The boat and sportsman show

[XrapAttack]

Nice talking to JP, big Jim and a bunch of other guys at the show.
I have to say each year the show gets more expensive and ha less to offer. Paying 12 bucks to be able to shop at stores i usually go to does not make sense to me. Also, to all the outfitter out there CHANGE YOUR PICTURES! honestly, do you think people want to see a bunch of old pictures from the 80's on the dock. Why not show recent pictures of fish caught and released in the boat ( just my 2 cents).

Nice looking at all the boats, did not purchase one.. have to wait until the spring. I hope they put the price down for both vendors and showgoers and bring it back to what it was.

my highlite was some good conversations and whoever hired all the workers from the Boater exam place

[steve-hamilton]

i love how the boater exam place hires hot young blonds to do their work....

guess they know who their target market is...

[Kpin]

Sorry I missed ya there XRap, just wasn't in the cards. Sorry to hear it wasn't a great outing for ya but I'm sure the convo's with Big Jim, JP and @ the boaters exam booth made up for it.

[JustinHoffman]

Yep, pretty sad state of affairs.
You could do the whole show in less than 30 minutes, that's for sure. Well, maybe 40, after spending some extra time checking out the boater exam girls. Pretty sad when that to me was the highlight of the show..

Good Fishing,
Justin

[XrapAttack]

the worst part was I already had my card and its good for life...

[soggy bottom boy]

I agree that 12 bucks is steep. I got the weekend pass but couldn't think of a compelling reason to go back. I have promised myself this year was the last time I go.

On the other hand, I did the boating exam. Glad to get the outta the way! And spoke to a the Outoauouais (sp?) outfitter association.

Regarding the girls, at these shows, and car shows, etc., the Hotties help bring people (er, Guys) to the booth.

Soggy.

[joco]

HI all


I went friday.for the all around tour,,,,,,,,,and today again just for fishing stuff building.........

like other said,,,,,,,,,,12 buck$.for this......... and a 5$ for parking,,,17$


we should NOT have to pay for this.........its like going to a big mall whit all the store in it...........its a big show room........so why pay to see there stuff......... .........

it was nice to see j.p ............trophymusky and grumpy........


but you guys can go in gatineau show for nothing..................0$,,,,,there not as manny fishing boat.........not mutch bass boat...but there still some nice one there.........it was bot show this week,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but next week it will be fishing show,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,boat ,,fishing equipement and outfiters............all free again...........to enter and to park.....

THE BEST THING I DID THERE WAS TO JOIN O.F.A.H..............

can t wait to the carp show,,,,,,,

joco

[Walker]

With the $2.00 off coupon from their website it still not worth the $10 for adddmission.Unless you need a boat (show specials) ,also what is with the "OCEAN LINERS" the have, no use going.

[fishmaster]

I was also dissappointed with the quality of the show this year (except the boater exam booth ), $17 dollars just to get in the door ($12 entry $5 parking) for a 20 min tour? It's too bad because some retailers put alot of time and money into the show and if all they hear is poor feedback they may quit coming . I also went to Ed's yesterday it was a great time, good people, good deals, good chicken so I was told(damn diet ) and lots of helpful pro staff, maybe some of the other retailers should try this

[Scum Frog]

The reasons above are the reason why I forget that show ands go to the Carp Sportsmen shows, both spring and fall. They are always a good time!

[mikemicropterus]

It just goes to show the apathy that exists in all of us. The dwindling crowds leads to less exhibitors. Ottawa area is a small market for some of these manufacturers. With a NEW BOAT SHOW, (variation of an already done theme years ago, it only lasted for two years back then and 1700 people are supoposed to keep it going, not if the number of sales don't support it), a Montreal show and a Gatineau show, a Toronto
boat show and a Toronto sportmans show the pie is being sliced up too thin for our economic times, AN(after nortel). The market being what it is, is growing, however the number of people leaving is an issue also. You have tackle shops having their own shows. Why? If you pay $1000 for a booth staff it for 4 days, you should expect a 3 fold return in profits when the numbers don't work anymore for their accountants something must give and usually it is in advertising dollars first. So less shows. I have done shows since 91 and they were starting to go downhill then what you are seeing now is them just hanging on in this area. Obviously this doesn't happen in the GREATER Toronto area, they have 5 times they people to draw on. Or so Bass Pro thought. There were always deals to be made at the show but that slowly dwindled along with the lack of sales. One year by the last day I had the only sale, and I was service manager not a salesman. It has gone from a SPORTSMAN/OUTDOOR show to now a cottage/whatnot show. Bring back the birds of prey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I worked the whole day at Renegade Bass booth and was quite surprised at the lack of people. Maybe the weather, more important it maybe a sign of the times, (ie. I can go visit them on my COMPUTER don't have to go outside and get cold, plus I hope global warming hurries up and gets here so I don't have to close the cottage in September).

[JimW]

I was at the show Friday evening and again Sunday afternoon. Highlight productwise was the new Stratos 375XF multispecies boat and the new Humminbird sonar with the side scanning (very nice!!!).

I do agree for $17 there is not much to see, 1 of the 3 buildings only had big cruisers, and there are not many lodges or tackle shops, the Carp Show is definitely a better show to buy tackle. I am in the market to purchase a boat this fall or next winter so I was checking them out, which is easier than travelling to the different dealers.

I agree with Mike the Ottawa Market is not huge and with all the shows in Toronto and I believe a show this weekend in Montreal as well, and the new boat show last weekend (which I loved!!!) show patrons are getting pretty spread out.

The Ottawa Show is trying to be a boat show, fishing show, cottage show, and sportsman show all in one and does a relatively poor job at all of them.

I did have a good time visiting with lots of old and new friends, and besides admission and parking I spent a whole $3 on a candy apple for my daughter.

Hopefully next year will be better, or maybe I'll skip it and go to Toronto.

JimW

[Wallyboss]

Three years ago was my last time at that show. I was going there to buy a depth finder. So i said to myself there's going to be alot to pick from.Oh I was wrong. 5 different tackle shop there was 4 depth finders in the whole place and 3 of them were the same and the other one, was crap.
So I made my decision not to go to the Sportsman show ever again. Wait for Carp!!!!!


Dan

[Coyote]

Have to agree with you guys on this one,could of done the whole place in a hour, stayed for big jims seminar which was great, and bought a few things and then time to go, .met up with eyetracker and chatted with him for a while. i didn't go last year but went to the one in carp instead,probably something i should of done again this year, seen a fish-hawk boat for sale just wondering if it was bobbers and fish-hawk old boat??it had a sold sign on it. See you all at the carp show.

[Wall-I-Guy]

Toronto got that way too! Used to love getting a group of guys to head down the 401. Hasn't been worth it for the last 5 years plus...

Ottawa has gone the same direction over the last few years as well..