What happened to the Fred Hall Show? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Tman · 03-27-2010, 08:47 PM

This would be the first year the lad and I have not made it to the show...

Feel bad since it always lands on his b-day, but each year I have seen the deals get slimmer and slimmer. The only saving grace has been him spinning wheels and winning something...he already owns the trout pond and the archery tent.

To me, it has lost its appeal. Blame it on the economy and blame it on whatever you want, bottom line, it has lost its appeal. Give us some smokin' deals, and don't charge for admission and guess what, people will spend more. With the cost of parking, and the entrance fee, you are already down some cashola...not like race track season where you can win some back.

Jimmyz123 · 03-27-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tman

This would be the first year the lad and I have not made it to the show...

Feel bad since it always lands on his b-day, but each year I have seen the deals get slimmer and slimmer. The only saving grace has been him spinning wheels and winning something...he already owns the trout pond and the archery tent.

To me, it has lost its appeal. Blame it on the economy and blame it on whatever you want, bottom line, it has lost its appeal. Give us some smokin' deals, and don't charge for admission and guess what, people will spend more. With the cost of parking, and the entrance fee, you are already down some cashola...not like race track season where you can win some back.

Imagine if they had $3 parking, $6 admission, that place would be packed. I'm also thinking that circus thing there also took away from the event.

I'm gonna try and go tomorrow and see some seminars, and see if there are some deals.

dsafety · 03-27-2010, 09:06 PM

TMan said it right. This show was not worth the price of admission. The parking charge was just an insult. If the show promoters want people to come, they have to offer something we want to see. For me, it was not there this year.

I went the first day. Next year, I will wait for advance reports before I consider making the trip.

Bob

old_rookie · 03-28-2010, 08:30 AM

Even after reading these posts, I still plan to go since I haven't been to either show and plan to stop at the OEX booth - especially with the good reports on them. I do plan to park down the street and walk in - yes, I'm that cheap - but it is a nice day and good exercise.

Rob929 · 03-28-2010, 08:35 AM

Wow.. glad I didn't pony up for parking and admission. (which sounded a little steep) I thought about going friday- went fishing instead. It was pretty rough out, and the launch surf was up too. After no lunch, and being a little tired- the swell got to me and I got completely sick.

Maybe I should have gone to the show!

Sounds like they will need to make some changes to turn things around in years to come.

Jimmyz123 · 03-28-2010, 01:35 PM

I went back to the show today as I was walking to the front this guy who was ahead of me asks if I'm going to the show. I say yes, and he thgen offers me a free ticket. I took him up on it sure. I proceeded to the area where Jim Sammons was giving his seminar, a very cool seminar by the way. After that I went looking for some deals on line. Turners had some O.K. prices. I hing out picked up Uni-Better and called it a day. I spent $40 on the day, that's not too bad. I was for sure a great weather day to be there.

old_rookie · 03-28-2010, 04:28 PM

It was more than I expected - have never been to one of these shows so I have nothing to compare to. I thought it was great to see OEX guys right at the entrance. Talked to Rik about kayaks, roof racks - he offered great advice - good guy. Plenty of boats to see and climb around. I thought it was cool to have the jumping-in-the-water dogs. The seminars were ok - there was on next to the Hobie booth - one seminar was hard to hear. Sat in on the swimbait seminar - not really much info on swimbaits. A lot of sales booths - a lot that had nothing to do with fishing, boating or hunting. Did anyone else see the foldable boat?

Anthony179 · 03-28-2010, 08:33 PM

Went out to the Del Mar show for the first time. I like the Long Beach set up better. Did stop at OEX and talked to Doug for a while about fishing LJ. Never fished LJ but after talking to him, I'll give it a try some day.

Jimmyz123 · 03-28-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_rookie

Did anyone else see the foldable boat?

A friend of mine has one, they are pretty cool.

Lord Matthew34 · 03-31-2010, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyz123

A friend of mine has one, they are pretty cool.

That same friend of yours went down to OEX KM on Tuesday and worked with Rik to set the frame work on a bait tank for the Porta-Slayer...

I thought the Del Mar show was lame. Only saving grace was Jim Sammons seminar on landing big fish from the yak

03-27-2010, 08:47 PM	#1
Tman BRTF...bought & paid... Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,247	This would be the first year the lad and I have not made it to the show... Feel bad since it always lands on his b-day, but each year I have seen the deals get slimmer and slimmer. The only saving grace has been him spinning wheels and winning something...he already owns the trout pond and the archery tent. To me, it has lost its appeal. Blame it on the economy and blame it on whatever you want, bottom line, it has lost its appeal. Give us some smokin' deals, and don't charge for admission and guess what, people will spend more. With the cost of parking, and the entrance fee, you are already down some cashola...not like race track season where you can win some back. __________________ Adios Tman Gaffer for Clay the Fishcatcher

03-27-2010, 09:06 PM	#3
dsafety Olivenhain Bob Join Date: May 2008 Location: Olivenhain, CA Posts: 1,122	TMan said it right. This show was not worth the price of admission. The parking charge was just an insult. If the show promoters want people to come, they have to offer something we want to see. For me, it was not there this year. I went the first day. Next year, I will wait for advance reports before I consider making the trip. Bob

03-28-2010, 08:30 AM	#4
old_rookie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santee Posts: 904	Even after reading these posts, I still plan to go since I haven't been to either show and plan to stop at the OEX booth - especially with the good reports on them. I do plan to park down the street and walk in - yes, I'm that cheap - but it is a nice day and good exercise.

03-28-2010, 08:35 AM	#5
Rob929 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 134	Wow.. glad I didn't pony up for parking and admission. (which sounded a little steep) I thought about going friday- went fishing instead. It was pretty rough out, and the launch surf was up too. After no lunch, and being a little tired- the swell got to me and I got completely sick. Maybe I should have gone to the show! Sounds like they will need to make some changes to turn things around in years to come.

03-28-2010, 01:35 PM	#6
Jimmyz123 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,385	I went back to the show today as I was walking to the front this guy who was ahead of me asks if I'm going to the show. I say yes, and he thgen offers me a free ticket. I took him up on it sure. I proceeded to the area where Jim Sammons was giving his seminar, a very cool seminar by the way. After that I went looking for some deals on line. Turners had some O.K. prices. I hing out picked up Uni-Better and called it a day. I spent $40 on the day, that's not too bad. I was for sure a great weather day to be there.

03-28-2010, 04:28 PM	#7
old_rookie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santee Posts: 904	It was more than I expected - have never been to one of these shows so I have nothing to compare to. I thought it was great to see OEX guys right at the entrance. Talked to Rik about kayaks, roof racks - he offered great advice - good guy. Plenty of boats to see and climb around. I thought it was cool to have the jumping-in-the-water dogs. The seminars were ok - there was on next to the Hobie booth - one seminar was hard to hear. Sat in on the swimbait seminar - not really much info on swimbaits. A lot of sales booths - a lot that had nothing to do with fishing, boating or hunting. Did anyone else see the foldable boat?

03-28-2010, 08:33 PM	#8
Anthony179 A.T. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario, CA Posts: 146	Went out to the Del Mar show for the first time. I like the Long Beach set up better. Did stop at OEX and talked to Doug for a while about fishing LJ. Never fished LJ but after talking to him, I'll give it a try some day.