Just returned from the Sportsmans Show.

[Phishin Phool]

Just got home from the show. I was happy to finally meet Jennie in person. Got my Ifish Kwiky. Also a spool of Sufix DNA from Grant & Scott for bringing in an Ifish item. Bought some jigs from Sy's Jigs and flys and some custom Kwiks from Bob's. Had a very enjoyable time. I just may have to take the wife back to look at boats.
The Dock Dogs thing was pretty humerous, you'd think some of those dogs had never seen water before.

--PP

[Space]

The show was packed right out of the gate. This is the first time I can remember this many people being there before 3:00. My brother said he had to park in the overflow parking at 2:00.
The show was good this year but, smaller. I felt that you really had to look for super deals. Nothing just jumped out at me. Bobs did have some deals on rapalas and other similar items. Other than that Fishermans prices were the same as in the store. I did get a few of the new Kwickies though. What's a few more.
I would like to take the wife but, I think the crowd will keep me far away at this point. Have fun. I'm glad to get that monkey off my back.

SPACE

[Full Freezer]

Are there any good parking spots/advice???
I'll be driving back to Everett, WA after the show so I'm not inclined to take a shuttle bus!
Any help would be appreciated.

[Fshklr]

Just returned as well. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Met Jennie and finally bought an ifish hat and my new ifish quickie!! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Talked with Scott and Grant earlier, picked up my suffix 12lb and left my name for the entry.
Ran into Baitboy(Rick) and Wootersen(John) right in front of the Amerman site, compared goodies and recieved the info on the Kings for kids raffle so I bee lined there and made a few entries [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Went to the outdoor cooking seminars and caught a few shows..very very good!!
Purchased some new outdoor gear, then got a glimpse of Bignbright(bobby) in the show room(boats) and passed 5cents and CrackerJoe in the isles.
Met 3 other ifishers at the ifish booth but forgot the handles and names(sorry)
Will return saturday to hit a few more shows and some sales!!

One thing I did notice was the lack of discount tackle or tackle vendors at all. Bobs, Fishermans, etc are there but prices reflect normal in store pricing..will try again saturday!
Alot of venders with no tackle for sale just a show rack and catalogs :depressed:

[ 02-04-2004, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[love2fish]

I just got back myself. I agree, not much tackle for sale. Bob's had some good buys. Talked to Depoe Bay Dan err I mean Born to be Wild. He's sitting at the BS Tales booth for the show. Stop by and say hi to him if you get a chance. Thanks Dan

love2fish

[Pickles]

Overall I felt the show was a let down compared to past years. A few highlights though were being able to greet Jennie and get my very own IFISH KWIKFISH. I also met DAWHUNT while waiting in line to get in ( he was nice enough to direct me to Jennie's booth). I also really enjoyed Bob's sporting goods exhibit (Lot's and I mean Lot's of exotic Kwikfish). I don't know why, but it seems this years show had way more guides and outfitters and a lot less tackle venders. This is what I found dissapointing. Nothing agianst guides, especially IFish Guides.

[ 02-04-2004, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: fish-addict ]

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

Got back about an hour ago. Got to talk to Jen and Pete.
It was nice to meet several Ifishers who were at the show. I'm sorry I did not get to see Dan, I would have looked for him had I known he was there.
I also met Bob Rees and Scott Amerman, kinda cool…

Parking was better this year but last year I went on a weekend. Rode the shuttle, it was much, much faster than my previous try at the shuttle.

Lots and lots of cool stuff

[Fish_N_Russ]

Whew, just got back :smile:

That was my first sportsman's show and I too was VERY disappointed in the lack of tackle dealers. I think there was less than 10 booths that were actually selling tackle/rod/reels, other than store outlets. I really wanted to pick up some fly tying materials but there was only 2 or 3 places in the whole joint that were selling stuff, and none of them had a very good selection. I would say it was 85% guides/outfitters and boats.........so if you werent in the market for that

But, I did get a good deal on an Okuma Avenger reel from FMS...$24 something with free 150yd spool of TuffLine....and got my free spool of Suffix from Scott Amerman (thanks). The wife liked the Dock Dogs so all was not lost :smile:

Oh and I forgot, the Women In Wader's models were nice too :grin:

[ 02-04-2004, 10:55 PM: Message edited by: Fish_N_Russ ]

[Finschnitzel]

They call it the sportsman's SHOW for a reason.
It's not the sportsman's SALE unfortunately.
Reguardless I'll enjoy seeing all the cool new stuff available to purchase at my sporting goods store, that is, if the shelves are stocked with the NEW goods!!

[Plum Crazy]

Ya going tomorrow. I always plan to spend money but spend little at the show. In the past my first show's it was depressing but I found I hated carring the junk around anyhoo. Lot's o stuff to love.
Fire
Ripley and I will be around tommorrow with some fish camp fellas.
See ya their.

[StinkyH]

Enjoyed the show - need a few days to really take in all the available seminars.

Len Self did a great seminar on rigging bait fish for the columbia and also kwiks.

Got to meet Jenni and pick up an ifish patch.

Picked up (4) sets of Polecats for my rigs.

Got to drool over the 19' Sportster SJ I am working on with NR.

Good times. :grin:

StinkyH

[Paddlefish]

Highly disappointed. :depressed:

Arrived late-ish (Is that a word?) Missed Jennie. :depressed: :depressed:

I'm only buying my mess o' decals and patches from the original.

However, my wife is working out of town this week and I seem to be drooling on boat brochures . . .

