St Paul ice fishing show

Did anyone find a good deal at the show ? Even though I wasn’t feeling well and didn’t look closely at a lot of things I still spent more than planned.

I didn’t notice any major deals (but also didn’t look that close either). I did ed up buying a Dakota Lithium battery with charger for a great price so that was my find of the show.

Does anybody really find good deals at fishing shows and expo’s? I never really have. I guess for me it’s just an opportunity to get excited about fishing, chat with friends, and maybe make a few new ones.

I think a FLX-28 Ultra package at $585 was a decent deal.

got the new echomap ice pack for 600, helix 7 where around 580, one place had the helix 7 ice bundle with the summer transducer for 650

I picked up a marcum lithium shuttle for $190, striker ice boots for $95, and a 13 fishing ghost for $50.

uninc4709 wrote:

got the new echomap ice pack for 600, helix 7 where around 580, one place had the helix 7 ice bundle with the summer transducer for 650

Buddy of mine got helix 7 ice bundle WITH Lakemaster chip for $600. Thought that was a good deal. Had I known he got the chip for $50, I’d a gotten a Woods/Rainy chip. I got a 10” bit for ion for $110.

I pulled the trigger on an XT hideout from Thorne for 400 bucks and no tax. Pretty excited to have a more manageable portable for when I’m fishing by myself.

Josh Hedstrom wrote:

I pulled the trigger on an XT hideout from Thorne for 400 bucks and no tax. Pretty excited to have a more manageable portable for when I’m fishing by myself.

Man I want one of them for solo fishing

The trick to getting deals at the show is really to try and have cash and hit up the vendors on sunday as the show is shutting down. I have gotten some really good deals in the past but you run the risk of what you want to buy not being available.

The no tax for me sometimes factors in as I live in WI. Sounds like some good deals though from what I read.

I got the striker hard water bibs at 20% off plus a free pair of gloves and the same deal on the jacket 2 separate transactions, not sure if it was a good deal but I needed a new suit. I also got 2 I fish pros for $55 which was good and 2 Tucr rods for 20% off each

I got to the show early on Saturday ~ 10:45 in the morning. I was interested in a Otter Pro X-over Lodge & a Striker Predator ice suit (coat & bibs). I approached 2 different vendors, the first vendor said they only had 3 Otters left and when I approached the second vendor, the second vendor only had 1 lodge left. I pulled the trigger on both items. I got the Otter Pro X-over Lodge, Hyfax, Cover, and the Striker outfit (top/bottom) for 1220 out the door. I thought that was a pretty good deal. Also, by the time I pulled the trigger, both dealers were out of the Otter. The same was true with the Marcum LX-7 lithium combo packages (sold in 5 gal bucket). Most of the time a shopper gets the deals on the last day. However, with regards to my Otter Pro X-over Lodge, I herd 2 different vendors tell folks “Good luck trying to find one of those at this show”. I can’t imagine driving 5 hours to the show and being told “Good luck trying to find one of those”.

Sounds like there was some good deals. I had planned on getting a new grizzly ice shack but got a sweet deal on a used one earlier in the week. That was the 1st show I’ve been too and wouldn’t mind going to another

lrott2003 wrote:

The trick to getting deals at the show is really to try and have cash and hit up the vendors on sunday as the show is shutting down. I have gotten some really good deals in the past but you run the risk of what you want to buy not being available.

The no tax for me sometimes factors in as I live in WI. Sounds like some good deals though from what I read.

This is so true. I’ve went 3 times now, once on every day. The vendors are trying to unload stuff on Sunday so you can get a bit of a better deal on stuff but run the risk of them not having any stock. Saturday just seems to be overly busy IMO. And on Friday (when we went this year) was pretty nice, still fairly busy as should be expected but lots of stock and still deals to be found. If someone hasn’t gone I really recommend it. You don’t realize all the new things that you can’t live without haha.

I found a great deal on a new Otter X over cabin from Reeds. I purchased at the show and picked it up in Onamia on Wednesday. The store employee Michelle in Onamia treated us great during pick up. And of course we spent another couple hundred while we were in the store.
Also at the show got a great deal on a Tuned up Custom Rod as well as a St. Croix rod.
Now if only all this great stuff would help me catch more fish)) There were a couple of places that had nice deals on the Strikemaster 40V, but I already have one and its awesome.