$1 coupon for St. Paul ice show

[Vlasin]

Found a Coupon for the upcoming St. Paul Ice show. --only a buck, but print out and enjoy!

[20lbSloughShark]

I got a $2 off email. I'm not sure how I show them yet, maybe print the page?

[BartmanMN]

They better start breaking out the coupons to lure people in or else everyone will be on the ice rather then shoulder to shoulder shopping.

[Chad Holst]

Oh, im thinking there will still be arm to arm people. Nothing draws a crowd like a...crowd. Bottom line, we are pack animals and there will be a very large pack at the show regardless of the weather.

[Slab_Supper]

Seems like a lot o'hype just like the last day "deals".

[DTro]

Anyone notice they are running a VIP specail on Sat? Early admission and special pricing. Going to cost you 15 bucks to get in though and its first come first served.

408 Aqua-Vu System purchased – receive 4 rattle reels valued at $25 each Aqua-Vu

433 10% discount on all fishing & hunting packages Big North Lodge & Outposts

406 Buy 3 or more heated Bite Me Box Tip Ups, receive a Free Embroidered Ball Cap ($25 value) Bite Me Box Tip Ups

712 20% off all custom orders placed – 10% off all custom roads sold on site CNY Custom Rods

231 Trophy Angler 8 Rod Bag Reg. $44.99 – VIP Special $29.99. Free FL Digital Depth Indicator with any Vexilar unit purchased Capra’s Sporting Goods

1416/563 Any purchase receive Free Ice Cabin Jacket, Hat, Sweatshirt, Slush Bucket, Hole Sleeves and 2 Rattle Reels Coates RV Center

829 10% off everything in stock Deep Freeze

239 Book 12 hours in any size fish house – get 12 hours free – valid Sunday-Thursday only. Dickies On Mille Lacs

543 Ultrafeel Combo $35 – Tank Warmer $5 Expedition Outdoors

543 Hot Buy – XTR Grippers $40 – Diamond Grips $30 Yak Trax

710 One free Dubro line clip or Firstrike Night Light battery with any purchase of $20 or more Firstrike

1513 10% off cash & carry or Free shipping Fishmor

534 20% off Ice Auger Tune Up – 2 Stroke Reg. $79.95 – VIP Special

$63.95; 4 Stroke Reg. $89.95 – VIP Special $71.95 Formula Propeller & Marine

661 Book a new summer or winter one week reservation, receive a $200 High Banks Gift Certificate High Banks Resort

1704 ECOGEAR softplastics special $10 for 3 ($12 value) Marukyu

1600 Buy one Tow Strap for $25 – get another ½ off Radco Truck Accessories

415 $20 off select high end Ice Reels - $40 off any complete suit Redrockstore.com

511 $100 off Strike Master’s & Ice Force Suits – instant redemption on national promotions Rapala

531 Free gift with any purchase over $100 Thorne Brothers

1805 10% discount on a 3-day fishing trip Tightline Outdoors

421 Buy 3 get 1 Free Venom Outdoors

714 20% off Vibrations Tackle

510 Free Micro Finesse Plastics Baits or Custom Jig Box with purchase Wonder Jigs

[Jim Almquist]

Link to Web Page: St. Paul Ice Show

The Info to get in early:

[Portlis]

Pardon my ignorance, and maybe someone can tell me I'm very very wrong, but is going to the ice show really worth it? I've never been there, I'm definitely intrigued and I might like to go, but to me it essentially seems like they are charging $9 for the "privilege" of going shopping.

I know ice fishing is a bit of a niche market and certain things can be tough to find at times, but I have to believe that most everything can be found online these days and almost always at reasonable prices.

I'm just having a somewhat difficult time justifying the cost of myself and the wife going and spending $18 when I could just use that money for online tackle purchases instead.

Can anyone give me their honest opinion of this ice show? I'm genuinely curious.

[castmaster]

I figured we will give the early bird deal a try this year and see how it goes. Apparently there wasnt a ton of interest as the original deadline for purchasing tickets was Friday Nov 22nd, which looks like it was pushed back to Wednesday Dec 4th now.

At any rate I am hoping they kept numbers of tickets low enough to be worth the extra $6. Would be nice to have the room to actually look at things and maybe even talk to the folks in various booths, instead of being "nuts to butts" the whole time.

[castmaster]

Portlis,

There is a lot more there than stores selling stuff. There are resorts/outfitters. manufacturers you can talk to about a product your interested in, or maybe an existing product you have questions on. There are seminars from some of the best ice sticks out there. Get a chance to see all the different models of ice houses up close and in person, including some like Canvas Craft that you dont find in the box stores.

Add in show special pricing, and the ability to "work" one retailer against the next against the next, all within walking distance is a great place to get deals, especially on larger purchases such as a house or electronics etc. Many also throw in bonus "gifts" with larger purchases.

[DTro]

You pretty much have it figured out, Portis. Unless you bring a truckload home, its pretty hard to financially come out ahead.   Last year I was there all three days helping out the HSO booth.  From Jordan where I live it was basically 100 miles a day, so about 60 bucks in gas, 30 bucks in parking, and 30 in entry fees.  Add in some food/drink and it was easily $150.   I did get a free tshirt and hat, so there is that. 

 

Honestly, I would compare it to walking around in the State Fair vendor building during one of the busy days.   The only difference being is that the products are all interesting and appealing to me 

 

It’s a great place to do comparison shopping and to see everything all under one roof.  Also a good place to meet and greet all the “pros”.  Most all of them are eager and willing to talk to you about ice fishing and there is no doubt somewhat of a cool factor in meeting the guys you see on the fishing shows all the time. 

 

In the end though, make no mistake, this is a venue that wants your money and expect more than a few sales pitches as you are walking around.  If you don’t like crowds I would advise to stay home.  Its tough to beat a few clicks of the mouse button and having things delivered to your door

[Portlis]

Alright, cool, thanks for the responses guys. That's kind of what I figured.

In the end, it's quite possible that the little extra money might be worth it just to see a bunch of products I haven't seen, and comparing them all side by side might be useful.

I just wanted to make sure I understood that it essentially was a glorified shopping experience though, so I didn't have any regrets about spending the cash to go. Not that it's a huge expense or anything, but by the time all the costs add up (gas, parking, admission), I'm likely looking at the cost of a decent little rod that I could have just purchased online.

For someone who isn't all that experienced with ice fishing, I guess I need to balance the option of spending that money on gear I could use by staying home vs the knowledge I might gain by going!

Thanks again.