2013 Richmond Fishing Expo

[Sam]

Check out this map.

 

1 to 2 inches for Richmond; 2 to 4 inches up the road towards the Expo.

 

Hopefully the roads will be open but with the freezing temperatures we are having the roads may be covered with snow.

 

Zoff, be sure to call me so I can let you know about the roads if it is snowing when you call.

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1aqbof/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1stg.jpg

[Hanover_Yakker]

Yeah, the forecast keeps changing.......

 

*** ALERT *** ALERT 12Z NAM ..AGAIN INCREASES THE MOISTURE -- that means SNOW -- Over ALL portions of Southwest Central... southern central and Southeast VA for FRIDAY JAN 25

The New NAM model has 8 INCH SNOWFALL for ALL OF SOUTHWEST VA... from just west of Roanoke to Wise Including MARION ABINGDON WYTHEVILLE .. and 3-4 4 inches snow over over the VA - NC boerder areas Martinsville DANVILLE SOUTH HILL HILL EMPORIA & FRANKLIN and in NC MT AIRY REEDSVILLE and HENDERSON

and the MODEL... not me the MODEL has 4 inches snow over SE VA-- Suffolk wakefield Franklin Chesapeake Noroflk Va beach... and into Northeast NC"

 

Fun fun!!!

 

Just a heads up to anyone interested, I'll be teaming up with my fellow kayak anglers and doing a seminar on Friday (1pm) and Saturday (3pm) in a round table open forum format in case you want to stop in and ask some questions.  Check the seminar schedule Look forward to meeting some of you this weekend if you can make it.

[Zoff]

Check out this map.

 

1 to 2 inches for Richmond; 2 to 4 inches up the road towards the Expo.

 

Hopefully the roads will be open but with the freezing temperatures we are having the roads may be covered with snow.

 

Zoff, be sure to call me so I can let you know about the roads if it is snowing when you call.

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1aqbof/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1stg.jpg

Thanks, Sam.  I will.  Battling a stomach bug right now that started a few hours ago  That is the only thing that will stop me.

[flyfisher]

Thanks, Sam.  I will.  Battling a stomach bug right now that started a few hours ago  That is the only thing that will stop me.

Good luck with the stomach bug.....i think i am out of the woods after it hitting me on monday around midnight.  I didn't eat my first meal till yesterday evening.

[Hanover_Yakker]

Both of you will be required to wear surgical masks upon entering the facility..........LOL

[Zoff]

Both of you will be required to wear surgical masks upon entering the facility..........LOL

Lol... that's a given.  The paperwork I signed at the CVU (Center for the Visually Unpleasant) requires it for me.

[Nitrofreak]

Lol... that's a given.  The paperwork I signed at the CVU (Center for the Visually Unpleasant) requires it for me.

 

I know I am glad you wore it when we went fishin !!!  BAAAHAHAHAHA !!!

[soccplayer07]

I have never been to this before. Will they be selling tackle and rods here? How's the selection? 

[flyfisher]

I have never been to this before. Will they be selling tackle and rods here? How's the selection? 

They will be selling pretty much everything you would need from a boat down to baits.  I went last year and i didn't think the prices were that great but i may have missed some deals somewhere.

 

I like that you can see the pros, go to seminars and see pretty much every bait/rod/reel that you see online etc...in one place.

 

Pretty cool set up and worth the few bucks for admission.

[Hanover_Yakker]

The deals are best had late on Sunday when vendors are tyring to get rid of products they don't want to carry back. You can find deals if you are diligent - I found a mis-priced St. Croix Avid 6'8" MXF casting rod last year for $74.99 .......you read that right. A $180 rod for $75!!! You just have to be diligent and be willing to look at every rod in the booths.

The seminars are the icing on the cake for me.

[Wayne P.]

I was there when the doors opened this morning. Walked around about 1/2 dozen times by every display. Attended the 11:00 seminar by Steve Chaconas--Top 10 lures from ICAST.

 Spent some time with a couple of Jr. BASS anglers, talked with Robbie Patterson of REALDEAL PROPS, ate lunch, stayed until it started snowing and left. I guess I wasn't recognized by anyone that knew I was going to be wearing the Humminbird hat.

 

The only thing I was looking for was not there.  Pretty much boring for a seasoned angler.

[Zoff]

Whelp... I will be there in the morning.  I am the 6'3" ugly dude with a tan hat with a blue bill and a fish on it... a charcoal grey Stratos hoodie.  Probably sunglasses.  There will be three other guys with me... one is like 6'5" so you won't be able to miss us.  Yell "Zoff" and I will know.

[flyfisher]

I was there when the doors opened this morning. Walked around about 1/2 dozen times by every display. Attended the 11:00 seminar by Steve Chaconas--Top 10 lures from ICAST.

 Spent some time with a couple of Jr. BASS anglers, talked with Robbie Patterson of REALDEAL PROPS, ate lunch, stayed until it started snowing and left. I guess I wasn't recognized by anyone that knew I was going to be wearing the Humminbird hat.

 

The only thing I was looking for was not there.  Pretty much boring for a seasoned angler.

What were you looking for?

I am gonna go check it out tomorrow morning and see what happens. I'll probably throw the fly rod in the car and if I am not finding anything worthwhile ill head to the mountains and catch some trout.

