Mpls Ice Fishing Show- Save Your Money!!!

[stpauliguy]

Sorry to ruin anyones weekend, but was at the ice frenzy today after work and in my opinion, Worst Show Ever!! I was very excited at the thought of the ice fishing season begining as im sure most of you are but very disappointed in this show. So my advice would be save your money for gas,parking, and tickets to this show and wait 2 weeks for the St Paul one!! Just thought id voice my sad opinion.

[Chode2235]

Sorry to hear that, were there no good deals, or was it a lack of booths etc?

[Reynolds]

That's really is disappointing to hear I was just heading out the door to check it out, but now I think I'll wait for a few more opinions.

[zamboni]

Yeah, I hate to say it too, but went on their HSOforum and already planned on skipping it, but went to the St Paul show last year and am planning on hitting it again this year.

[stpauliguy]

Yeah, i wasnt happy with it! It was very small I truly believe I could run a better one outta my garage! And I think people should know to save some time and money, (being I cant get mine back)!! Just my opinion but I believe most that go wont disagree with me!! Especially if youre coming in from outta town, I am in st paul so wasnt a bad drive but wouldve been horribly upset if I travelled a long ways!!

[MPH]

I went and will have to agree, stay home and save your money. However, I did the exact opposite and spent most of my time at the Thorne Bros. set up and did walk away with a Panfish Sweet heart and a Perch Sweet heart. You can't beat 20% off of their rods. I also picked up a cover for my X2 for 10% off.

[SomethingFishy*]

What did people not like about it? I was planning on attending sunday. what are the issues? Lack of vendors? Merchandise? Deals? etc?

Don't waste your money is a vague statement. What specifically needs improvement? We want need feedback that people can relate to otherwise the people who put this on will have no way to improve it for the future.

I see that the person who started this post has already flamed it on the other popular fishing forum. I don't think it's fair to flame something all over the internet with or without specific examples.

[MPH]

I overheard that a lot of vendors and manufactures pulled out at the last minute. There wasn't a whole lot there to speak of in my opinion.

[stpauliguy]

Yeah I think its fair to inform people who are excited about ice fishing (flaming im not, venting i am) to save time and money that would otherwise be wasted at this. Theres a lack of everything. Vendors, Merchandise, Deals, you name it. It was a poor show. The previous St Paul shows ive visited blow this outta the ice hole!!

[fishinpapa]

Thanks for the post fellow fisherman...I think I'll head over to the local tackle shop and browse for some gear and wait 2 weeks!!!

[SomethingFishy*]

Quote:

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Theres a lack of everything. Vendors, Merchandise, Deals, you name it.

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This is the information I was looking for.

[stpauliguy]

Somethingfishy, thanks for asking for more details. I was in such a hurry to inform everyone about this I forgot to explain everything i was upset about!! Appreciate it.

[Ryan_V]

Thanks for the heads up man...was on the fence about a trip down there on sunday afternoon, but I'll save that money for the st paul show!!

[olski]

If you guys need a fix this weekend Dave Genz will be at Cabela's in rogers on Sun the 18th. Seminars at 1 and 3.

[zamboni]

I think Genz is in Owatonnas Cabelas saturday

[Corey Bechtold]

Deitz said he is going to be at Rogers with Dave Genz... or to say it correctly, Dave Genz is going to be at Rogers with Deitz!

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[Team Otter]

I was up there late this afternoon and early evening with my daughter. Spent a little time walking around and yes, there isn't much, but what is there, the deals are attractive. Also some great seminar topics that are free to attend. Heck, I even got to hang with Matt Johnson, Chris Hanson and Joel Nelson. What more does a person want?

[Kylersk]

I went this evening as well and was very dissapointed in it. Not enough vendors there....

[Bob Horn]

Sounds like the first year blues. There aren't many show that are awesome there first year. Got to have the growing pains first. Be there on Sunday . Flying in from Illinois just to hang with friends for the day.

[hanson]

Maybe the title of the post should be-

"Mpls Ice Fishing Show - Saves you Money!!!!"

Guess if I was in the market for something new right now, I would not hesitate heading to the show to shop. The big box stores won't negotiate with ya right now. Sticker price is sticker price.

When I read the first few posts before going to the show tonight, I honestly thought the place was going to be empty. Thats not the case at all. There are plenty of drop axle shacks, campers, and plenty of other ice fishing stuff to look at too.

Was actually a pretty good crowd walking around this evening as well.

Granted, its not the St Paul Show. But the St Paul Show has become "THE" show in the upper midwest for ice fishing. Its been here a long time and it has a big following.

Anyway... I had a good time. Got to chat with Joel Nelson for awhile, Matt Johnson shortly, Team Otter for quite awhile, and Bruce Mosher too!

I'll be down there all day tomorrow. Swing by Thorne Bros booth and say Hi, chat fishing!

[MOBY RICHARD*]

Sorely disappointed, about 50 different Vendors, about 1/2 were not related to actual fishing equiptment or houses. In the fishing realm mostly a bunch of big, expensive wheel houses, a few portables, including a Frabil Insulated quoted at just under $1300.00, and a small amount of Tackle, Locaters, Clothing, etc...

Arrived about 6:30 PM, left by 7:45 PM, had to force ourselves to stay that long...maybe 75 to 100 Non-Vendors there...didn't see any deals, some common tackle priced over what was in stores...

Had more fun and saw more at Cabelas last week...

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

Thanks everyone for sharing the info. Saved me a trip up from Mankato. Will head east to Fleet Farm and Cabela's instead. Guess I can wait two more weeks for the big one in St. Paul.

[luv2fish]

I have to agree with Hanson. If you are in the market for some new gear, it will save you money to go. My buddy got a sweet deal on an LX5. If you are going to look around at ice fishing stuff, it was a bit small. But since we were downtown and $6 ain't much, it was well worth it for me and my buddies to go.

[schweady]

It wasn't going to work for me this year anyway, but of all the weekends to have an ice fishing show, this is the one... the weekend after deer firearms is over and before the ice sets up. This has traditionally been the weekend to scope out the new stuff in stores and sport shops around here and get all ramped up for walking on water. I still plan to go down to the St Paul show again some year, but the timing of it has always been such that I would really rather be out on the ice by that time. I think others posted the same comments last year about the timing of the St Paul show, but it's pretty tough to get a show to switch weekends.

[sirsunnyslayer]

Thorne Bros has their rods at 20% off? Is this true? Do they just have their rods on sale or the other stuff too?