Anyone going to the Sportsman's Expo this weekend?

[Ronin13]

I've never been, and saw an ad for it this morning. Talked to the wife about maybe going on Sunday after church. Just curious, is it worth the price of admission? We're wanting to do some more camping this summer. Having never been, is there a bunch of cool stuff to see/get into, or is it overall just meh?
Anyone else planning on going?

[spqrzilla]

Haven't been in years. Stopped when they did not give out coon urine in the swag bag ....

[Ronin13]

Haven't been in years. Stopped when they did not give out coon urine in the swag bag ....

73111

[colorider]

Stopped goIng years ago. Last time I went it seemed the majority of vendors were hunting or fishing outfitters.

[spqrzilla]

Ronin13

73112

[Ronin13]

Ronin13

73112

[ROFL1]
That's a good one!

[Guylee]

Seems like 75% is just people trying to sell you hunting and fishing trips, but there is still some good stuff there. Haven't been in nearly 10 years though.

[spqrzilla]

Ronin13

But yes, I do miss the coon urine giveaway.

[StagLefty]

Stopped for mostly the same reasons as above-outfitters,fishing trips etc.

[Ronin13]

Stopped for mostly the same reasons as above-outfitters,fishing trips etc.

So what you're saying is I should go, submit friends' info, and they'll get inundated with call from these companies?
I only joke about that because it took 4 phone calls from Stevenson Chevrolet to get them to stop calling after some friends gave them my info at the Stock Show 2 years ago.

[crays]

If you're not looking for an Alaska or other fishing trip or guided hunt, I'd say skip it and spend admission/parking on dinner/drinks somewhere.

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[asystejs]

Last year the discount coupons from the Cabelas booth made it worth the effort.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I’m planning on going probably Saturday with the family.
Mostly because I’m still a fly-fishing newbie, so I was hoping to look more into that.

[StagLefty]

So what you're saying is I should go, submit friends' info, and they'll get inundated with call from these companies?
I only joke about that because it took 4 phone calls from Stevenson Chevrolet to get them to stop calling after some friends gave them my info at the Stock Show 2 years ago.

Hahaha That may be the only good reason to go [Beer]

[spqrzilla]

I’m planning on going probably Saturday with the family.
Mostly because I’m still a fly-fishing newbie, so I was hoping to look more into that.

Can I have your coon urine? You know .... if you get any.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Can I have your coon urine? You know .... if you get any.

Yep!

[Sawin]

If you're not looking for an Alaska or other fishing trip or guided hunt, I'd say skip it and spend admission/parking on dinner/drinks somewhere.

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Funny you’d say that because that’s exactly why I’m going! My wife suggested that my aging stepfather and I go up there for the salmon run this year and I’m gonna see about taking her up on that offer.

[def90]

I’m planning on going probably Saturday with the family.
Mostly because I’m still a fly-fishing newbie, so I was hoping to look more into that.You missed the fly fishing show at the merchandise mart last weekend then I take it.. Looking at the vendor list for the sportsmans show it seems like the bulk of the booths are outfitters and not so much gear related.

Just a heads up.. Rocky Mountain in Boulder has "fish alongs" every month. I fished Cheeseman last Sunday with them. The owner of the shop and a few of the guides/employees take you out to random locations and provide instruction and even gear/flies if you don't have the right stuff. At the end of the day they grill up burgers and brats, was a great time.. and it was Free!

I left a case of beer for the guides which was much appreciated.



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[lex137]

I went today, it’s fun, Colorado parks and wildlife have fun things that my girls could do! Lots of guided fishing, hunting, etc like everyone one said. There is a lot of things to see, bought my NRA lifetime membership today since they had deals.

[brutal]

You missed the fly fishing show at the merchandise mart last weekend then I take it.. Looking at the vendor list for the sportsmans show it seems like the bulk of the booths are outfitters and not so much gear related.

Just a heads up.. Rocky Mountain in Boulder has "fish alongs" every month. I fished Cheeseman last Sunday with them. The owner of the shop and a few of the guides/employees take you out to random locations and provide instruction and even gear/flies if you don't have the right stuff. At the end of the day they grill up burgers and brats, was a great time.. and it was Free!

I left a case of beer for the guides which was much appreciated.



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That's funny. So catch and release?

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

You missed the fly fishing show at the merchandise mart last weekend then I take it.. Looking at the vendor list for the sportsmans show it seems like the bulk of the booths are outfitters and not so much gear related.


I did, yeah. :( I definitely knew about it, but it became a compromise as my wife and I were going to the RV show instead with some friends. Will do it next year for sure. May try to hit the F3 film show in Boulder in a few months, though. Are you heading to that?

I’m actually less interested in gear than just seeing it and maybe listening to a few talks. Friend of a friend is giving one today I’m interested in. I see TFO has a casting booth too, and the rod I’m interested in next is a TFO, so I want to see if they have it.


Just a heads up.. Rocky Mountain in Boulder has "fish alongs" every month. I fished Cheeseman last Sunday with them. The owner of the shop and a few of the guides/employees take you out to random locations and provide instruction and even gear/flies if you don't have the right stuff. At the end of the day they grill up burgers and brats, was a great time.. and it was Free!

