Mpls Ice Fishing Show- Save Your Money!!!

[Kodiak]

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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

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your nuts brother, you should have waited with that gas money for the st.paul show. As a fellow iowan i feel for you, when i grew up there and the ice fishing scene is not even close to what it is up here. I used to not care much about ice fishing but now it is an OBSESSION!!

crappieman- chill out, the guy was just making a joke. (ice show in his garage), comon do you really think he was serious..it is called sarcasim.

[slipperybob]

Maybe his garage is the size of a big warehouse?

We'll just need a pool the size of a hocky rink and have ice on top of that! Now that's an ice fishing show with portables on that!

I think the strangest booth I saw that was out of place was the massage one...but then I thought to myself, what if I was ice fishing and sitting in a massage chair?

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

i know there was sarcasim i just think he down played a good first effort at the show. Before making an impact on people maybe you should let them check it out for themselves. As you can see we had people from iowa and illinois who came up and had a good time at the show. The show should improve with every year that goes by as long as we contimue to give it support like we did this year. If one guy goes and comes back and changes the plans of everyone else to go i dont believe they would have the show next year...IMO

Ryan

[crappieflop1212]

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i know there was sarcasim i just think he down played a good first effort at the show. Before making an impact on people maybe you should let them check it out for themselves.

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Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of this forum?

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

No im pretty sure this forum isnt only for giving your opinions on ice shows???

[crappieflop1212]

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No im pretty sure this forum isnt only for giving your opinions on ice shows???

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I was referring to sharing an experience. That's a big part of what this forum is all about. Stpauliguy was disapointed and let everyone know why. It was a little animated, but not too offensive.

Us outdoorsmen blow enough money on our hobbies as it is. For some, the 30 bucks in gas, admission, and parking could be slap in the face if disapointed. Not to mention the time wasted. I'm glad I didn't bother. I had already made up my mind after viewing the poorly put together HSOforum for this event. I wasn't shocked by this post from stpauliguy.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

Hmmm I think more people enjoyed that someone tried to put another show togather so we will eventually have 2 GREAT shows. Like stated earlier the St Paul show had to start somewhere too. Im sure it wasnt great at first and also started out small but the great ice fisherman supported it to bring it up to what it is today.

[crappieflop1212]

Good point, but I don't see the need for two shows back to back. Maybe one of the promoters can use this post as feedback on how to improve for next year.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

Yea that would be good i think that some years the St. Paul show is to late in the year because most of the time we have walkable ice by then and i just want to fish! I thought it was nice to have one show a little earlier becuase then you dont have to miss out on either valuable ice time or the ice show. My 2 cents

Ryan

[slipperybob]

Or one could treat this as a preview of what to expect at the St Paul ice show...get your money ready.

[Deitz Dittrich]

The show is over, I thought it was a good effort for a first show. Getting these things started is not easy. And a ton of work.

Please, be kind on the boards or we will have to remove/lock this thread...

[crappieflop1212]

Wow, this is disapointing.

[Kylersk]

I agree that putting on a show like this has to be alot of work and tough to do the first year.. But, I do not think there is a need for 2 shows, 2 weeks apart and mostly the same vendors in the Twin Cities.

I dont know how the Ice Frenzy could be different than the st paul one.. Perhaps have an end of season show where vendors can blow out their inventories? Or, have the show in duluth or something.. *shrugs*

[brittlab]

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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

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your nuts brother, you should have waited with that gas money for the st.paul show. As a fellow iowan i feel for you, when i grew up there and the ice fishing scene is not even close to what it is up here. I used to not care much about ice fishing but now it is an OBSESSION!!

crappieman- chill out, the guy was just making a joke. (ice show in his garage), comon do you really think he was serious..it is called sarcasim.

