Hard Water Ice Fishing Expo - National Sports Center - Blaine, MN 11/20 - 11/22

[CallMeB]

How many nearby Ice Shanty members plan to attend?

I hope to be there on Saturday, catch a few seminars. 

Just wonder how much lighter the wallet will be  when I leave.

http://www.nscsports.org/page/show/1580620-hard-water-ice-fishing-expo

[bean counter]

Buddies and I traveled all the way from Indiana to go last year!  we definitely helped the MN economy! loved the show, the seminars, and Thorne Bro's.  Would love to go again, but not happening this year.

[holehopper]

Thanks for the heads up on this!  I live here and didn't know this was going on.  I have heard in previous years that this is a good show.  I'll head up there for a few hours tonight. 

[servocam]

I thought is sucked last year but sounds like it is a lot better this year from the feedback.  Gander Mtn in Forest Lake has their First Ice expo today and Scheels in Fargo also has their event today....then we have a few more shows coming up between St Paul, Duluth, and the Cabela's events.

[SIMESMASH]

I was out there today and it was a blast! And the wallet is a lot lighter now haha!

[LateSeason]

The deals were mediocre at best.  Reeds wasn't there so I believe the vendors didn't compete as much.  I think it was Joes that wanted $419 for a 8" Z51, Thorn Brothers wanted $365.  I bought the 8" Eskimo Z51 from Reeds off the internet for $350 shipped to my door.  If I didnt need it shipped I could of had it for $335.

And that was pretty much the theme for the day.

[MN Bassfisher]

I still have never been to this show. I haven't heard the best results over the last couple of years. One of these years I'll make it there.

[holehopper]

I've now been to both shows (Blaine and St. Paul).  St. Paul is definitely much bigger with a lot more vendors, etc.  St. Paul also has the "fishing clinics" etc.  But, I thought Blaine had most of the necessities, was less crowded and a little more "low key".  I enjoyed it.  I got to spend 20 minutes or so with Dave Genz and I don't think that would have happened in St. Paul.  Just a more laid back experience in Blaine but definitely smaller than St. Paul.  I'll be at the St. Paul show this year too and looking forward to seeing "everything in 1 place"! 

[teamslayem]

Fun show, but as stated earlier, nothing compared to the St. Paul show coming up in a couple weeks as far as vendors go! Looking forward to getting a new graph next weekend!

[Monticatgeek]

to me the Blaine show was good the first couple years. this year it seemed like it was not as good in my opinion. it could of had to do with the fact that Gander Mountain had their event at their forest lake store and scheels had a event at their Fargo store on the same day.