The St. Paul Ice Fishing Show…in my opinion

  • trekr200
    Red Wing, MN
    Posts: 260
    December 5, 2011 at 5:48 pm #1302989

    I have gone to the ice fishing show in Saint Paul the last 5 years and enjoy seeing all the gadgets and do-dads. However, there weren’t a whole lot of bargains for the things I was looking for…such as the Frabil Straight Line combo. The only deal I did was find was for the Ice Armor storage bag.

    Also, the crowds on Saturday had to be a record. Slab Hunter, Fish King, and I arrived at the show around 10:30am and stood in line for almost an hour before we got to the ticket booth. I am glad that ice fishing has become so popular but the venue needs to come up with ways to make the ticket buying faster.

    The coolest thing about the show is seeing parents and grandparents bringing the kids. There nothing like fishing gear and mini donuts to make a kid smile.

    Mike

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9362
    December 5, 2011 at 5:53 pm #1014647

    Quote:

    There nothing like fishing gear and mini donuts to make a kid smile.

    I’m not a kid anymore and that is all it takes to trip my triger too

    jon_jordan
    St. Paul, Mn
    Posts: 10908
    December 5, 2011 at 6:05 pm #1014650

    Went Friday after work. No lines for tickets, but the place was very busy.

    Quote:

    …arrived at the show around 10:30am and stood in line for almost an hour before we got to the ticket booth.

    Instead of asking for your life story to get a $1 off coupon on the website. How about on line ticket sale? One you print out. Has to be way to do it. They were using scanners at the gate and giving you ticket back.

    -J.

    skeeter20
    Winnie/Grand Rapids,MN
    Posts: 902
    December 5, 2011 at 6:25 pm #1014662

    I am sure the reason why it was so busy this year is because there is no ice around to fish.

    traumatized
    eastern iowa
    Posts: 362
    December 5, 2011 at 6:33 pm #1014663

    I drove five hours to go to the show on Sat.
    Kind of disappointed, tons of stuff to look at but there was so many people in such a little space. Couldn’t get down a lot of the isle’s to look at stuff. There were people just standing in them to get out of the crowds. Also it had to be 90 degrees in there. No, I didn’t have a coat on. Got a great deal on a complete Frabill snosuit for $150. Thanks Reeds. If I go again it will be on Friday in the afternoon. Also the line to get a ticket was terrible. Got to be a better way
    It was a great show, just didn’t get to see a lot of it.

    arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    December 5, 2011 at 6:48 pm #1014670

    Quote:

    I drove five hours to go to the show on Sat.
    Kind of disappointed, tons of stuff to look at but there was so many people in such a little space. Got a great deal on a complete Frabill snosuit for $150. Thanks Reeds.

    I’m pretty sure I’d be plenty happy if I bought a complete Frabill Snosuit for $150.00!! I think I would have bought them out.

    Boogerbreath
    Bemidji, MN
    Posts: 432
    December 5, 2011 at 7:03 pm #1014675

    This was my first year. The Sunday crowd was not so bad in my opinion. Lots of traffic but I never waited in any lines – except for a hotdog. I did get a great deal on bibs but that thunder was taken away by the concession stand prices (wow). I also assumed that the place would be wall to wall lures. That was not the case. With that said – an overall great experience. Especially if you are purchasing big ticket items. Also, I mean seriously, there must have been a dozen fishing celebrities there (including James). How can you beat a 10 minute Lindy Darter lesson under the watchful eye of Ted Takasaki, to chat Bemidji perch with Bro, sit on a show sled and talk FatBoys with Dave Genz. They answered every question my 9 year old and I could come up with. Awesome.

    trekr200
    Red Wing, MN
    Posts: 260
    December 5, 2011 at 7:15 pm #1014680

    We were thinking of going either Friday or Sunday. The Saturday crowd was massive.

    lhprop1
    Eagan
    Posts: 1899
    December 5, 2011 at 7:56 pm #1014693

    My brother and I went Sunday morning at opening and it wasn’t bad. When we left about 12:30, the parking ramp was jammed full.

    I usually just go to look at all of the new gadgets. There’s not much I usually get other than a few of the latest and greatest jigs and try to win a few of the give-aways.

    I did end up with a Teca Cetus because I need a new reel. It seems decent, but I’m not sure how I’ll like it compared to my Pflueger’s, though.

    mplspug
    Palmetto, Florida
    Posts: 25026
    December 5, 2011 at 8:41 pm #1014704

    I think I sampled each flavor of Northern Brew beer…2 or 3 times.

    tom_gursky
    Michigan's Upper Peninsula(Iron Mountain)
    Posts: 4751
    December 5, 2011 at 8:43 pm #1014706

    TICAs are great reels…I switched to the lighter wt Pfluegers due to the the new ultra light spin rods like the Leg Extremes.

    skeeter20
    Winnie/Grand Rapids,MN
    Posts: 902
    December 5, 2011 at 8:47 pm #1014708

    Quote:

    Quote:

    I drove five hours to go to the show on Sat.
    Kind of disappointed, tons of stuff to look at but there was so many people in such a little space. Got a great deal on a complete Frabill snosuit for $150. Thanks Reeds.

    I’m pretty sure I’d be plenty happy if I bought a complete Frabill Snosuit for $150.00!! I think I would have bought them out.

    Pretty sure he meant Icesuit not Snosuit. I seen Reeds and a couple other retailers had the Icesuit marked at $150 end of last year as well. Heck of a price for the Icesuit though, if it would have been the Snosuit it would have looked like Black Friday at Walmart

    arklite881south
    Posts: 5660
    December 5, 2011 at 11:20 pm #1014767

    Probably the Ice Suit. Still as you mentioned great deal regardless!!

    siclone
    W. Lakeland
    Posts: 160
    December 6, 2011 at 1:43 am #1014822

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Quote:

    Kind of disappointed, tons of stuff to look at but there was so many people in such a little space. Got a great deal on a complete Frabill snosuit for $150. Thanks Reeds.

    I’m pretty sure I’d be plenty happy if I bought a complete Frabill Snosuit for $150.00!! I think I would have bought them out.

    Pretty sure he meant Icesuit not Snosuit. I seen Reeds and a couple other retailers had the Icesuit marked at $150 end of last year as well. Heck of a price for the Icesuit though, if it would have been the Snosuit it would have looked like Black Friday at Walmart

    I’m pretty sure he bought the new grey Frabill Suit, if it was $150. Reed’s had it in their Black Friday sale for $199 and Glens had it for $149. Reed’s was calling it an IceSuit, which it is not. There’s a light layer of tricot lining in that Suit compared to the black IceSuit, which has more insulation.

    Here’s the link to the grey Suit: http://frabill.com/clothing/frabill-suit.html

    lhprop1
    Eagan
    Posts: 1899
    December 6, 2011 at 2:25 pm #1014917

    Quote:

    TICAs are great reels…I switched to the lighter wt Pfluegers due to the the new ultra light spin rods like the Leg Extremes.

    How do the Ticas compare to the President Micros?

    jeff_huberty
    Inactive
    Posts: 4941
    December 6, 2011 at 2:27 pm #1014929

    I picked up a complete frabil FXE sno-suit for $359.00 @ the Marine General Booth.

    minnesotsakid
    ROCHESTER
    Posts: 59
    December 6, 2011 at 5:05 pm #1015025

    No complaints from me! The boys at Otter/Reeds talked me into a deal I couldnt resist. 500 out the door on a new extreme thermal cottage normally 650. There were plenty of deals if you wanted em. Wheel and deal with the vendors. It sure worked for me.

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