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we are going to that show also

[Ryan_V]

crappieman, I agree with the others, the purpose of the forum is for people with a common interest to share information. I was on the fence about spending $3.09 a gallon for the hour plus trip to get there, $10 to park, $8 to get in..etc, etc etc, so when a fellow ice-fanatic tells me it's so-so or ho-hum, I sincerely appreciate the information. if I lived nearby, then by all means, I'd spend the few bucks to get in, but I found out my money I work hard for is better served waiting for the St. Paul Show. I don't disagree that support will keep the show coming bigger and better, but I work very hard for the little bit of money I have in my pocket, and i'm glad I skipped the show, at least for this year. he is simply voicing his opinion, I listened and didn't go, if you want to go check it out for yourself, by all means go. by posting that he didn't think the show was worth it, was not a law against the rest of us going, it just helped us make an informed decision.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

good for you buddy! you can do whatever you want but from the most of the people i heard from they enjoyed the show. We had people that came from iowa and had a good time so you can think what you want but i will stick to my opinion

[Ryan_V]

works for me, you stick to your opinion, I'll stick to mine!! thanks again to the original poster for the information!! I've heard people enjoyed it, I've also heard from more that were disappointed.

[broman]

I too stayed away primarily because of this post and just my own gut feeling. I can't help but think that everyone staying away will lessen the growth of the show. After all, if they weren't able to generate enough revenue from their first show, then why would they want to put one on next year. Whereas, if more people had gone then they could say to potential vendors, "look at the excellent attendance, you should have setup a booth this year, how about signing up for next year?". But, since many stayed away, it makes it hard to get more vendors to come to a show if the turnout was affected.

That being said, I also hate going to shows where there are vendors that aren't directly related to the theme of the show. That's why I stopped going to the Blue Star Computer Shows. Too many sunglasses and cell phone companies and not

enough vendors related to the actual theme. Maybe the vendor setup fees where too high for this ice fishing show, or maybe it was too close to the other show and the vendors picked one show, and that was the established show.

[harvey lee]

I wanted to make this show but could not. The reason I attend these shows is to look at the new products, talk with some company reps and meet some other fellow FMers. Yes sometimes one can get a little bit of a deal but I do believe that thease deals happen later in the weekend when its time to load up and go home but not always.

I simply cannot imagine how much work it would be to cooridinate an event of this size and for the first time. Huge job and probably fairly hard to get it all right the first time.

Next year, if all works out, I will be there to see it.

[Shack]

I also could not make it this weekend. I wish I could of been there. One vender or a million. Hay,its ice fishing man.

Every weekend I have plans, I miss these great get togethers.

I missed Deitz at Cabela's and the Thorn Bro's, Hanson, Cory and other F.M.ers at the Frenzy.

I will make it for sure to the St. paul one.

I am bummed about missing out on the Thron Bro's deal's, but I hear they are having a mean Thanks Giving sale.

[Sonicrunch]

OK I'll throw in my 2 cents.

You won't catch me at the Minneapolis OR the St Paul show. If they didn't charge to get in it would be different. The items for sale are the same things I can get at my local Cabin Fever in Victoria.

If ya gotta pay money to get a good deal on something... well, it's not such a good deal then is it?

[Shack]

That’s why I only go on Sunday (a good F.M.ers note and one Tom brought up all ready).

I always go on Sunday (or last day). Theses guy who put on theses shows are human. They do not want to pack up anymore stuff than they have to.

The Sportsman’s Show, I go every year and stock up on my summer stuff and at a good discount (I think Dietz can back me up, he saw me about minutes before they closed).

We are all sportsman here, any sportsman event should be a pilgrimage for any F.M.er..

All though I do respect the critic view of St. Paulguy. It is what I think makes this forum a good source for information. I would still go if I want and figure it out for my self.

That is the reason I think this thread has not been locked yet.

[Northlander]

I dont think 2 shows that close together will ever be good.

Now put one in Duluth and see what happens. Tons of guys from this area go to the St. Paul Show. Only thing would be would the southern/metro vendors come up North to sell their gear? I would hope so. Ice Fishing is huge up here.

Either way I think 1 show is enough. I wont travel down there for 2 shows with the price of gas these days.

[FishingWebGuy]

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Welcome to Fishing MN.

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

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Thanks Dan. I got to try on an Arctic Armor suit at the show also so I know what size I need to order in the future (which was another goal). The staff at your booth were extremely helpful.

My sons are already sitting in the FT Voyager, dropping jigs into a fish bowl, with the marcum on simulator getting ready for ice.