bigugli

Many of us can remember back 25-40 years back when the Sportsman Show was really different. It was a different time and a different animal. It was packed full with small tackle shops, independents. manufacturers. They are all long gone. Just like most of your small town, mom and pop, bait and tackle shops. Gone.

Todays shows are for the big players and for those with deep pockets. Yes the promoters try to bring in small vendors, but as Craig pointed out it takes a lot of money with small hope of return.

At least in a trade show you are paying to place your product before a known audience of buyers and sellers where the goal is not the single sale at the show, but the addition of long term customers you have managed to attract, and the retention of existing contacts.

I gave it a good thought to go into the show but it cost alot to get into a show in T.O. And I would have to sell alot to just cover the expense for hotel food and fuel for 4 days. If it was cheaper for us small guys then I'm sure they would get more different booths into the show.

They tried for 2 years to convince me to hop onboard. Just could not see a way I would come out ahead.

Fees can range to $3000 per season for the lot. Many parks have additional service fees over and above that. Some have stipulations on age and size of seasonal units. Many RV parks and conservation areas can also have long waiting lists for seasonal sites.

Haven't got my fiil of icefishing yet. Then again, I never got my fill of softwater last year either.

Down in Niagara, a few prime locales were ruined after fishing show episodes were filmed there, complete with location details.

 

 

And before anyone says 40lbs is a record and I'm lying... I'm sure a lot of other carpers will confirm the record is broken multiple times every year... Just nobody wants to kill the fish to get the record...

 

In L Ontario, it is amazing to see pods of 4' long carp. Even better to have occasionally caught them, and I have never thought to put one on a scale. Then again I never had a big enough scale.

 

 

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Don't think the Mrs would much appreciate me leaving her alone at home.

Clinic visits Friday. Hoping to get there during the weekend.

26" carp

I'm used to gas in Niagara being 5 cents more than Orillia

I'm planning on going. Free tickies would be sweet

My son still has not got his yet. 6 weeks later

Hey thats not 12, I see 15?

13" perch

 

I've had 2 cards compromised in the past at two different no name gas stations. Needless to say, I stick to the major brands now.

That is not always a guarantee. Gas bars for one chain in Niagara got hit by pros. They had piggybacked readers that copied card data and duplicate PIN numbers. They disappeared before they were caught, but not before maxxing out hundreds of credit cards and draining many bank accounts

2 perch

Looks like an awesome GTG

CAG gtg's are always fun.

Got out for 4 hours with the son today. Off to a quiet back water for some quality perch.

In the end 6 nice fish for what was a slow bite

 

 

You seem to have a way with the words, I dont sea a lock.LOL

 

Those of us that got to go to the REAL show,back when,and get to see it now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,MY OH MY.

 

This is not a dish to those that were not back when,but what you all see today,might be exciting to you,but theres no,(im going to spell this wrong) carizma,magical ,chill tingling,cant wait to go.. I felt alive when I was a kid going to the show with my pop,and brothers and sis. Mudder stayed home. It was like christmas.

 

Why do I feel like Im repeating myself?

Me mudder and grandmudder would lead the charge to the show. THey loved everything about the old show.

I dunno?

I kinda miss swinging my 15lb maul and sending chunks of wood flying through the air. Got lots of peace and quiet that way as no one would come within 20'

Perfect night for tying streamers though. All peaceful and quiet, and the Mrs is resting comfortably

Cookies and cocoa sounds pretty good!! Can you send some of that tasty stuff up here?

Sorry, My wee pup just doesn't quite make the grade as a St Bernard

Just sitting in the cosy warmth with fresh baked cookies and hot cocoa, and larfing at everyone else

seems strange to me, I mean I am sure these guys were up to no good and were likely fooling around on the ice. We have all seen it on the ice, but I dunno, something just feels weird about it. What if they were riding ATV's? or snowmobiles on the ice? Would it all of a sudden be ok to be bombing around on the lake? What if it was software season and in boats doing donuts or tail walks in a boat? Like I said, just seems weird to me.

All it takes is a 911 call of actions deemed reckless endangerment involving a motor vehicle.

Even in soft water. Watched a pair of jerkskis swamp a canoe and called 911. Had the pleasure of watching the OPP collect them at the boat ramp after helping the canoists out of the water.