Blaine Hardwater Ice Expo

[Mnfisher]

Just got back from that show. I enjoyed it very much. Certainly smaller than St. Paul,but much closer and there was a good selection of goods. It was crowded but not unbearably so like the St. Paul show can be. I am excited about a purchase of an ice fishing rod, 13 wicked fishing 19". I've wanted a short light weight rod for a long time and I think I got a good one. Also bought vexilar bibs....Not as expensive and the quality of some of the other big brands but think it will suit my purpose just fine.

[maxpower117]

I have heard from a few so far that the show wasn't worth the trip. Heard that very few deals were being made and you could see the same stuff if you walk into Thorne Bros.

[DTro]

Pretty big turnout today. Not St Paul caliber yet, but a good way to spend a few hours looking at the new toys. Had another one of those why didn't I think of that moments too when I seen the zip strip plastic "chains" for your tires. Cool idea!

I'm sure I could have got a pass to get in the door for free, but figured the $10 was well spent towards supporting bigger and better shows in the future.

[Rick]

It's turning out to be a pretty nice show. A number of interesting new items and Yes Thorne Bros is here.

Not as big as the Ice Show but free parking close to the building makes it a no brainer to check out.

[MNCPRGUY]

I have heard from a few so far that the show wasn't worth the trip. Heard that very few deals were being made and you could see the same stuff if you walk into Thorne Bros.

I dunno. I drove 240 miles round trip for the show. The deal I got on a Bigfoot 4000T paid for the gas in my Silverado. Add to that a good presentation on chasing monster gills and some chat with the Ice Team guys and I would say it was worth it. It sure beats hanging Christmas lights!!!

[DTro]

I also thought the new and improved Aqua Vu Micro was sweet!

Built in DVR, waterproof, beefed up cable bracket and a nice little sunshade, all wrapped up into a package that still fits in your hip pocket.

[Brad B]

For a first year show it is a very nice show. It is nice to have the free parking and being close to the door. It will be a show to come to every year. smaller in size but still nice. the turn out today was great. looking forward to tommorrow. if you get a chance stop in and say hi and check out the show.

[landscaper]

Hope the show was good! I am still thinking of going to the ST. Paul show i havent been there in 5-6 years

I dunno. I drove 240 miles round trip for the show. The deal I got on a Bigfoot 4000T paid for the gas in my Silverado. Add to that a good presentation on chasing monster gills and some chat with the Ice Team guys and I would say it was worth it. It sure beats hanging Christmas lights!!!

Not being pushy or nosey but what kind of deal did you get on the BIGFOOT 4000T and from who.......

[ihc1]

I thought it was a great 1st year show. I went Friday and picked up a few things that were pretty good deals and had a fun time talking with a lot of the venders there. It was great talking with the ice team guys even though I was wearing a frabill sweatshirt, but they took care of that before I knew it there was a big clam sticker stuck over the frabill name on my shirt, we all had some fun with that. A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped put the show together hopefully there will be another one next year.

[JoePalermo]

There will be another building that the show will have and the wheel houses will be in a different area , Next year will be even better more vendors more deals ! All in all the show was a hit for a 1st timer ! The trout pond was a hit as well lots of kids caught fish for the first time and they all got some great prises !!

Great show

[Crappyfisherman]

Read somewhere that it wasn't worth going to this show. To each his own I went and had a great time.Saw and talked to lots of people I know. For a first year show they did pretty good, next year should be even better.Lot more fun than cleaning out the garage and it sure got me pumped for ice fishing.

[TallPaull]

Great show! Couldn't have thought of a better way to spend 3 hours yesterday.

[Brad B]

Back for the last day of the show. looking forward to seeing and talking to memebers that stop by today. if you can make it out to the show today you should come and check it out. it is a fun time.

[JohnMickish]

I thought it was a good show. It's not the big St. Paul show but parking is free and you can still buy everything you need to catch fish thru the ice. Very well attended and next year will only be better. It was great to see some folks that I haven't seen since last year.

[muc33]

I agree, the best may be yet to come from this show. I added another Thorne Rod to my arsenal, was introduced to some interesting new products and best of all hot to reconnect with some good ice buds who I haven't seen for a few months!

[Fish_Stalker]

I was working a booth at the show, good turnout I thought. Love the free parking. When are you guys gonna get over Thorn Bros. Everything at twice the price. A little disappointed with the Frabill guys. Wanted to purchase a flip house but they were not selling. Why bring your products to an ice fishing show and not sell them???? Everyone at the show was selling their products but the frabill guys were just sitting around getting drunk and not selling. Might have to reconsider what shelter I buy. Lots of new tech and great ideas coming into the ice fishing world. Great show overall.

[JohnMickish]

How do you consider Thorne to be twice the price of everyone else? Thorne sells some high end stuff that other vendors do not sell so you can't compare there, and most of the other items are price protected. If you have an exact apples to apples example you can share I'm sure that Josh from Thorne would be very interested to know about it.

[maxpower117]

Mind telling is what wonderful company you were working for? To come on here and bash everyone else unsolicited is pretty poor business practice if you ask me.

Also, I don't think that Frabill would want to sell houses at the show. They wouldn't want to compete with the stores that are selling their product. What kind of world are you living in?

[Fish_Stalker]

Didn't "bash" anyone. Said the show was very good. Wasn't making a derogatory remark towards Thorne either. Their prices tend to run a little high. Was making the point that almost everyone there was selling products and was surprised that Frabill was not selling. You guys need to relax a little and take other peoples opinions.

[Northlander]

I thought it was a ok show for the 1st year. less drop down ice houses and more retailers would be nice but this is only year 1. I saw some cool new ideas, new spins on old products and a lot of cool people to talk to.

I loved the big zip tie emergency tire straps. Had to buy some. One of them "why didnt I think of that' deals.

Was Frabill selling through retailers like we at the Otter/Ice Force booth were. Thats common.

I think this show will grow. Im going to try to get a show up here in Duluth one of these years.

Over all I thought for a 1st year show it was worth the entry fee especially with plenty of free parking.

[IcePro]

Manufactures at the show are the show and tell department.

They are there to answer questions about there product line and direct sales to their customer the dealer.

If manufactures sold product at the show do you think they would get support from the dealers?

Before making comments about a manufacture not selling at the show please understand how the selling process works. Map pricing, selling structure, etc.

[otterman91105]

I bought everything from thorne bros and thought they were great to work with and worked well with there price's. I bought a insulated otter lodge from them and i'm very excited to use it for the first time heard so many good things about insulated house's. Also bought a otter monster box for my four wheeler can't wait to try it out this winter. Show was a little small hopeing it's bigger next year.

[Fairchild_82]

Dang! I had planned on going Saturday, and was very excited. But my gf came down with a flu of some sort, chose to stick around and tend to her.

Still excited for the ST. Paul show! I bought a Frabil suit from the Thornes booth last year and found the price to be fine.

And was just curious if any one had checked out the other ice fishing expo that had been going on this weekend out at gander? and how that went

[otterman91105]

I only made it to the blaine show which was great. I heard that the gander deal was ok, looking forward to the st paul show a lot more vendors at that one.

[RiverChuckNorris]

Had a great time at the show. Met the founder of this site and had a terrific discussion with Otter. In talking to one of the show managers, sounds like they're doubling the square footage for next year as they already have 30+ vendors on the wait list that they couldn't fit in this year.

If memory serves, the St Paul ice show has been going about 10-15 years and I remember the first year being relatively sparse as well. Now we just need a good cold spell!