveling to Monroeville for an outdoors show last February as a worthwhile trip.

So the Mental Health Association of Butler County board member figured it'd be even more worthwhile to do a similar show at home.

"Our fund-raiser had been an auction of sports memorabilia, antiques, etc., every year," Lutz said. "But that was getting kind of dry.

"I thought about us putting together an anglers show to use as our major fund-raiser."

Lutz mentioned the idea to Penn Township resident Don Callen, a longtime fishing buddy who accompanied him to the Monroeville show last winter.

"I have to admit, I was a little skeptical at first," Callen said. "This seemed like a major undertaking."

Now, the undertaking is complete and the first Moraine Anglers Show - benefiting the Mental Health Association of Butler County - takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at The Atrium, a 12,000 square-feet exhibit hall on Route 422, nine miles west of Butler.

The show features 26 vendors providing sources for tackle, watercraft, guides, outfitters, etc.

Ten area fishing experts will hold seminars during the weekend as well.

Lutz is chairman of the show's committee and said every fishing expert is donating his time.

"We wanted to keep a local flavor to it and there's some well-known fishing names coming in," he said.

One of the most recognizable is Howard Wagner, who will be speaking on muskie fishing in local waters.

John Bodnar will speak on steelhead fishing in Lake Erie tributaries.

"A lot of our speakers have done seminars before, but Rich Newman will be speaking on striper fishing in Lake Arthur, and he's never done a seminar before," Callen said. "But he's certainly well-versed on the subject and is qualified to do so."

Callen has been coordinating the seminars for the event.

Door prizes will be drawn every half hour and Chinese auctions featuring guided trips and other fishing items will be held.

"We received more than $2,000 worth in donated items for auction," Lutz said.

A children's fishing pond will be available for $1. Children grab a wooden fish that will be one of three colors and receive a prize corresponding with that color.

An adult roulette wheel is also available to play for $1 with fishing equipment serving as prizes.

A 14-foot Sportpal canoe will be raffled off at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for kids ages 6 to 12. Kids under 6 will be admitted free. Those attending Saturday will be allowed back in free Sunday if properly stamped.

"We've already had a lot of calls about the show and we've done a lot of advertising," Lutz said. "We put out about 60,000 place mats at restaurants throughout Butler County, northern Allegheny County, parts of Armstrong, Venango and Lawrence County.

"We're hoping to raise about $10,000 for our association from this show. Anything more than that would be gravy."

"I'm starting to wonder if we're going to have enough room in there to hold the crowd," Callen said. "But that would be a pleasant problem to have."

The Moraine Anglers Show is now the annual major fund-raiser for the Mental Health Association, a non-profit organization serving people with special needs.

Here is a list of seminars for the Moraine Anglers Show Saturday and Sunday at The Atrium:<b>Dave Andrews -</B> Trout fishing on the Connoquenessing Watershed<B>Howard Wagner -</B> Muskie fishing in local waters<B>Freeman Johns of the Fish and Boat -</B> Results of trap-netting and electro-fishing in Lake Arthur<B>Bob Green -</B> What's new in tackle for 2005<B>John Bodnar -</B> Steelhead fishing in the Lake Erie tributaries<B>Tom Stapleton -</B> Proper presentation of lures<B>Ron Anderson -</B> Take a kid fishing<B>Rich Newman -</B> Striper fishing in Lake Arthur<B>Russ Cawthorne -</B> Ice fishing and safety<B>Larry Dailey -</B> Kayak fishing