How I Wish...

[Mobasser]

How I wish that Kansas City Mo still had a good sportshows each winter.              They used to have the show each January. I always looked forward to going. The show was held at Battle Hall, a large expo center in KC.               The entire place was full of vendors showing all the latest tackle, baits, and everything related. Many outfitters from all over the country were there also, with guides who worked for these camps and resorts.                           I got to see a great seminar by Larry Nixon, met and spoke briefly with Guido Hibdon, and met Harold Ensley, famous Missouri fisherman.                                     It was a great time.                        Some memorable things: when Larry Nixon finished his seminar, he held up a plastic worm and said" learn this". That stayed with me all these years.                           When I met Guido Hibdon, I mentioned that I thought it was awesome that he had developed such a great finesse fishing style. His response was: son, my daddy taught me almost everything I know about fishing. Weve been fishing that way since I was knee high to a stump." A very easy going, humble man also.                  I sure wish we had a good sportshows now.                    Does your town have a good sportshows in the winter? If so, do you attend the show?

[Jig Man]

We lost the good boat and sports show in Springfield about 20 years ago.  John L has some but I’m not inclined to go.

[gim]

Wow, that sucks.  Sport shows keep me going in the winter.  There's the Boat Show, Northwest Sports Show, Deer & Turkey Classic, and the Muskie Expo.  I don't always go to every one each year, but usually at least one or two of them.

[GaryH]

Boats, fishing, hunting, camping and guides. 

[gim]

Hey @Mobasser if you're ever up here in the winter I'll go with you to a sports show.  The Northwest Sports Show is probably the one you'd be most interested in.  It has a little of everything.

[Mobasser]

Just now, gimruis said:

Hey @Mobasser if you're ever up here in the winter I'll go with you to a sports show.  The Northwest Sports Show is probably the one you'd be most interested in.  It has a little of everything.

I would love to go!

[WRB]

We still have the Fred Hall show in SoCal but no longer the Bass A Thon at Anglers Marine that was dedicated to bass fishing. BAT always had several top pro’s doing seminars and state if the Boats and the newest tackle with local custom swimbaits etc...mis it as we always would meet friends and have lunch them.

Tom

[gim]

6 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I would love to go!

Here ya go.

 

https://www.northwestsportshow.com/

[A-Jay]

 

https://showspan.com/UFD/

 

I went to this one in early 2016 just to see my rig before I ordered it.

It's a good 3.5 hours south of me so I actually got a hotel room.

Had two full days there, most of which was spent crawling in & around

a couple of Pro-V Bass boats.

Also got to see and talk to Mark Zona & KVD a couple of times each. 

Of course Zona hit me with "Dude, weren't you yesterday ?"

One & only time I'll probably ever go. 

Good Show with TONS to see and Buy.

I left with one thing only.

A Plan.

A-Jay

 

[Catt]

We have a Sport & RV show which only features boats most of which are saltwater & Campers/RVs.

 

[gim]

13 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

most of which was spent crawling in & around

a couple of Pro-V Bass boats.

 

That's such a smart idea.  Boat and sport shows are the only place with hundreds of boats lined up to get in, touch, and look at in person.  I did the same thing when I seriously considering what model and brand of mod V aluminum bass boat to buy in 2015.  Heck, I just like going to look at boats even though I really do not intend to buy one at this point.

 

I will admit lately though, there has been less fishing boats and more recreational boats on the floor.  Not a big fan.

[Mobasser]

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

That's such a smart idea.  Boat and sport shows are the only place with hundreds of boats lined up to get in, touch, and look at in person.  I did the same thing when I seriously considering what model and brand of mod V aluminum bass boat to buy in 2015.  Heck, I just like going to look at boats even though I really do not intend to buy one at this point.

 

I will admit lately though, there has been less fishing boats and more recreational boats on the floor.  Not a big fan.

The last time I went to the KC show, they had very few fishing boats. Mostly huge boats- that very few folks could afford...

