Just Fishing

Tinley Park

Sun, February 12, 2012

Twenty degree air temps and wind chills in the single digits meant we had to play inside this weekend. Emma and I went bowling today but that’s another story. Cam has been bugging me to do an outdoors show this winter. We didn’t get to the muskie show and we didn’t hit the one outside Chicago in Rosemont. Since we’ve done so much fishing throughout this winter I haven’t really felt the need. But with the Tinley Park Show happening this weekend I had to make an exception. This show has always been on the top of my list of favorite outdoors shows. In my opinion the exhibitors here have always offered up some of the best bargins available. I need a bargin to buy. Cam, not so much. But he is learning.

We got to the show about 1 o’clock. We parked in the overflow parking lot and then waited for the shuttle. Neither of us could believe how cold we got waiting just a few minutes for the bus. Once inside we immediately began looking at the different vendors who’s tables were in the halls. All things outdoors were represented.

We decided we’d look around and see what we liked and then come back and purchase. I quickly saw some lures that were on sale that I thought might work for me. Next I came up on some rods. Because these are typically pretty expensive it wasn’t even on my radar for this show. Then I came across a Veritos by Abu Garcia. I’m not really a fan of the white color but the lightness just blew me away. Then I saw it was gonna be 25 bucks cheaper than the price I’ve been seeing and I wanted it. We kept moving.

Next we hit the gym that had the Heartland Booth. Andrew Ragas was there and that lead to an enjoyable, long discussion. I hope we get a chance to fish together this season. As that discussion wore on he mentioned fishing Simms Spinnerbaits. That led him to walking us over to meet Dan Simms a few booths down. After talking a bit Dan was going to work on a bait for me to try. Cam had an idea of one he wanted that he thought would work at Spring and Dan offered to make them up. We headed on knowing we’d be spinning back around to this booth a bit later.

At another booth Cam noticed an extra long pliers that we’d been missing since the ones I had flew into Shabbona this summer while unhooking a muskie. They were only 6 bucks and we quickly bought them. Cam then found a booth selling those hook shaped clips that you put on your fishing hat so we had to have one of those.

In the next hall we saw some Alabama rigs. I am curious about those suckers but wasn’t gonna buy one just yet. While I looked at those Cam found a sign that said MAN CAVE and had to have it. That’s my boy! In another gym we came up on the Camp Smallmouth Booth. Unfortunately Jonn wasn’t in the booth. Actually no one was there. And that says a lot about this show. Everyone enjoys walking around and usually purchasing a few things. Lampe and Bowman were there and we never ran into them. Do you think they were avoiding me!  Here’s a pic of the sign and pliers.

Here’s the Simms Spinnerbait. That’s a winner!

Time was just flying by and we needed to start thinking about wrapping it up. On the way back we stopped by the Simms Booth and Dan gave Cam his bait. He loved it. Then I had to stop and look at the Veritos spinning rod one more time. The guy told me how much guys using them are liking them and I had to have it. While I was buying Cam was looking and found some camo sun glasses. He didn’t buy them and was regretting it as we walked away. I told him to go back and get them as I went and looked at a reel I had seen earlier. When I walked back over Cam said he offered the guy 5 bucks for the glasses that were marked 10 and the guy took it. That’s my boy! Fortunately the guy selling reels needed cash and I didn’t have enough so I didn’t buy the reel I thought would work well on my new rod. It was time to go. We headed back to the shuttle area along with a bunch of other folks. Most had bags of stuff they had bought and the same kinda smiles Cam and I were sporting. What a neat way to spend a winter afternoon.

You can shake off the winter blues by booking a trip with me for the upcoming fishing season. If you want to book but would rather fish during the week I’ll be doing that the week of March 26-30. But don’t be put off by the weekends. Fish can’t read calendars!

Fishing Friend Guide Service 815 433-6109

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