Muskie Expo Reviews & Reports

[Musky_Madness]

Came on here to see how the show went this weekend and am not seeing much. Curious what the hot baits and hot deals were this year. My father and I go every year but missed it due to moving my parents into their new home. Please share...we really missed going but probably saved money by staying at home! Guess that means we'll have to go shopping at Thorne Bros in a few weekends!

[MuskieJunkie]

I went Friday right when it opened, I had planned on going Saturday and then hitting Rob's garage sale but with a 3 week old and 2 1/2 year old in the house I had to go when I could not when I wanted to.

You saved money by not going, that's for sure. I "stopped by" on my way home from work and ended up with another Calcutta and a bunch of baits. Joes Sporting goods gave me a deal on the Calcutta TE I couldn't pass up and Reeds had Pounder bull dogs for $20.

I talked to Jim Saric and got to see Larry Dahlbergs boat, wish I could have stayed for some seminars but had to get back home.

[cbrooks]

One of these years I'm gonna have to do a road trip down to Expo. Sounds like its the next best thing to actually fishing muskies.

[Esox_Magnum]

I thought the crowds were down, didn't seem so packed this year. Of course spent to much on new baits but got to see alot of old friends so it was a great day. Rob's sale was great, should have been there an hour earlier but still helpd him by reducing his bait collection. Swap was a blast, good friends and some good deals to be had.

[nater]

We made it down on Friday and the crowds didn't see too bad compared to last year. Always a great time checking out the show colors and talking with the people in the industry. Lee Tauchen is a great guy to talk to and he tuned my chopper as well. Also got a white tail twinkie pounder, perch/orange belly weagle and a baby creeper from musky buster.

Wished we could have seen some of the seminars later in the show but only caught Bob's. Lots of talk about trying to get his 100th fish over 50"

[50inchpig]

Well if there's anything Bob likes to talk about it's.....Bob.

I had some fun, first thing I bought were some beads, kind of lame but saved me a trip over to Blaine. Only other thing I really wanted was one of those grey/orange belly squirrly phantoms but Todd wasn't selling them from his booth and Blue Ribbon and Thornes didn't have the color, so it's still on the list, bought a couple other minor things to finish up some blade projects and resisted the urge on a lot of other things that I really didn't need. Watching Larry Dahlberg work in his booth was cool too.

My wife and I were talking - we figured out why the fish look huge in the guides pictures - they're all really short!

[Quackaddict9]

Well if there's anything Bob likes to talk about it's.....Bob.

Only other thing I really wanted was one of those grey/orange belly squirrly phantoms but Todd wasn't selling them from his booth and Blue Ribbon and Thornes didn't have the color, so it's still on the list

Yeah I wanted that color too and the stores you mentioned didn't have them except smaller regualar phantoms. Friend of mine that was with liked it and the guy in the phantom booth said if the stores didn't have them he would sell it to us so we did grab the squirrley phantom.

I was at the show on Saturday all day with a few friends and went to Ogara's afterwards for the swap and had a good time. Took home a couple AP's from Luke and custom colored bulldawgs. At the swap bought a brand new Lakewood Upright tackle box for $25 so that was a steal...and 4 phantoms. I did also notice that the crowd was a little less yesterday compared to last year but still had a great time. A few lure companies were not there this year too.

[10,000 Casts]

Great Show as always. We were there on Sat from noon-5pm. I managed to get out of there only buying 1 lure, a Spanky Baits double #8. I figured that I would give it a shot.. One of the best things about the show were the shimano repair guys that came all the way from CA! They had my buddies TE all the way down to the frame and about 40 pieces laying on the table and they really gave us an education on what does what and what should be cleaned and so on... THANKS SHIMANO! My buddies TE is better than new now.. I also really like talking to Larry Dahlberg! great guy we mainly talked about the Whopper Plopper and I tried to buy one but I don't think he would have sold one for $1000. I love his Bay boat!! I am going to look at getting a 21ft in teh future. We booked a trip with Hammernick for Sept on one of my favorite lakes, after talking with him, he fishes it WAY different than I do and he catches WAY more fish than anyone I know out there so that should be fun!!! His and Hulbert's Seminar was pretty good too.. Other than that we signed Kevin Cochrans petition/letter to help get more MN lakes stocked. Anyone that fishes Muskie in MN should sign and mail that in! my buddy picked up a couple custom cowgirls and some Kriscos, the paint jobs on those Kriscos were sweet! I wanted to buy a few Grandmas but there wasn't one in the building!

