Mpls Ice Fishing Show- Save Your Money!!!

[Team Otter]

Yes, rods and many other items at 20% and then some, if you negotiate.

[minndonn]

Thorne negotiated a very good price on two vex batteries and fishing line was automatically 10% off. If going to buy good time to negotiate with Thorne.

[Northlander]

Im glad I saw this before driving down there this weekend. With the way gas prices are I would have been pretty upset.

Like someone already said its the 1st year blues. If they dont get it right next year though it woont be good. I think it would be hard to compete with the Big Show in St. Paul River Centre. Plus theres lots of people hunting this weekend.

Sure would be nice to have 2 nice Ice Shows. Maybe even a 3rd in Duluth would go?

It sure would be nice

[Luck e 1]

Can you guys tell me if any of the ice armor or arctic armor people were there? I want to buy a suit this year and was hoping to find a place where they both are set up so I can try them both on.

[Kylersk]

I know that the floating one was there and I believe Thorn Brothers had another brand. I get them all confused on name..

[Team Otter]

Arctic Armor and Sno-Suit are there for sure. I didn't see Ice Armor but that doesn't necessarily mean anything either.

[jigginjerk]

Ice Armour is there, I seen them for sure! I'm sure all of them were there. Happy Hunting, Any of them would be an excellent choice.

[Luck e 1]

thanks guys!

[hanson]

You guys can compare every Ice Fishing suit on the market, although I didn't see Strikemasters anywhere.

Thorne Bros has the Ice Armor Blue Suit, they have the Ice Armor X, and they have the Cold Snap from Vexilar.

SnoSuit also has booth right next to Thornes, talk to Chris.

And of course WalleyeDan is there with both red/black and camo Arctic Armor suits.

I can confirm good deals on Thorne rods! And you'll be getting pretty nice pricing on ice shacks as well, both Clam and Otter, along with accessories.

Ummm... I forgot... and I'm not sure how I forgot... the Extreme Bikini Ice Fishing team was there for part of the day.

[Lure Lightning]

We decided to hold out on putting a booth up at the Frenzy and glad we did, however we will have one at the St Paul show and every year it is a great turn out and great to see so many people that love Ice Fishing. See you at the St Paul show

[jiggin pig]

yeah, I am glad i wasn't the only one that was disappointed with the show. After a total of 21 bucks for parking and getting in, I was not impressed. It was more of a car show then anything.

[FishingWebGuy]

I went and brought my 2 boys (4 and 14) along. We got there at 10 and stayed until 4. We had a great time. My oldest caught the largest trout in the pond and won an ice combo. We all got a bunch of free stuff and knowledge from the seminars. I saved $40 on my LX-5 (which was my goal).

All in all the event cost my $22 and we got a day of entertainment out of it. The kids had a lot of fun.

I've never been to the St. Paul show but we will be going in a couple weeks. We were surprised at how small the show was when we got there but I think we got our moneys worth. I was annoyed by all the pushy vendors who had nothing to do with fishing. The fishing displays were excellent and run by good people -- the others I could do without.

In the end I met some good people and the kids had fun.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

St Pauli guy i believe you went to far on this subject you have spread this rumor around on this site and other popular fishing forums ((Contact Us Please)) that this is some terrible show and it isnt worth your money. I think they did a good job for the first year so far. I agree that they need some more vendors but i still think it was worth the 6 dollars to attend. IMO

Ryan

[Gator Slayer]

Yep it wasn't as big as the St. Paul show, but if there's Ice in 2 weeks I ain't goint to that one... I picked up 2 beaverdam tip ups for 25 each and some other odds and ends. It was a nice primer and cost 6 bucks......I've certainly regretted going to a movie for that amount of cash (plus pop and pocorn) a whole lot more than I regret going to the frenzy.

Hopefully it will grow and we won't have to decide whether to go fishing or to the show in the future.

