Has anyone here ever gone to the Minnesota Musky Expo at the National Sports Center in Blaine. It is this weekend and I’ve never gone before. Any thoughts on the quality of this sports show?
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Lindy
I went two years ago.
Alot of “pros” are there and there are very good seminars by some of these “pros”.
I only went because of the seminars that were given at the time by Pete Maina, Dick Pearson, and Jack Burns.
Lots of tackle and a lot of new stuff.
It was fun to go to and you should go once. I went once and it was enough for me……If you take out the seminars, it ain’t worth going………
SO!
There is a mixed, honest answer!!! 
I think it’s a good show. Lots of baitmakers have booths, so a good variety of custom/hard-to-find baits are available. Fun shopping!!
Gary may have been hinting at the fact that there are a lot of egos running around the place (part of musky fishing in general, it seems), but if you can get past that it’s a great time. The Saturday and Sunday (especially) seminar line-up looks very good. Here’s a link to the show’s website: MN Muskie Expo
John
Musky guys…. egos? noway! Yeah those should be some good seminars I would realy like to see Dick Pearsons talk about his experiences fishing the canadian shield. I think Ill try to hit it on Sunday. Thanks for the info. guys.
In-Depthangling Field Staff
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Lindy
John hit the nail on the head.
Yep, you are going to see every type of musky lure made. It can be a great chance to find stuff, but I will say that you can get just about anything/everything either at Thorne Bros or Pastika’s. There isn’t much to find “on sale” or “cheap”, if you are thinking that you will get a good deal at the show.
You can make the rounds through the boths in about 2 hours, on a leisure walk.
However, you may get the chance to chat with some of the bigger names if you have questions on techniques on their home waters.
Quote:
John hit the nail on the head.
Yep, you are going to see every type of musky lure made. It can be a great chance to find stuff, but I will say that you can get just about anything/everything either at Thorne Bros or Pastika’s. There isn’t much to find “on sale” or “cheap”, if you are thinking that you will get a good deal at the show.
You can make the rounds through the boths in about 2 hours, on a leisure walk.
However, you may get the chance to chat with some of the bigger names if you have questions on techniques on their home waters.
As one of these egos you are talking about I have to totally disagree with IDA’s resident musky “pro” Gary 
. Almost all of the dealers have show specials and very good deals at that. You can save a lot of $$ off what you would pay at a shop and almost all have custom “show” patterns only offered at the show. I would totally recommend going if not just for the speakers and most of the best sticks around aren’t these so called “Big names”…sure Bucher,Maina and Pearson are good but right now Thomas,Cain and Hammernick are showing up the big boys and are three steps ahead of everyone and the size and numbers of their fish are proof. That’s what it takes in musky fishing…a wise man once said if you do the same thing you always did you’ll catch what you always caught. 
Maybe we have egos but when you fish for and “catch” the king of fish you feel you’re the king of fisherman 
Well freshwater fish that is…. 
And man do we accidentally catch some huge Walleyes 
No ego here 
Good post Jason!!!
Maybe I need to go back??? When I went a few years ago, I just didn’t get a whole lot out of it.
Maybe we need to have an IDA musky dudes get-together this year at the show??? Meet up for a beer and a brat???
Jason,
You were right when you said, “When you fish for and ‘catch’ the king of fish you feel you’re the king of fisherman.” It’s a great nature/nuture question: Does musky fishing make people ego-maniacs or does it merely attract them? I love musky fishing. I just don’t love a lot of the culture. 
The reason I participate here (somewhat) and not on muskiefirst.com, muskyhunter.com, muskynut.com, muskiesinc.com, muskiecentral.com, etc. is that the musky community is different from IDA. I was all over muskyhunter.com and muskiecentral.com 4-6 years ago. I hang out here on-line for the same reasons I don’t spend much time at the muskie shows these days. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just not really for me anymore. But I still spend 90% of my fishing time chasing muskies when the season is open.
I’ll be at the Expo on Saturday morning. Hope to see you there! Look for the guy with a scowl on his face walking around alone because he hates everybody. Just kidding!! 
The Muskie Expo will be a good time and I encourage anyone who has a serious interest in musky fishing to attend. I hear Thorne’s is putting good prices on baits at the show, which might make for some good buying opportunities.
John
Gary, If you go to the show check out some of the new plastics and hybrids if you haven’t yet….great stuff. I think getting the IDA “spot” fisherman together is a great idea. I’m easy to find, look for the guy wearing the “Musky Nut Tackle Company” windbreaker with the name “Jason” on it….pretty simple. I will be there Saturday and probably Sunday and if you go please come say hi.
John, Interesting question….was I a maniac before I fished for them or after??? I guess personally I would say I was a “fishing” nut before but after landing the first one I actually set out to catch I am and always will be a Musky Nut. Hell, Walleye,Bass or Sunnies have never made me drive 12 hours just to be able to fish for 6
It’s probably a sickness and not normal but I think that is what brings all of us Musky Nuts so close…we ain’t right 
and we understand each others illness. 
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