I left a case of beer for the guides which was much appreciated.


Nice! I’m always leery about just showing up at something like that being so neophyte - but Arbor Anglers does the same down here in Golden, and I think they mostly hit Deckers or Buff Creek in summer. I’ve not so much as even stopped in the shop, though.

I just don’t get to fish as much as I wish :( - but I have done a few guided trips, so I’m always on the lookout for that, especially tying into vacations or long weekends away with the fam. :)

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

What do you think of the TFO Lefty Signature II? Place online has it 20% off for 4 days. Been thinking about it a while.

[def90]

What do you think of the TFO Lefty Signature II? Place online has it 20% off for 4 days. Been thinking about it a while.

Honestly I just have a cheap Orvis kit that was a 4 piece break down rod that came with a reel and a case. I travel around the state a bit for work so I can easily throw it in my work truck and get a little fishing in when I have some off time. From what I have been told by the guys at Rocky Mtn is that in order to get good at fly fishing you just need to get out on a weekly basis and figure out what works and doesn't work. You probably aren't going to figure it out or catch much if you are only going a few times a year... which makes these trips they host a nice little boost to the learning process.

On the Cheeseman trip last weekend I landed a 16 inch brown and a 16 inch rainbow and had a few others on.. I'm sure I wouldn't have caught any of them without them showing me what to use and so on..

Their next trip is on the 21st to the Blue River.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Honestly I just have a cheap Orvis kit that was a 4 piece break down rod that came with a reel and a case. I travel around the state a bit for work so I can easily throw it in my work truck and get a little fishing in when I have some off time. From what I have been told by the guys at Rocky Mtn is that in order to get good at fly fishing you just need to get out on a weekly basis and figure out what works and doesn't work. You probably aren't going to figure it out or catch much if you are only going a few times a year... which makes these trips they host a nice little boost to the learning process.

On the Cheeseman trip last weekend I landed a 16 inch brown and a 16 inch rainbow and had a few others on.. I'm sure I wouldn't have caught any of them without them showing me what to use and so on..

Their next trip is on the 21st to the Blue River.

1/21? You going?
I'm sure they are right about it - as with anything, if you don't practice, you'll suck.
I have a cheap Redington kit, so it likely isn't even as nice as yours.


Show was fun. Packed to get in. Family had a good time. My deal of the day was this Patagonia rain jacket I've been wanting for a while that I got for ~50% off. Also booked a trip with a fly shop I liked that I had to cancel on last year due to weather, that was 50% off too.
Learned some cool things at the lectures. [Beer]

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Oh, and no urine.

[spqrzilla]

Ahem [fail]

[CO Hugh]

I've never been, and saw an ad for it this morning. Talked to the wife about maybe going on Sunday after church. Just curious, is it worth the price of admission? We're wanting to do some more camping this summer. Having never been, is there a bunch of cool stuff to see/get into, or is it overall just meh?
Anyone else planning on going?

Too late now but a lot of handouts and booths for tourisim, like Nebraska, Wyoming, and CO state parks, etc.

[def90]

1/21? You going?
I'm sure they are right about it - as with anything, if you don't practice, you'll suck.
I have a cheap Redington kit, so it likely isn't even as nice as yours.


Show was fun. Packed to get in. Family had a good time. My deal of the day was this Patagonia rain jacket I've been wanting for a while that I got for ~50% off. Also booked a trip with a fly shop I liked that I had to cancel on last year due to weather, that was 50% off too.
Learned some cool things at the lectures. [Beer]

Thinking about it.. I have a work meeting up in Silverthorne that Friday so I might just bring my skis as well and make a weekend of it.

[TheSparkens]

What do you think of the TFO Lefty Signature II? Place online has it 20% off for 4 days. Been thinking about it a while.

I am going to jump in on the TFO. I have one in 5wt and for the price its not bad. I have many Sage rods and use them mostly but the TFO stays in my trailer and I use it if I don't fill like going home to pick up the others. I fish every weekend from March to October the TFO is not one of my goto rods but it is great for the price.
I got a great deal at the show on a set of Simms waders and boots from the guys at The Denver Fly Shop. They are a great bunch there look them up.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I am going to jump in on the TFO. I have one in 5wt and for the price its not bad. I have many Sage rods and use them mostly but the TFO stays in my trailer and I use it if I don't fill like going home to pick up the others. I fish every weekend from March to October the TFO is not one of my goto rods but it is great for the price.
I got a great deal at the show on a set of Simms waders and boots from the guys at The Denver Fly Shop. They are a great bunch there look them up.

Nice, ordered. Eager to get it.
Like those Sage rods too. Shop where I got my current set-up hemmed and hawed on selling me one (what the guide used and recommended). Maybe should have. Like a friend’s H3 too, but I’m just not in a place where I can really feel these differences yet. Any thoughts on adding a cheeky tyro to it? Other recs in about that $75 - $130 range?

Will look for Denver Fly Shop one of these days. [Beer] Besides the deal I did get, I’m sort of regretting not getting a Simms jacket for 50% off. Didn’t hesitate at all getting Simms wading boots for full price getting into this. (Edit: Obviously not at the show)