[stpauliguy]

Going too far?! I posted the same thing on this site as well as another one. I never was great at math, but I believe thats 2 postings. I figured that some here dont use the other site so, id let people know in both places. Sounds as if I really went way outta my way doesnt it!!?? Criticize me if you want for my opinion. Did you go? If not, you cant say anything, I did, and was extremely upset about it. I dont care if its in its 1st year or 15th year it was not comparable to the other show and people should have the right to know. That is the point of having a forum, is it not?? So some people went and saved some money and seen some stuff. Thats the point of having a show like this,but.. this same stuff will be here in 2 weeks and, there will be a much bigger selection as well. And I will not waste my time at this mpls show in the future, unless they make drastic changes!

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

St.pauli guy i think it is quite obvious i attended or else i would have no right to vioce my opinion on this topic. I actually thought it was a good first attempt and i definately dont believe you could put on a show like that in your garage...give me a break. You gonna roll in all the new ice equipment and cars to your garage? I didnt think so. I believe they made a good attempt at trying to make a early start to the ice season. It got me into the "ice fishing itch" and i think a lot of other people got this to. I also managed to get a good deal at the Thorne Bros stand where i got 20% off one of their custom ice rods... great rod by the way im excited to use it. I thought it was a good show even though small, i do agree on that.

Ryan

[LMITOUT]

Quote:

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I went and brought my 2 boys (4 and 14) along. We got there at 10 and stayed until 4. We had a great time. My oldest caught the largest trout in the pond and won an ice combo. We all got a bunch of free stuff and knowledge from the seminars. I saved $40 on my LX-5 (which was my goal).

---

Welcome to Fishing MN.

Nice grab on the MarCum. You're going to like that baby this winter.

[Corey Bechtold]

Now that the show is over we can concentrate on some of the positives. It was a great way to meet some nice people who share the same passion for fishing as most of us do. I had the opportunity to hang with the good people of Thorne Bros. It was awesome dealing with so many nice people who helped get me excited about the upcoming Ice fishing season.

I'd like to give a shout out to all of those who talked with me because it isn't alway's the vendors who make the show rather people like yourselves who take the time to ask questions and share some stories with us.

There weren't any crowds to combat, and I was never rushed to get to the next person. All the customers were able to get the attention they deserved and hopefully came away with some good knowledge and gear to use this Ice season.

If anyone would like to chat about fishing with me or ask any more questions about anything you can always shoot me an e-mail

[email protected]

Hope to see you all on the Ice soon!

Corey Bechtold

[scotty18]

I went to the show this afternoon. Brought my wife along to keep me from spending to much. We both enjoyed ourselves. I got to talk to the exhibitors without being interrupted. Sure it was small, but it's the first time for this show. It takes time to build a following like the St. Paul show. I may even do a booth there next year.

Thanks, Scotty

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

thats cool scotty i also enjoyed it. The more people that start getting booths the better!

Ryan

[Corey Bechtold]

You couldn't stop by and give me a cupon for a free DQ Blizzard!?

Later,

Corey Bechtold

[Bob Horn]

They have to start somewhere. Was the ST. Paul show so great it' s first year? My hat is off to whom ever put the show on. Thank You. There is room for more than one show and with time it will happen. I flew in from Illinois early Sunday and I'm back already. Die hard ice guys form Illinois we are. I went with a friend of mine to see anything that may be new. You have to support the people putting on the event. The more people going through the gate the more vendors that will show up some day. I did my part and that's support the sport I love.

[brittlab]

3 of us drove up from Iowa and we weren't dissatisfied with the show. we stopped at Gander Mountain, Fleet Farm and Cabelas also.. It was a great way to spend a day with a few fellow ice heads and we got to attend a Dave Genz seminar also

[btetzl50]

I'll agree that the show was a bit thin, but I'm sure it will be better next year and the year after that.

It was nice with NO crowds whatsoever I wasn't rushed or hurried at all and could have some questions answered regarding my Vex. Something that would not have happened at the STP show.

[slipperybob]

I sure like the small crowd way, but Thorne Bros. was just too crowded...

I played around in the cars and the Dream Shak, saw the jumbo trouts that people tried to catch. Bought a few things. Saw the insulated portables and insulated trailer. Saw the Snow Bear and the Wilcrafts. And saw the Space bobber booth. Yeah it works, but sometimes you'll need a pretty long ice fishing rod to stick it under 36" of ice.