The one good thing about the later date of the expo is now June is that much closer and the itch is BAD!!!

[cluelessfisherman]

I too am a little lighter in the pocket book after the show. Picked up a few more Phantoms - would have liked to see a few more colors available like others have mentioned. I resisted the urge to get one of the big boys at the Phantom booth, but someone who I was with didn't fare so well... lol.

I also nabbed up a few Cranes, a new Castaic Swimmin Cisco, some custom cowgirls, and found some Burts in Joes bargain bins that were a steal at $9.99.

And a few t-shirts.

Unfortunately I missed the swap - going to have to make it next year!

[50inchpig]

I also know Redig was 2 pounds heavier when he walked out then when he came - don't know how he resisted buying a rod for it and probably has since Saturday.......

[Castinski]

I was also disappointed that I could not find that orange bellied phantom. Must be the hot color since everyone else thought the same thing, lol. I picked up a new creeper and a shadillac from hulbert. I resisted the urge to pick up any really big ticket items, thank god. My only regret is not picking up one of the new shallow pounders. Hopefully I can find one at thorne's this weekend.

[Shawn Kellett]

I got to be good buddies with the Shimano tech by the end of Sat. Got my TE and T14 reworked and I "think" I have it down to do it on my own. How does that saying go about knowing just enough to be dangerous?

I was a big seller this year. I only added 1 Slammer and 1 custom Medusa at the show and 1-2 baits at the swap. I probably sold about 50+ baits at the swap. It's tough to crack open your wallet when you already have 2 of everything, or 3, or 4, or 5...

[JRedig]

I also know Redig was 2 pounds heavier when he walked out then when he came - don't know how he resisted buying a rod for it and probably has since Saturday.......

Heh, ended up 4lb's heavier...

[brad coin]

I was working the MI booth all three days,,,I think most people feel the big hit of the show was the Shimano and ABU booths were they would clean and literally rebuild your reel for free

I brought my Calcutta to the shimano booth and they replaced the bearings,anti reverse,handle,and something I cant pronounce and the cleaning and oil

"no charge" They wouldnt even take a beer

I also got a signed 'spin doctor' T shirt from Vikes legend Chuck Foreman

[rugbymn]

I got to be good buddies with the Shimano tech by the end of Sat. Got my TE and T14 reworked and I "think" I have it down to do it on my own. How does that saying go about knowing just enough to be dangerous?

The free cleaning at the Shimano/Abu booths were worth the price of admission. After watching the guy completely dismantle and reassemble one of my reels and explain how to do it, I tried to do it myself with another reel when I got home. I failed.

All of the pieces are back in place according to the schematics, but the handle won't turn. When I really crank down and force the handle to turn, the gears won't engage the spool. Does anyone know where I went wrong?

[bemidjibasser]

sounds like you put the AR bearing in backwards...or wrong side up. it is a main bearing that goes on the shaft that holds the bearings and that the handle connects to

[scsavre]

Show was about the same as all the years past. I did by a rod late sunday, on the cheap. Noticed when I got home it was broken already. The glue didnt hold on a few pieces. Dont be in a hurry next time, I guess.

Wish I knew about the Shimano guys being there. I have a Culcutta on my table ready to send in for repair.

Wish I would have made the swap, next year for sure.

[ole matty]

Brought home 19 lures from expo and swap meet, 6 of them phantoms, also saltist 20lw.

No chicks's phone numbers this year.... Drats....

[JRedig]

Wish I knew about the Shimano guys being there. I have a Culcutta on my table ready to send in for repair.

They'll be at thorne this weekend for their dealio.

[scsavre]

Thanks Redig, Looks like I have a good excuse to go spend more time muskie shopping.

[bronzeback]

ended up only buying a 14" Jimmy after going 2 days. Got my Revo torn apart and cleaned and repaired which was great. Got to listen to Bob speak, I enjoy the guy even if he is a little self-involved. Or a lot.

Saw Dahlberg's boat and it blew my mind. That custom justencase he has fit into the front platform of the boat is awesome.

otherwise pretty much same as last year-did end up buying that Jimmy from huntbigfish--Hunter I think? he recognized me before I recognized him. I left with a big free Abu decal too. That'll look good on my 12' aluminum boat.