St. Paul ice fishing show ???

[JakeJ_Mn]

Never having been to the River Centre - just wondering where the best place to park and the cost for parking. Planning on attending Saturday - coming from Northern Minn. Thanks for any info.

[Matt C]

Plan on 8 to 20 bucks for parking anywhere DT St. Paul. Your best bet, is a lot next to Fourpaughs restaurant(google it). Close to the X, yet cheaper parking.

[harvey lee]

I always park in the parking ramp right across the street as it is so close. I do not remember what the fees are.

You can walk inside all the way to the show.

[Hammy]

Several of the bars will charge you 15 or 20 but give you that back on a bar tab.

[Hardyboy]

Several of the bars will charge you 15 or 20 but give you that back on a bar tab.

How exactly do you get it back in a bar tab?

[Down Deep]

You get to drink or eat at the bar and get to park. Otherwise it is 15 to 20 bucks at a lot and no value other than parking. Might as well get a little extra for your money.

[Hardyboy]

You get to drink or eat at the bar and get to park. Otherwise it is 15 to 20 bucks at a lot and no value other than parking. Might as well get a little extra for your money.

Ok soooo you pay to park there then bring your show ticket back and they give you your parking money back towards food and drink? If thats the case then that would not be a bad deal at all.

[mccullen]

I believe that if you pay to park there, at the bar, they would give you a coupon, voucher for said bar. Then you can go in and use the voucher and get some food or drinks with it, good for equal amount of what you paid for parking. There are some bars real close to the X on 7th Street just west of Kellogg Blvd. It's also easy in and easy out for the folks coming form out of town just right off the freeway.

[lutzy]

Ok soooo you pay to park there then bring your show ticket back and they give you your parking money back towards food and drink? If thats the case then that would not be a bad deal at all.

[Hardyboy]

you are starting to think the same thing I am arn't you?

Most definitely!!

[bobbymalone]

I've been a few years in a row now and I always tell myself that I'm not gonna go this year.

I dunno, I think you can get some deals especially if you are going big $$$ but for me and my $$ ice fishing show budget I don't feel like it is worth it as a consumer. I can save a bit of money here and there, but it's hard to knock off the parking and admission fee. Paying for the chance to spend money leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.

I usually decide last minute to go and just think of it as like going to a movie or something. It is neat to see all the new junk I can't afford. I usually stock up on some hard to find stuff too.

Still not sure about this year

[MJ1657]

I have got some deals there that have easily covered parking and admission.

[Hardyboy]

heck last couple of years you could pickup a strikemaster suit for 150 bucks, that alone was worth the price of admission.

[mccullen]

Last year you could bring in some of your old fishing rods and/or reels and get a $5 gift cerificate to TB. We brought in a few and got our parking and admission back on that alone. Then saved a lot more like you said by buying big ticket items. Flasher and GPS. If you need an auger or shack or something we fishermen call an investment, then this is where you need to buy it. I personally just like to check out the new gadgets and replace some of the things that broke or I lost throughout last season.

[tsande00]

heck last couple of years you could pickup a strikemaster suit for 150 bucks, that alone was worth the price of admission.

+1 That's what I did last year too.

I broke a buckle (my fault) on my bibs though so I might be in the market for a replacement set of bibs at the ice show.

[BuckyBadger]

Warning! Warning! parking too close to the ice fishing show may be a hazard to your wallet. The last two years I have parked in the ramp directly across the street connected by the walkway, while it costs $15 to park there it turns out to be very convenient (to convenient) to make trips back and forth to your vehicle to drop off your purchases when you get sick of carrying them around the show plus easy access to the loading dock for larger items. I suggest parking miles away from the ice show so that you only make one trip from and to your vehicle.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I go to the show to look around, but I don't buy much. I go with friends, we have a few beers and head to Alary's afterward for pizza. Makes for a fun day.

The best deals are found late winter or spring when retailers need to get rid of inventory.

[Northlander]

Always some good deals at the show. Shop the vendors against eachother and you will do fine especially on big ticket items. I always ask people what they paid for stuff when I talk to them at the Otter booth and Im often very surprised how good of deals they get. Often when you buy a few things and or pay cash you make out real well.

[hamms-scooter]

heck last couple of years you could pickup a strikemaster suit for 150 bucks, that alone was worth the price of admission.

Is the strikemaster suit good quality? looking for a good suit. Not a 300 dollar one but a good setup. Padded knees would be nice.

[Northlander]

At the price they sell them at at the show they are well worth it. Good quality.

[Iambjm]

Excellent quality and very warm!!! And yes padded knees........

[tsande00]

Yeah for the money you can't beat that Strikemaster suit, it's a steal. I love mine and paid less for it then I'd normally pay for just a jacket.

[slabkiller]

They used to have a $5 lot down Kellogg with a free shuttle

[Brad B]

Is the strikemaster suit good quality? looking for a good suit. Not a 300 dollar one but a good setup. Padded knees would be nice.

yes it is very good quality. if you where to pay the full price for it it would be $280.00 but Strike master has the show special where the suit will be like $190.00 for the whole thing(talked to one of their reps on saturday at the gander event in forest lake). you can just buy the parka or the bibs and they will be around $95.00 for either one. they also may run a online special. they put out a email news letter and they have specials listed in that. if they run the web site special they will give you that price if you stop right into their shop while the special is running. three seasons ago when I got mine they were going for $175.00 for the whole suit so in 3 years it has only gone up $15.00. it is well worth the money.

[Love2Cabin]

Anyone think they will have any deals on Ice Armor gloves? The boy are in need of some new gloves and I try to buy him the same stuff as I buy. It keeps him from taking my stuff.