Whats Hot or Not at the Ice Show?

[Ed Carlson]

What's tickling your fancy, getting your hear racing, and catching your eye at the St. Paul Ice Show?

Brilliant...Good, hot deals, or...maybe....not so good?

How is the Pro Staff on the floor impressing you, and the various seminars?

Thanks,

[79LumaCraft]

Gotta listen to Tony Roach. Listened to Dave Genz and Terry Tuma along with Roach yesterday and while G and T were good, Tony was awesome. Great to talk to the guy too. A bit disappointed in the show this year--not as many booths and not many attendees didn't feel like yesterday. And unlike in past years, the pros and the guys you read in the various mags and see on TV shows were not as talkative to the common folk.

[Gus]

Any body score a good deal on a strike-lite 2? I'm debating going down or doing the christmas tree thing with the family....

Any new gotta have "tools" ?

[IceHawk]

Really enjoyed the show this yr except for the drive home Fri evening what a bugger. Got some great deals at Reeds and Thorne bros again. Met alot of interesting people and spent some time chatting with Jason Mitchell, Gary Roach and Bro all top notch fisherman and people in my book, looking forward to next yr!

[Gordie]

I dont ussally go to these things but today I did my boys and I went and we hasd a great time got lots of Ideas for building wheel houses lots of good stuff there. pro staff was great talked a bit with Dave Genz, and even talked with our own Northlander. Some really good deals on portables this year. Steve I will get a hold of you later about a few things, another high light was the calender signing in the clam house area .

My personal favorite was the MDAA exhibit good to see you Spearhead, Merkman and his brother Tony.

Alot of good deals on clothing Got My oldest boy a coat.

purchased a couple of the new Venom Outdoors glow bobbers. Cant wait to use them. I think these will be the hot ticket for me this year.

A few things I seen and made me think was the automatic jigging rods,the tip up flags that mount on your fishing rod. made me think that you could get real lazy using all these new fangled gadgets.

ergonomic fishing rods looked funny but I think they will work really well if you can get past it looking like its broke

I will deffinatly attend next years and may be voluntiering for duty with the MDAA booth.

[Westsidefishing]

It was fun time bought Arctic Armor Suit and Venom bobbers. Talked to Ted T, It was fun for me! I tought there weren't as many people as last year.

[Rippinlip]

Good show, nothing really jumped out at me, was some good deals, just had to walk around a bit and compare.

I did not pull the trigger on a new flasher like I was going up there for.

I just like my FL-8 too much and can not see spending moochoo bucks on another that basically does the same thing.

Was able to briefly say "hi" to northlander working the Otter House area.

Good deal I found was the Northern Beer back by the Zack Shacks, good beer.

[GBPackerNut]

I picked up a new Hummingbird ICE-55 from Reeds.

Talked to Brian Brosdahl for a moment, tons of ice houses there...

overall there were a ton of people there.

[fishtrapgirl]

I got a sweet deal on a Vex FL-22 and some Lindell rattle reels from Reed's. Got a couple hooded sweatshirts and Ice Armor gloves from Thorne Bros. Got a couple hooded sweatshirts and a metal sign to put in my Grand Lodge from Strikemaster. Also got a slush catcher for the house. Couldn't carry anymore stuff so I had to leave and go home. Really enjoyed the show, and really wishing I would have gotten one the new Vexilar Fish-Scout cameras, so thinking about heading back there today after I get done with work this morning. Have to see what my husband says, but I'm guessing I won't have to twist his arm too much.

[jeep guy]

I thought the show was pretty good this year sat through a couple of the seminars. One thing that I was dissapointed in this year was the clam booth. With that huge area they had they didnt have all their houses out which I thought was pretty dumb. I wanted to see the kodiak, when i asked if they had one the guy who was running the booth didnt know what I was talking about. I had to grab one of their catalogs and show him. My thought is if you work at a booth you should at least know your product.

[castmaster]

Hadn't gone in a few years because it always seemed to be the same stuff and ended up kind of disappointed. Seemed like less fishing related vendors than I remember from years past. That back room seemed to be mostly the kind of stuff you'd see for sale on late night tv.

Was also VERY disappointed in the number of wheel house mnfg's there this year. I am finally ready to drop the $$ on a wheel house and was hoping to be able to check out some of the builders I am interested in all under one roof. No Ultra Shack, No King Crow, no Performance Engineering etc etc. Pretty much just Ice Castle, Lodge and Salem. Couple Yettis as well, but overall not much selection.

[CrappieNight]

How much is parking out there? My wife works for Travelers and we can park there for free but we are contemplating the additional cost of her and our daughter. Just me and the boy, get in some "guy" time.

[skinman]

just sold by my 7 x 8 king and picked up a 6 1/2 x 16 crow. i usd to be one of those vendors formorly zero degree ice tackle. bigger companies have bigger bucks and they take your ideas. i see now someone has a charger that charges your vex as you drive to the lake and now a light now for your hole. we showed that 5 years ago at the ice show along with our ice eliminator that shoved the ice back down the hole, and someone else copied that idea also. i get all the magazines and your right, theres no innovation any more.

[MJ1657]

I thought there were great deals at the show. I picked up a quickfish 4 with a couple of the matching folding chairs. And of course the usual $100 worth of odds and ends. I had a good time.

[Chode2235]

Any deals on Sno suits?

[MJ1657]

I did not look real close but judging by the amount of people trying them on and buying them I would say yes.

[fishwacker1]

I spent way too much money there Friday night. I purchased a Canvascraft R2 tec top for my medium otter sled that have been used for the last 7 seasons. Great deal on it including a cover. Then I did some bargaining between competitors and got a smoking deal on an otter outdoors medium box with auger case. Actually the Otter rep did the bargaining for me. Cannot tell you how much those guys stand by their products and care about the consumer. Then to boot the Wild game after all of that. Good day.

[Craigums]

I went looking for a FL22 but couldnt find one in my price rance. I ended up with a LX5 for $420, plus ill be getting a $50 rebate. Im happy with the price now just have to see how I like its performance

[B-man715]

Picked up a Honda 2000 for $930 after tax

[klee]

It was my first time there this year. I was pretty dissapointed because it was the same vendors and stores that I've seen at the sportsmans show and other fishing shows from this year. I was expecting a lot of ice jigs and lures, but no. The only good deal I got was a new blade for my auger;20% off auger accesories at REEDS. Gosh those things are expensive, and you can't even sharpen it.

[peterson999]

I picked up a Frabill Guardian for $400.

[SavageFishingGuy]

Otter cabin pro package for $429 from Marine General.

[Bulldoggr]

I think you will be very happy with the unit!

[SavageFishingGuy]

I'm excited to get out in it. I went between Reeds and Marine General and the price kept coming down. Figured I couldn't go wrong at that price.