Reflections on the watkins show today

[Sk8man]

JB235 and I went to the show this morning and I was glad I did. I met up with a bunch of LOU folks there and renewed some bonds. Also felt better about not being able to get the boat out when I saw that just everyone (other than about 6 hearty souls out at the south end some for trout and some for perch from the looks of it) were in the same fix as me....misery loves company   It was great to see the spoons flying off the table at Great lakes Lures and Fishy Business' table was tough to get into for the number of people scarfing up the good stuff. It was a real nice show with good prices and a wide selection of things to choose from. I did however feel bad for Fishy (Gerry) because some loser actually stole a brand new Okuma reel from the box while Gerry was busy waiting on customers. Thankfully those folks are the exception to the rule because it is tough enough to run a small business without that S@#$ happening.  It was great meeting a lot of LOU folks I've corresponded with and not had the opportunity to actually meet in person and great to chat with Mike S., Hop, Nick, Joe, and Big Dave and others and I look forward to next year's show. For those of you that haven't yet experienced it I'd just say give it a shot next time but get there early .

Edited March 29, 2015 by Sk8man

[Big Water]

That fact that someone would steal that reel sickens me.  I like to think those people are few and far between, but I'm beginning to believe that might not be the case.  Some people's lack of conscience is truly disturbing.

[Frogger]

Les, agree great event and great people. Always good to see you and others and match the faces. Thanks to Iron Duke and his help matching me up with combos from Hills Valleys n Streams. Great guys awesome deals. Bobs hot colors at FLTackle, holy cow. I'm gonna go broke. That was a great laker mount at Nicks booth Great bunch.

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[Hookedup]

Glad to here the show went well. I wish I could have made it but wasn't going to happen this weekend. Sorry to here about the stolen reel their is no shortage of folks that will rob you blind. Lost every salmon spoon Jason and I had last year out of his boat at the oak. Like I told jason the folks that take them are the same ones that shake your hand on the dock and ask you how the fishing was. Glad the show was a hit and sounds like they had a great turnout. I know their is a whole army of us that are ready to get out. This will be boat prep week for me. Sean

[troutman]

Glad you guys enjoyed the show...pretty good crowd today with lots of stuff to choose from...pass the word and come back next year...always the last Sunday in March...a big thanks to all from the Finger Lakes Trollers Association...see you all next year!!!

[ray koziatek]

rats missed it again ,probly 1/4 of the stuff was what i sold last spring...its nice getting old  all i need now is a speargun , mask and fins

[shakenbake114]

What a dirt bag Les. Gerry is a friend and we worked together at sikorsky. It bothers me that someone had the balls to do that. That show is a great time and there's no need for crap like that.

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[Sk8man]

I fully agree shakenbake. It is hard to understand the mentality of people that do that sort of thing and especially so when it is a small businessman standing right there working to make a go of it....very sick stuff....but these jerks are also the type that break into boats and houses too and then sell your stuff.....like I said..LOSERS.

[Fishy]

Thank you for all of your support. That is the chance you take with displaying a verity of items one sells in their stores. I cant believe the amount of fishing people the Trollers put through the show in just 5 hours. Good job Finger Lake Trollers Ass.

[DJ 17]

Forester Dave and I went as well and had a good time.  It was nice to finally meet Jason from Great Lakes Lure co. 

 

Also, special thanks to Dave from R&R for giving my 3 yr old son and Dave's 5 yr old son each a free lure!  They both loved it and are growing up to be little fisherman.  It is people like him that keep our sport growing.

[rbonnell]

I was there it was a good time got some new gear. I can't understand why people would steel anything from someone. It's people like that that gets things like the shows shut down. Losers

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Edited March 30, 2015 by rbonnell

[JJBat150]

... I did however feel bad for Fishy (Gerry) because some loser actually stole a brand new Okuma reel from the box while Gerry was busy waiting on customers. Thankfully those folks are the exception to the rule because it is tough enough to run a small business without that S@#$ happening...

WTF!  that's just plain sad.  All the more reason to visit the shop and support Fishy

[Iron Duke]

Les, agree great event and great people. Always good to see you and others and match the faces. Thanks to Iron Duke and his help matching me up with combos from Hills Valleys n Streams. Great guys awesome deals. Bobs hot colors at FLTackle, holy cow. I'm gonna go broke. That was a great laker mount at Nicks booth Great bunch.

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It was a great show and had a great time myself. . Frogger it was great meeting you as well and all the others who stopped in the booth to see me... It does however make me sick that people could steal a reel from Fishy... Im sure Karma will catch up to them.. Heres hoping for warm winds and rain so we can all get back out there doing what we enjoy ...

Mike

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[Great Lakes Lure Maker]

Fingerlakes Trollers Association has an outstanding Flea Market. Putting a very large crowd of people in the door for one day, year after year. Congratulations to all the members who contribute their time to make that show such a huge success. 

 

I talked with Fishy this morning and heard he had a reel stolen. That's a shame for that to happen and like someone previously posted, whoever stole it, will have to pay for it in one way or another. Hard enough to pay for the tables, the help, other expenses like fuel, and money to have an inventory. Then you go to a show sell a few hundred in tackle, (which is probably less than $100 in profit) then to have someone steal a reel! That just ruined a small profit for the day and thats just a real shame. 

 

I was glad to see the LOU members I could recognize, and or introduced too. (too many to mention them all)  I apologize for not having the time to spend with most of you. We were SO busy, we lost our minds for 2-3 hrs! Even when I had a moment to think, I couldn't think. Theresa and I kept saying "What the hell just happened"  I was so glad I spent the time to teach Theresa all the sizes and colors as well as my "code" for inventory. She never flinched once and was dealing with 2-3 people at a time. We had over 40 sales in the first hr, Had to buy $50 worth of ones, twice, and still bought all Musky Joes ones as well. I had $40. worth of change and came back with a nickel and 3 pennies. That was the best 5hrs of selling lures I have ever seen, and I did shows all around the Great Lakes from 1987 - 2004. We sold out of about 1/3 of our inventory and some lures were sold out in less than an hr. I must have heard at least 30 times, "I'm so glad to see you making these spoons again"!  You can bet were gonna be back to that one. Fingerlaker Trollers Association has done an incredible job with the growth and the promotion of that show. Great job!

 

On another note, thanks to all of you who asked about my Dad. Things were going well up to the last week. We had him making lures and packaging. He started to get a little wore out after a couple full days and then he got really sick and was in the hospital for a few days. He was hoping to be able to make it, and I wish he had, but he's been getting better and getting his health back, so maybe he will be around more with me this year. He's the biggest reason were re starting this business. He loved making fishing lures and I'd love to see him doing it again. So, Thank you all for your support! It was very overwhelming! 

 

Jason

Edited March 30, 2015 by Great Lakes Lure Maker

[Keep'n it Reel]

That was a good show thanks to all that stopped in and chatted an I can't wait to see everyone on the lake!!! And Jason I hope all is well

With your father it's been a long time since I evens last saw him I do believe it was a fly fishing trip down state he took me on had a blast then best of wishes to him and all that came around tight lines and good luck!!!!

Joe

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[Great Lakes Lure Maker]

Thanks Joe! I will give him your regards. I hope he gets out a little more this year. I really believe the more I can tell him that people ask about him, the more he tries to get out. He was serious about his fishing! Good luck to you and everyone else this year! Can't wait for this to begin! Be safe and good luck!