[Wayne P.]

A certain soft plastic lure dealer.

[Aluma-Bass]

I was there when the doors opened this morning. Walked around about 1/2 dozen times by every display. Attended the 11:00 seminar by Steve Chaconas--Top 10 lures from ICAST.

 Spent some time with a couple of Jr. BASS anglers, talked with Robbie Patterson of REALDEAL PROPS, ate lunch, stayed until it started snowing and left. I guess I wasn't recognized by anyone that knew I was going to be wearing the Humminbird hat.

 

The only thing I was looking for was not there.  Pretty much boring for a seasoned angler.

I felt the same way, i stayed for less than 1hr. More food and craft vendors then it was fishing. I had a better time stopping in at greentop.

[Hanover_Yakker]

Today was kind of slow but we had plenty of traffic at our setup.  Didn't get a chance to hit any seminars, but Saturday is the big day.  Met Sam today and had a nice chat with him for a bit.  Hope to meet some more of you tomorrow.

 

If you have some free time around 3pm, make your way over to the Seminar 2 location back by the concessions in the back.  I'll be in the seminar with ARC and we will be hosting a panel discussion about kayak angling and species specific techniques.  I'll be wearing my Hobie Fishing Team shirt and visor standing next to my yellow Hobie Revolution the rest of the day, so I should be pretty easy to pick out .

[Darren.]

Man I wish I could join you guys, busy weekend for me down here.

[Sam]

How about 11 AM at the GMCO location at the Expo?

 

I will try to make it but with the snow and ice in my neighborhood getting out can be a problem.

 

I went today and had a great time. Picked up some nice baits and met a number of old fishing industry friends. Also salivated over the Legend boats and put my hands all over the Tritons just for the fun of it.

 

Go to Appomattox Rive Company along the back wall and meet Chad. Great guy and he posts all the time on the forum.

 

Bring money as the Bait Monkey will be watching you.

 

If you are from out of town consider hitting Green Top (exit 86) and BPS (exit 89).

 

The Expo exit is the same for Kings Dominion, exit 98. Just look for the Kings Dominion exit and you will be on your way.

 

Everyone be careful on the roads and have fun.

[Zoff]

I was there at GMCO.  Nobody showed so I went and listened to Ish.  Guess nobody came?

[Hanover_Yakker]

No one from BR stopped by the ARC booth to meet up yesterday that I was aware, only Sam on Friday.  I'll be there today again (from 10-1) only for a few hours due to a prior committment with my son.  Know your price points on certain items to avoid paying normal price for the sake of being at the show.

[Zoff]

To be honest, I came buy at one time but there was a small cround around and... well... business is business.  I ment to come back but one of the guys I was with became like a Snickers commercial and started to whine about being hungry.  I got mad enough and just bailed out of there and forgot to come back buy.

[flyfisher]

I was in there yesterday morning from about 9:30-11:30 or so....I wasn't to impressed. It was cool to see the bass boats and I did pick up some money minnows for 2.99 a pack and some jitterbugs for cheap but after factoring in the admission cost I probably paid about retail price lol.

Seems like it was more of a retail store than any great deals as most stuff was normal MSRP.

I was gonna stop by and say hi to chuck and Jim and Tina at the ARC booth but there was a decent crowd around so I kept moving, last thing I need to do is look around and convince myself I need another kayak

I did check out the yak attack black pack crate for us kayak anglers and that thing is pretty nice.

[Bigbarge50]

I always find the seminars to be the hi light,  not the gear or deals.  

 

I always bring a notebook and take notes, and for me that is what I view the price of admission for.  I still read the jig notes I wrote down from shaw girsby two years ago, and I think it has really helped me become a better jig fisherman.  A huge part was I was not throwing jigs because I had no confidence in them, I always went to my trusty texas worm.  Watching a true pro like him demonstrate, then getting like 10 minutes to ask him 1 on 1 follow up questions..... well would pay a lot more than 8 bucks for that.

 

As for the vendors.....well I usually buy a few smaller things but use it as a chance to talk stuff more than buy things or get good deals.  Jack's who sells all the zoom stuff was always a personal favorite, and that one vendor sells a ton of random stuff, but some good deals can be found in there.  I love swinging by the maps and talking fishing, and keep praying a Burke lake map would be done some day (I own all the ones for the bodies of water I fish).  Other than that, I can see why a lot of guys might not find it too thrilling.  I usually only walk around in between the speakers.  

 

Wish the weather and illness (and work for me) did not get in the way of us all meeting up, that would have probably been able to have great info exchange.  Maybe this summer.   

[Hanover_Yakker]

It was great meeting a couple of you guys this past weekend....Sam, Thorn et al. There were some deals to be had if you ventured into the booths versus just aisle hopping and scanning the outer edges. One vendor in particular had a great deal on TFO rods and Curados but you had to get inside their setup to see it. The latest version of the Curados were on sale for $119 new - they had several G6 and G5s available. The TFO deal was pretty sweet - the Tactical Series ($149 normally) selling for $89 and the Signature Series ($99 normally) selling for $69. For those that didn't make it, maybe next time. Hope to meet more of you in the future!