[Spankey]

For me I have to take the ride to Greater Philly Area, Harrisburg or Allentown Area.  The drive is no big deal. But the show have really degraded over the years. The ones at BPS may still be decent but I have not been to one there in a long while. Miss the St. Croix Factory Dealer not being there in mY area shows, discounts are great. 

[Bluebasser86]

I use to look forward to the Sport's Show every winter, but rarely ever go anymore. There's so little fishing and hunting gear anymore, it's not worth the hassle and money. 

 

I remember meeting Harold Ensley when I was a kid, I was probably 6-8 years old. Talked to him for a hour or more. I loved fishing then just like I do now and use to watch his show on TV on Sunday mornings. I still have the hat he signed for me. We talked like old friends every year until he stopped coming because his health declined. 

[Choporoz]

COVID and snowstorms wiped out last couple years, but Richmond VA fishing expo is usually decent.  They bring in the BPS tank and always have a few bass pros over the weekend.  I've had chance to talk with Davy Hite, Jacob Powroznik, John Crews....met Bobby Uhrig at a couple, along with Bizz Bait guy (sorry, I don't recall his name)...and others.  Not a bad way to spend a January Sunday. 

[Alex from GA]

When I lived in So Cal I fished mostly in salt water so the Fred Hall Show was a yearly thing with me.  We moved to the Atlanta area 20+ years ago and there was a fishing show every winter that I went to until it expired.  It was a lot of fly fishing with very little bass people.  Now all I do all winter is fish.

[TOXIC]

As a rule, the old Bass O Rama that used to be held at the Richmond Raceway that in its heyday, filled 3 huge buildings, slowly went downhill and finally moved to the fairgrounds in Doswell.  I used to pull boats down for a local Ranger dealer and they ended up cutting way back because of the amount the venue charged for floor space.  We also set up a booth for the guide service for a while.  Fishing vendors got thin and there were more siding, pots and pans and sham wow salesmen there.  Prices went up because of the booth space and you got better deals at bass pro and Cabelas during their spring classic sales.  Local shops like Greentop also ran sales during the event. As a distraction for the winter blues it was ok but really no deals. 

[Columbia Craw]

The annual show in February is held in Portland Oregon.  It’s all salmon, trout, steelhead and Kokanee.  Bass amounts to less than five percent and that includes reel reps and electronics.  I worked two booths six years ago for a dealer rep buddy.  What a freaking zoo.  It was not a good time.

[Log Catcher]

We used to have a boat and rv show here. also had pickup trucks and some fishing stuff. There hasn't been one here in two or three years now. Between Covid and major renovations going on where they held the show it ended. This show was going downhill and got to where it wasn't very good. One show I went to I got to watch Rick Clunn do a fishing demo and got to talk to him for a few minutes after the demo.

[Eric 26]

I’m not sure if it will be held this year but Tinley Park High School used to host a fishing show that was actually well done with good attendance and just generally fun. Covid had canceled it the past few years and it’s my understanding the main gentleman Rich Komar who was instrumental in setting the show up is no longer involved in getting the show together. Waiting to hear if it will take place this year.

[r83srock]

I hear you. Green Bay used to have a good one every year that dad and I would go to. It dwindled over the years. And got lumped into the hunting show. I know Madison still has one. Bit of a drive for me though. I remember my family going to the worlds fishing fair at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield in the early 90s, meeting all the pros as a 6 year old. Guido Hibdon stopped an interview to sign a hat for us and talk fishing with my dad. Dad still brings that up.

 

Our local sport shop has a massive sale every august and our bass club has a cookout for the shop. We get a huge discount during the sale as a club which is nice! It’s almost the only place I shop anymore. The last Elite series winner is sponsored by this shop and stopped by with his truck and boat. Hung out with our crew for awhile and loaded up on burgers and sun drop. The local shop is the best thing we have got going by a mile.

[TOXIC]

I will add to my post that it’s loads more fun to go to the multiple fishing flea markets when they pop up around here.  Great deals and lots of attendees.