Expo sightings

I just got home from the MN Walleye Expo… spent the day walking the booths and visiting with many EFN’ers I ran in to… fun! Smitty and I got to talk up ARM some and look at all the new tackle goodies! I have a few things to share that I found very interesting.

One is the Gapen’s Holographic “Flub Dub” a combination spinner and crankbait. The factory rep. there had one in a test tank… yes the crank wobbled and the spinner spun! Kinda reminded me of placing Bait Rigs “Spin Fins” (small spinners on hooks) on the live suckers I run on harnesses fro musky. The spinners give the minnows a extra “kick” to look more alive and add flash. Anyway, I liked the look in the tank and got a sample to try.

Glass with class!

“Nucleous Jigs” made with a revolutionary glow technology had glow gold, orange, red, green, blue, and purple… glass jig heads! Field tested for 4 years and only out in the last three weeks, these panfish jigs just “scream” with glow. The glass that holds the glow (some kind of organic/flouresent/phosporcesent matter) fefracts the glow light and makes the glow even more intence. They were very light weight and a stand-up head.

Cool looking but very expensive…. they were going for $4.75 each. No that is not a typo….

“Smitty” was smitten with the Patriot Boat 205DC.

I gotta say that I liked it too. Nice glass hull and set up real user friendly inside. Gunnels above the knee high and can come with no carpet & a wash-out floor.

A “bare bones boat” that fit all Richard’s needs. Not very expensive either.

Any of you see anything new and exciting there?

Hoggie

Seeing you there boss was all I needed!!! I was a little disappointed to not see anyone there selling St Croix Rods. My buddy wanted to check out a couple rods for bass fishing and was looking for a deal. We had to stop at Gander instead to fill his wish list. I could have sworn with all the EFN staffers and regulars it was another get together!! Good to see you all.

Thanks… good to see you too !
I got to do a face to the name with Terry Hagstrom there and we got to swapping Jiffy Ice Auger wisdom… both sponsored by Jiffy. He loves & swears by them, just as I do…
Got to see and visit with one of my pro fishing idols… Daryl Christensen. He is a long time Bait Rigs staffer and friend. We visited about ARM. He seemed thrilled. He sent me to NPAA National Professional Anglers Association to tell them about ARM. I got to talk to Steve Fellegy there. Steve seemed happy to see ARM come too.
Fun walking round the EXPO all day lots to see. I managed to make it home with a few bucks left!
Hoggie

Smitty and I got to meet Jim Devenport, the president/ceo/cfo of Patriot Boats.

I told him that Smitty could keep his new Patriot at my place…. not a problem

Hoggie

Photo by EFN Media Pro-Staff Steve Plantz

Good to see and talk to the bosses, plus everyone else I bumped into. I was helping out at the NPAA booth, so I got to talk fishing with a few folks. I was able to sit in on seminars given by Eric Naig and Lance Christensen.
Both gentlemen did a great job!
Don Hanson

I missed Eric Naig’s seminar…darn it! How did he do…? What subject?
Hawger

Don’t feel bad Hoggie, I missed the whole Expo. Too far to drive yet and it would of been too long on my feet being up there. But I did get to spend some time Friday night and Sat. night down at the Rochester Boat and Sports show. Nate was working the Smitty’s Marine Area selling both Lund and Alumacraft boats [boy those new boats are nice and Smitty’s prices are lower than others too] and Brett King was there selling his new ”Smooth Ride” boat seat suspenion system. You have to check out this product as it will take the roughness out of your boat ride. Nate and I did spend some time talking with Mike Smith at the Hooked on Fishing’s Bait and Tackle booth and was very impressed with new spinning reels by Okuma, yes spinnings reels by Okuma. I’m talking 7 ball bearing reels for only 35.00-50.00 and very smooth with no slop. Mike Fischer is making custom made rods at Hooked On Fishing and had alot of rods there and of course they are made from St. Croix Rod blanks [the best]. Lots to see and buy. Thanks Bill

Eric gave a great seminar on river fishing. I always like to get other anglers viewpoints. From the amount of questions asked and the crowd that hung around afterwards, I would say he held everyones attention.
Don Hanson

Thanks for the kind words, Don. I enjoyed the crowd and their eagerness to learn.

Nice to meet you. Good luck with your tournaments this year.

What Crestliner model are you running this year?

Eric Naig

Eric,
I am running a 182 Tournament Series that Wissota Marina had remaining from last year. Good luck and we will see ya on the water, Don