Enjoyed my first Chicago show thanks to Chad and Tim D. for putting up with me, and it was good seeing other MMA guys and some other great guys as well. On the baits…well I have a lot to learn and this show and other experiences are giving me more appreciation for the top quality handmade wood baits like Tru-Glides and Mike's Talonz line etc., as well as top-of-the line bucktails like VooDoo tails. These lures are worth every penny. On the other hand, I have this strange growing resentment for mass produced made in China baits that are of poor quality in many if not most cases, yet we get gouged on the prices for them.
Loved the show and experience but my uninformed opinion is that the trend is too much towards cheap plastic garbage with an unwarranted high price tag, would love to see (and buy) more of the quality baits from smaller manufacturers.
Did anyone see these at the show? I would like to get my hands on one to see what it's like. The new 7" Magnum Zara Spook…
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I second Joe's comments completely… Too much China CRAP. I reduced the number of lures purchased by 80% over other years. Not much really caught my eye… I picked up a few "staple" baits and one or two newer/possibly gimmicky baits…
At the swap I picked up 3, but plan to turn 2 on eBay. Sold a ton though… The stuff that didn't sell is on it's way to eBay… Along with even more rejects from further downsizing.
Didn't watch/listen to any presentations, which I will probably try to do more of in the future.
Good to see everyone and meet up with freinds.
Its always a great time, I just love being surrounded by baits! That swap is still a riot, it will probably be out-growing that bowling alley before long. I wish I would have had more time at both though, should have gone down earlier for the show, and had to leave early from the swap to goose hunt the next morning. As it was we didn't sleep anyway before hunting, so should have just stayed for the extra couple hours at the swap.
Did Doug Johnson ever show up later?? I never saw him and his 1500 baits at the swap… And did anyone catch Mehiskomer's footage of a "5 or 6 foot muskie" he claims to have lost?
I thought the show was ok. I always have fun! I didn't feel that there wasn't anything new and outstanding that caught my eye. The swap meet was great and as Duke mentioned is outgrowing the space.
Show admission – $20
Musky baits – $180
Food & room and gas – $100
Watching a chinese man turn a large pile of dough in to an incredible bunch of noodles with only his bare hands – Priceless
Liked the show as always. Only bought one lure. Small Curly Sue. Wanted to get the large size, but the new "stretchy" plastic version of the large size won't be available until this summer. I decided to wait. Got a nice deal on a new set of Ocean Vues (lost a set a glasses while releasing my last Muskie). Planning to buy a couple of the Shad Clones for use at Green River.
Really liked Chad Cain's poolside demo on bucktails. Saric's talk gave me some ideas too.
All in all, had a great time.
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