just got back from the Ice show

[markharo]

well i just got back from 4 hours at the show. Even for mid day friday, there were alot of people there. There were some pro's and con's this year i thought.

Cons: Arctic Armor was there and only had two vendors selling their bibs and jackets, Big Marine and Reed's. I was wondering why neither of them were discounting Arctic armor, and a manager from Reed's that i know, said," we had a sign up this morning for 20 percent off the normal price and Arctic Armor came over and said NO, no one is going to sell are stuff for less then what all of our stores and online sell them for. So the manager said, well, we probably wont sell any then.

Two: tried to find vexilar bibs, only place that had them there was Thorn Bros, they had about 5 of them for the entire weekend.

Three: Frabil thermo tip ups, One vendor was selling them, and they knew it, after looking at their prices, $5 more then in stores. i still cant figure out why no one else didnt have any. Reed's said they forgot a big shipment of them to the show.

Four: Deals, vertually non-existant for what i was looking for, or at least nothing that would have made me proud for saving, i'll get to a couple of them though.

Five: Alot of vendors didnt have some certain items, the one example i can state is the lindy Slick Jig? Reed's thorn bros, big marine, didnt even see the lindy booth. I personally couldnt find one to buy, they might have been some there but i wasnt going to circle the show for the 10th time.

there were a few other things but no big deal to complain about, sometimes im just not that comfortable in big congested public areas.

Pros If you park in the Science museum ramp, its a small entrence and hard to see, it was only $8 to park for 4 hours, compared to $15 everywhere else.

Two: Bring a old rod or reel in to Fishing For Life. They will clean and refix old equipment and give them to kids and people who cant afford them. I brought a older ice rod and a year old St. croix reel and the guy was like, you didnt have to bring that nice of a reel, i just said i dont like it. Anyway, you get a $5 gift certificate to Thorn Bros. It bought me a Lindy Darter for free.

Three: Saw some demo augers at the entrance that were some really good prices, strikemasters, solo, and lazer mags.

Four: I had a Northand piece of tackle in my bag and was checked by Mark from the Metro musky tournament, and i recieved a $25 bag of northland tackle, was good stuff too that i will use.

Five: $160 for a Strike master Hard water ware jacket and bibs. Awesome deal, i only wanted the bibs bought called a friend who wanted the jacket so i got bibs for $60. They feel and look great.

Six: Bikini Ice Team, even though they werent in bikinis, those white shirts might as well been beacons and fog horns. saw many of people run into others because they were so distracted.

[Eelpout08]

Gotta love that bikini ice fishing team!!

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Sunday fun day

[Juice88]

Bikini Ice Team should give cut outs that you can take into the fish house.

[markharo]

lol, i want a cut out for my fish house. I think sunday towards the end of the show will be some what ever you ask for that is the price. but the catch is, if anyone has what you want left, it could be a gamble. Today was the only day i could go.

[stifler51]

good thing i pretty much have everything i need for ice fishing, cuz to be honest (dont hate) i really dont like the ice show. Cost 15$ to park, 16$ or whatever for me and the gf to get in plus gas. All just to pick up a few lures. Never find any great deals.

[Eelpout08]

I guess i will just have to settle for my 2008 bikini ice fishing calender from Eelpout Festival. December is Missy. Yikes

[Ryan_V]

Gotta love that bikini ice fishing team!!

that's the best thing I came away with this year...a picture of me with the 2 girls from the bikini ice fishing team!! that puppy will never leave my phone!!!

[coombia21]

i got a magnum lodge for 340 just poles and canvas and a jr ultralight rod for 12 and i got a couple of really good deals on some jigs

[mole]

I have parked on the street the past 2 years, is that still possible. I have a hard time paying $15 to park.

[harvey lee]

markharo

Here is your deal for the day.

free gloves and shipping for your new Artci armor suit here.

http://www.outdoorprostore.com/arctic-armor.html

[Aces In The Hole]

I got into some great deals at the show. I parked on the Smith Street Parking Lot for $5.(Got there about 1PM.) Walked around a bunch and found some good deals. Got a Ice Armor Extreme suit for $250. A St. Croix Legend Spring Bobber rod for $40 and a Shimano Sedona 500 for $30. Only thing I saw that wasn't a deal was the LakeMaster chip for Garmins at Reed's. $99 they wanted and on their HSOforum they sell it for $90 and free shipping. All and all, I had a great time at the show.Now all I can do is sit here and wait for some ice to be made!!

[river rat316]

I got a Eskimo quickfish 3 for $135, that was a good deal, the lindy slick jigs were at the Lindy booth in the middle aisle, I didn't get any but looked at them. Visited JR's booth and got some good deals on some jigging spoons and other jigs. Didn't find much else I "needed", but I am sure I will kick myself for a couple things like the hardwater wear, I ended up not getting it because I wanted the qf3 and I would have went way over budget if I would have got both!

[zamboni]

$1 for auger oil at StrikeMasters booth. Can't beat that with a stick. 0 weight for my StrikeLite isn't easy to find- esp at that price. Also got a sweashirt and a beanie from StrikeMaster for $5 each.

[bassislife]

I didn't go the last 2 years because it's the same ol' thing year after year. Seems like the cars, trucks, 4-wheelers etc take up most the space! But I can't say enough for the deals that Reeds give!

The only reason for me to go again?? just to see what Reeds is giving away!

[delcecchi]

FF has the Vexilar stuff, at least in Rochester.

[zamboni]

FF has the Vexilar stuff, at least in Rochester.

Owatonna, too

[BrdHunter01]

FF also has the Quickfish3 for 135 through tom also...

[shnelson]

any good deals on frabill shacks? I'm looking at the predator specifically, but am wondering if it's even something I'd see there...

[zamboni]

Loved the ice show today, btw. Walked over to the Frabil booth, Bro was there talking it up, very nice guy. Bought a camo "Northland Tackle" cap, and was told "nice hat" by Gary Roach, then got to listen to Dave Genz talk at his seminar. Where else do you get to see all the stars of our favorite hobby in one place?

[harvey lee]

Ted T was also there giving some info out. Great guy that has a wealth of information.

I also talked with Jason Mitchell and Dave Genz.

Bought a ticket for the Ice fishing contect on Forest lake as one will save $15.00 purchasing it at the show.

Also purchased another Stone Legacy 4 rod bag, man they are a very nice bag with good tackle storage. They seem to last forever.

I also talked to the Canvas Craft gang to see if my new insulated lodge house was ready. One has to love those new seats. One cannot beat those insulated portables.

Talked with Paul from Appeldorn's and the great Northlander at the Otter booth.

[icefishing21]

me and my buddies ended up winning a clam ice house and two northland 25 dollar gift packages all won in raffles!

["Just Add Ice"]

Reeds gave me a really really good deal on a new strike lite,Grey Ice Armour Suit and a set of gloves. Thanks Guys

[aa8shot]

coombia21, which dealer had the magnum poles and canvas for that price?

[Glockwinger]

For the first time this year I took in some seminars from Terry Tuma and Dave Genz. Good stuff, helped break up the hours of walking. I picked up some jigs, a Genz ultralight rod, a battery meter for the vex, and some spring bobbers. I stopped and visited with Dave Genz, Paul from Appeldorns, Tom from WigWam, the very nice folks from Highbanks, and Jay from Waconia Farm Supply selling ATVs. I didn't find any amazing deals either, but I go to get the appetite for the hard water season. Can't wait for ice!