[ 02-04-2004, 11:45 PM: Message edited by: Paddlefish ]

[k9jeff]

I showed up at about 230pm, parked near the front without problems. I met gizmo, and got my IFish goddies. Jen was not at the booth, she was out and about. I did see a lot of stuff I wanted, but did not need. I did purchase a new salmon rod for the boat and some other stuff I did need.

My father pointed out these two guys walking around wearing carrots on their sweatshirts. He leaned over and said "thats a stupid mascot for a high school team" I about died and explained the carrot milk thing to him.

I had a good time.

[Grant Scheele]

"stupid mascot" That is hilarious!!

[Jennie@ifish]

When I leave the booth, I'm usually only gone for 10-20 minutes, max.
I do leave from 4 to 5:30ish for dinner.
I have had a blast meeting all the ifishers!!!

Still got some kwickies left... but not many!

Jen

[Bait Bucket]

Welp, I was there the first day too. I had a blast! I came home with a bag full of Kwikfish, a lot of good literature and a lot more knowledgeable about salmon and stealhead fishing. I also met a couple of ifish members but I never did find Jennie.

[Bill Monroe]

Jennie,
I can't get back out there until tomorrow...can you save me a couple? If not, I totally understand the first-come concept...
thanks...Bill

[hawgcatcher]

I got there about 10:40 and there was a fair crowd waiting to get in. We left around 2:30 and saw 95% of the booths. Saw Jennie and got my hat and Kwikfish and met a couple other Ifishers.

I enjoyed the show but like others, I was disappointed in the items for sale. I found a few but not like in the past. Got a couple of those scent bobbers that I had seen mentioned on Ifish and talked to the developer. Advised him to go see Jennie and get on Ifish.

All in all the bags got full of things to read and think about, like some of the boats that were there. I even got my fishing license that I had forgotten. Only problem there, the minute they entered my ID number, the computer went down and it took fifteen minutes to get it going again. Is this a sign of something?

I guess I will look to next year. Maybe more sale items.

[h20dog]

Jen, I'm with Grant on the kwikie thing, the main reason I'm coming to the show tonite is to get my hat and kwikie. Hope ya still have one for me :grin:

[h20dog]

Sorry...I meant I'm with Bill on the kwikie thing [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] :blush:

[garyk]

The show is very light on tackle, with saltwater gear being absent other than some boat rods.

Was good to see Talons (guide Joe Salvey), Jennie and her lucky Kfish, the carrot bunch, Marty and his Clackacrafts, Hoagland with his new magazine, Bob Rees, the CORR guys fighting to protect the public’s river access, Steelheaders and their raffle ticket man. Talked to the various boat dealers and repair shops about some repairs my boat needs and those conversations quickly showed which businesses know their trade and the ones that don’t - that alone was worth the price for admission and parking.

Bob’s definitely had the most fun booth with crazy custom Kfish colors, some steals like Tuff-Line at 3.8-cents/yard, and bunch of stuff to paw through. And I was glad he brought down some smelt nets @ $27.

If you’re gonna fish shad, check out that garage-sale looking tackle booth in the far corner. They got those little chartreuse grubs that are killer for shad on sale. For four dollars I got enough for the rest of the decade.

The dude with the ajustable scent capsules at $3 for 2, is worth a visit too.

[ 02-09-2004, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: garyk ]

[Lemon Head]

Enjoyed meeting Jennie!!!Had the chance to hear her say, "Don't you open that box!! I want to open that box!!!"Thanks Jen to you all and Buzz too for the effort on the K-Fish! Saw quite a few beanie hats leaving the booth, nice hat thanks. Jack Glass has a good seminar on side drifting for steelhead, also Jack says the Sandy is perfect right now and fish are biting. Ya know Jen is a little taller than she looks in the I Fish Foto!!!...Jennie's Cool...LH

[h20dog]

I went last night, it was my first sportsman show so I have nothing to compare to, but I felt like a kid in a candy store. I picked up a little gear checked out the exhibits, got to smell some new boats (nuthin like the smell of a new boat. I almost licked the 20 foot Asaltor,) and sampled some smoked meat products. What could be better than that?? Well I'll tell ya.....got to meet Jennie again, picked up my Ifish kwickie, Ifish hat, and a couple more stickers to put on my dog.
Great to see ya again Jen, hopefully I made enough of an impression that you will remember me next time. :grin:

[Born to be Wild]

I just got back myself. I agree, not much tackle for sale. Bob's had some good buys. Talked to Depoe Bay Dan err I mean Born to be Wild. He's sitting at the BS Tales booth for the show. Stop by and say hi to him if you get a chance. Thanks Dan

love2fish

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Sitting?!!!
You must have caught me in "rare form" then buster :grin:

Another great ifisher with some of the "low key" qualities of the "infamous" mod "Pete".

I'm darn glad it's over with.

Let's go catch a fish Steve (after I have rested)!

Dano

[crabbait]

K.

[Labsforme]

Went to the show Saturday afternoon for two primary reasons:get decals and hat and use up $150 gift certificate at Fisherman's.Missed Jennie and there weren't any real "deals" at Fisherman's.Somehow did get another goose call,CD from Dave Smith,and another duck call.Overall disappointed by the lack of waterfowl stuff and tackle dealers really dealing.It was good seeing Joe Salvey and some other I-fishers too.

[garyk]

Day 2, Sat. Good to finally meet BornToBeWild, who gave us the scoop on those special Brad Wigglers to use for silvers and gave us one of the special commemorative models.

Went back to Bob's for a great deal on a Lamiglas XCF (fiberglass) rod for K-fishing. Plus some cheap ($2!) Xstream wobblers and K16's that I'm going to show to some tarpon.

And finally bought some snakeoil - that Flintz cleaner stuff that's supposed to restore everything from vinyl boat windows to copper lures; we'll see.