2007 Portable Modification Get Together!!!

[hanson]

This will be a fun day!

Thanks to Matt Johnson for organizing this, and to Thorne Bros for hosting us!

Matt has kindly given me a little time for a Q & A session on modifying your portable shack. My love is fishing (specifically Ice Fishing) but my training & experience is in design and architecture. So when you combine those 2 areas of expertise, I really get excited. .

I modified my Otter Den nearly 4 years ago now which turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done to my ice shack. The following winter, my Otter Lodge took the design plunge and I came up with an adequate solution. After a couple weekends of using it, I knew I could improve and re-embarked on my design. Currently, I'm very satisfied since the design suits my needs but am always looking to improve.

I'll be available to answer questions, help with process, generate some thoughts, etc. The thing to remember is there is no one correct way. This sport is pretty individualistic so everyone has their "own" right way.

See you guys there!

[Matt Johnson]

Bruce Mosher from Today's Tackle (Ice Buster Bobber) has donated some gear for the event as well

Also expect to see a few new items from Little Atom Tackle at the store, as well as the boys from LaDredge Outdoors (Structure on a String)...

[Hotspotter]

Matt:

Thanks for putting this on buddy. I'm planning on attending, and looking forward to a great time!

Joel

[Matt Johnson]

We have structure! If you're looking to save a few bucks on Reel Weeds (LaDredge Outdoors) we will have a pile of Structure on a String and Camera Cable Structures available. Bill from LaDredge will also be stopping by to chat for a little while...

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sweet!

[IcePro]

I am looking forward to meeting everyone at this event.

As Matt mentioned I will be displaying new items from Jiffy, Marcum, Tica and R2-Tec.

Jiffy….

Has a new STX-PRO unit available this year.

2hp that will drill a 10” hole

R2-Tec…

R2-Tec is new line of fish house that is out for this year. This house is insulated with Thinsulate. I will have thermal images of the house to show how well it retains it heat. Thorne Brothers will be one of the few dealers stocking this house. You will be one of the first ice fisherman to see as well.

Factory personal for this house will be in attendance to discuss the house in detail.

MarCum…

New cameras

New ice rod accessories

Tica…

No new items (how do you top the Cetus)

But will be providing some give a ways

I will also be bringing some donations:

Jiffy hand auger, hats and who knows what else.

Oh yeah… I will be providing brats and pop

Brent

Timber Valley Associates

[Matt Johnson]

Tomorrow's the day! I'm really looking forward to this. We just recevied more donations... more burgers and buns... gear from MarCum... the list just keeps growing!!!

See everyone tomorrow! Going to be a great time!

[BoxMN]

Brent and Matt and everybody involved, THANKS! See you there.

[tbeste]

Fun time today! Learned some interesting stuff about rod construction, and what to look for from Pat, and confirmed some of the things I have been thinking about the team approach, even though it is normally me by myself, I find myself doing alot of the things Borch, Cory, and Matt talked about, only having to do more work myself instead of spreading it out amongst 2-3+ people.

Thanks to Vexilar and Strikemaster for the donations. I walked away with a new hat, and another bait puck. If you see me on the lakes this year I'll be the guy with a vex hat and a Marcum in the hole, The in-store specials were pretty good too. Brought home a nice little Sweet Pea for in close fishing when I have the trap Pro out and put a hole up tight against the sled. This is my first custom rod, and unfortunately for my wallet probably isn't the last...

Only a few more months and I can flip the trap over on ice, instead of a garage floor.

Hopefully next year I can contribute more than just showing up, listening, and eating brats!!!

Travis

[IcePro]

tebeste...

You should have told me you were a MarCum user. I would have given you a MarCum hat and I would have put the Vexliar hat under the table.

Glad you had a good time.

Brent

[Scott M]

MarCum needs some decals too. Last I heard they still didn't have any.

Great job. I thought I'd only want to see a seminar or two, stuck around for 4. The free stuff didn't hurt either. Lots of great tips, and if you were really paying attention, some insights into the future of ice fishing.

[polarsusd81]

I had a great time while I was there as well. I was the guy with the little boy carrying his first ice rod around. I really enjoyed being able to meet a few of the guys from the site here and getting some tips from you as well.

I would like to extend a thank you to Brent as well at TVA for providing food and drink for the get together.

I called my uncle a couple days ago and talked him into coming with and he and his two kids had a good time as well. I was the only one in the group that didn't win a door prize, my uncle and his kids each got a hat and some rod straps and my little boy was the one that won the vex towel and Jiffy spud. I really liked the comment "Well your son has one now, so what are you gonna do?" That came from someone right after I said I had been wanting one for about the last 10 years. So, now I guess I will have to beg to borrow the ice spud like he begs to stay outside playing til all hours of the night.

I can't wait to see everyone on the ice, and some I will see even sooner up at Appledorn's in a couple weeks.

Tom Dobbins

[BoxMN]

Hey Tom,

I missed you - though I did see you - I was the one with the BPS hat and the two little girls and one boy (grandkids) and my stepson. I was kept busyt trying to keep the girls from burning/tearing down the store! ha!

Yeah, thanks to all, we had a good time. I wish I would have been able to attend a bit more like an adult and not a babysitter but the kids had fun, and I got my SOS kit and some lures for the kids!

[harvey lee]

A big thanks goes out to the gang at Thorne Bros for doing this event. Also another thank-you to the vendors that came and others who donated door prizes.

[CHURN]

I would also like to thank everyone that was involved with the coordination of this event the donation of all the door prizes. My son walked away with 4 hats and I won the hand auger from Jiffy! Look forward to using that auger on this year's first ice. Might have to wait a while since the forecast for today is 85 degrees.

Well worth the drive up from Eagan to attend this event. I also picked up my first custom rod from Thorne Bros. Probably won't be my last.

Thanks Again !!!

Jason and Zach Churness