CTFishTalk.com: CT Sportsman Show - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

JiggyWithIt · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 58 Location: Farmington

Well I usually go to the Sportsman show at the Eastern States Expo (Big-E) because its bigger and bigger is better, but I decideed to hold off from last weekend to get some ice time in and support the CT show Mad

What a mistake! Now I'm not complaining but the only thing I really found useful was the CT DEP table which happened to be outside of the show and didn't need a $10 ticket for that and $2 for the boy. I did end up buying a Topo book of CT Lakes at DEP store for $21 which is money well spent. I am an avid hunter/fisherman and I go to these things to spend money and to try and book a fishing/hunting trip and hear a seminar or 2 and my son did have a grand time with sifting out some sand in the water for rocks and fossils for $14 and he also took 12 shots with crosman airgun $2 which was his highlight of the day. Then we got a 3$ pretzel and $6 for a beer and ran into some old friends which is always good! But aside from that my $50+ will be saved next year! We did manage to save $8 by parking on the street! and for 2 hours out of the house a "Grant" isn't too bad as far as money goes these days but I sure wish we were catching some fish instead of shopping to catch some Laughing

HAPPY FISHING Cool

_________________
Its a whole lot more than just being "LUCKY"

Bluegill Terminator · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 538 Location: Plainville

All thoses expos suck now. I went to the big e last year and just walking around cabelas was much better than going there. I don't even bother wasting my money or time any more going to those shows because you learn nothing and everyone is just trying to sell you something not give you any tips or advice.

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi Guys!

I haven't bothered with any of the Sportsman shows for the past 4 years.

The Ct. show is the worst.
The Big E is almost as bad.
The Worster, Ma. show is only slightly better.
The Fly Fishing Shows have been about static for the last 3 years, and some have been totally eliminated
The Syracuse, N.Y. ice fishing show wasn't too bad and I hope it will soon match the quality of the St. Paul show.

All in all the people that put on these shows need to do some serious surveys and get a better handle on what the paying sportsmen/women are looking for.

Charging high entrance fees is a deterent to the sportsmen/women that have interest in attending these shows.

The exhibitors are also charged higher fees so there are less and less of them at the shows to exhibit their products.

Its a very sad situation Exclamation

SeaDog1

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

Have to agree with y'all.
I bagged both shows this season as well, went Snow shoein/rabbit hunting instead.
The fast few years, the Big E has been turkey calls and Goiun Res fish charters. the Gouin Res, must have boat traffic like Long Island Sound on July 4th !!!

The Hartford show has been a dinky waste since it left the basement of the Hartford Civic Center.

Ive heard that the sportsman show in Suffern NY is the show of shows on the East Coast. it is coming up... me and a buddy are debating on heading there. OR making a pilgrimage to BassProShops in Foxboro, and hitting Cabela's on the ride home.

Bluegill Terminator · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 538 Location: Plainville

Go to Bass Pros in Foxboro then hit Cabelas. It will be much better and the money you save you can by more fishing and hunting stuff. Although I might make a trip to that ice fishing show sound intresting.