Sports Show!!!

[KJSnider]

I picked up a subscription to Walleye In-sider, and got some decent things thrown in.

Also, picked up an I-finder H20+ for about $90 lower than any other place, or many of the other booths.

We went Friday afternoon, used the $2 coupon. All-in-all, I still think its a pretty good show.

KJ

[Wayne Ek]

Deitz,how is the show going for you... I got back late last night. Tue and Wen. went slow. But Thur and Fri. WOW... I think we will be ahead of last years numbers. Got to talk with Al(midwest) for a little while on Mon. they are set-up right behind our Quantum booth. It was fun b.s.ing about old times with him. If you get time stop by the Quantum booth, I will not be there but Jason my son will be, say hi.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Agape-I was there on friday and when I had a second, I went over an isle and looked for you.. they said I missed you by about 1/2 hour... RATS!.. anyway.. Its different this year.. nobody is caring the Exude so we are really just a rep booth. Which has made it difficult. Hard to really say what the sales would have been like. We did get the word out to a lot of people which is what the goal is really all about!

The traffic tonight for a saturday was down!.. 60 degree days, final 4 and sport shows really dont seem to mix well... But up till 5 pm it was going good!.. fun to meet everybody!!!!

Agape, I'll have to catch you next time!

[LMITOUT]

I went yesterday and after the $9 for parking, $9 admission, and a $2.75 Coke, I ended up with a very good deal on a RAM mount and speed/temp wheel for my X15 so I was pretty happy.

I also was told there is hope for us X15 owners that want a better mapping package. Competition breeds better products and prices that should benefit everyone......soon.

[grab the net]

I've been attending the sport show since... well it has been a good long time. IMHO it is not as good as it used to be, I can't put my finger on just one or two items, just the overall atmosphere is different.

I talked to one rep on friday afternoon, that was half in the bag. Not exactly what I had in mind. The small tackle shops and small tackle companies must not be able to afford to buy space. That is where I used to find the best deals, small company, ready to wheel and deal.

Did notice one thing at the rod booths, some companies, going back to lifetime warranty, over the counter. Don't care how it broke, just bring it back and they will give you a new one. Trying to build that brand loyalty.

Was suprised, I did not see one bass exhibition/seminar either. I spent most of the day talking bass fishing to the various reps and heard several others doing the same thing. But no seminars.

Not a real good selection of Rangers to look at either, Just a couple of high end models at Frankies, did not see another Ranger dealer there, unless I missed them. Matter of fact it looked like only one of each of the fiberglass company dealers. Hard to comparison shop at the show when thats the case.

May start a every other year program from now on. Still managed to kill about 4 1/2 hours there, and did pick up some good info, put a real face to Dietz, over by Midwest Rods.

[HawgTide]

The weather was too nice today to spend much time at the show. I was there for about 1 hour and decided I needed to get home and get the boat out on the water.

It was great to meet Deitz Dittrich. He's as nice in person as he is on here! Deitz, if you ever want to trade trips.... I'd love to show you the skinny waters of the upper Mississippi and the great smallie action it has.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Hawg- It was a pleasure to meet you as well.. I met quite a few FM'ers, way to many to start mentioning names.. but it was very nice to meet all of you! Was also an honest to goodness blast to work across the isle from the Midwest Rod boys... I'm off to a weeks work at my real job then back to Cabela's next weekend for their club card event.. if anybody will be down there... look me up!

[LT01]

Dietz,

I would just like to Thank you for keeping me awake during the slow times with your great humor. It was an absolute blast working across the aisle from you. I'm starting to read my basic fishing 101 book so I am ready for that trip to the lake so you don't outfish me.

[LT01]

Wayne,

Nice talking to you again after all these years. I'll have to give you a shout if I get to your neck of the woods this year. Had the opportunity to spend some time talking to your son. You should be proud!! A real fine young gentleman. Remember, don't spend all that PERA money in one place

[MRWALLEYE2005]

It was a great show. We filled up 10 bags of fishing info and equipment. The seminars were exellent by Gary Roach and Bob Meshikomer. Its pretty cool when your fishing idol Gary Roach walks right by you a couple times. Also seen Butch Furtman, Ron Shara and Don Shelby. We found parking right across from the center in the church lot for 6.75. Hope I can be there next year,

MRWALLEYE

[Deitz Dittrich]

Your going to have to do better than fishing 101 Al...I'm on at least fishing 1,000,001. Weather or not I have retained any of that information or not will be the key. Do you have to tie a lure to the end of the line?

[Fish Head]

I was at the show with my son on Saturday. I've read so many times here that some of you were not happy with the show. I just had to put in my $.02. My son and I had a great time. I have been going every year for I'm not sure how long. 15+ years maybe? It's a little different every year, but I still enjoyed it very much!

[Wayne Ek]

Al- it was nice. Hopefully this year you can grab Butch and head up this way... I'll put you on some unbelievable smallmouth fishing. I am very proud of both boy's... the youngest on that you spoke to is a hard-core bass angler. Maybe we can even talk Deitz into joining us...but it could be tough Al, you know teachers have the summer off and they are always so busy during those summer months doing teacher stuff... ya thats it... teacher stuff... Just messing with you Deitz.

[mnvikingsfreak]

I went last year and it was 75% resorts is it like that this year?I can look at resorts online and not pay 18 dollars

[Gus]

I had a good time at the sports show. It was nice to talk to product reps. I liked the Garmin booth, Salmo lures, Storm lures, Midwest rod just to name a few. I thought it was worth the time and money just to see what's new and have questions answered. I always like looking at new boats too!

[LT01]

Wayne,

You said the magic word: SMALLIES!! I'll be there. If Dietz can't make it, I'll fish for the both of us. Gee, isn't it just a shame that he has to work at least 9 months out of the year. I wish I had a job like that. NOT!!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wayne and Al- having to put up with guys like you is a full time job!

If your on fish!, I will travel!

[Wayne Ek]

Deitz- has your rep. given you any numbers yet? I have not spoken to Brian L. since Friday, I was wondering if anyone has heard officially if attendance was up or down?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Agape-its not official.. but I dont see how it would be possible for the numbers to be up.. I was there friday-sunday and I know saturday was down....

[LuckBites]

LMITOUT - How come your adding a temp/speed wheel if you have the x15? Just "overlay data" on the screens your using and you'll have the temp and a more accurate speed from GPS rather than a wheel that can be affected by a current.

As for mapping packages, I've been happy with the old "hot maps" but am upgrading this year to the package including all 3 (Reel bottom, Navionics & Lake master). This new package includes lakes in WI as well & the chips are compatible with Lowrances H2O among other hand helds.

Back to the topic @ hand... I unfortunately was unable to make it down to the show this year but would like a report on the fish Griz filled his tank with. I know he was doing a heck of a lot of fishing to get some quality on display, how'd the panfish look?

Thanks,

Joe

[LMITOUT]

I should have said speed wheel and not speed/temp, which was the case with the older graphs. The temperature is picked up through the transducer now.... Just a typo.

You can't get accurate low-speed readings, ie trolling, with just the GPS and I don't care if it's WAAS or not (plus WAAS is mediocre at best at these latitudes). To get the most accurate speeds the wheel works best. For faster running, the GPS comes into accuracy. GPS speed is based on change in position, and going slow with smaller differences in position doesn't play well with the GPS signal.