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Posts: 22
| If you only could go to one, which would you choose? Milwaukee or wausau? |
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Posts: 370
Location: On the River | Wausau |
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Posts: 32876
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Milwaukee |
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Posts: 523
Location: NW WI | Drive for me is the same Wausau vs Twin cities. Got a family cabin in Shawano county that I stay at, so for that reason I pick Wausau.
Without that option I'd probably brave the MN traffic and pound a box of Burnett Dairy deep fried cheese curds there and back.
I'm not driving to Milwaukee unless its extremely important
Edited by 7.62xJay 12/9/2022 8:43 PM
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Posts: 32876
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The Milwaukee show:
2023 Muskie Expo Milwaukee
February 17-19, 2023
Washington County Fair Park
3000 Pleasant Valley Rd.
West Bend, WI 53095
West Bend |
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Posts: 2258
Location: SE, WI. | I usually attend the Milwaukee Show. If I lived closer to Wausau I would attend that Show. Wausau show, Muskie clubs Man Up and host a Lure Swap. The Muskie Clubs around Milwaukee don’t seem to want to Run a Lure Swap anymore;(. Haven’t had lure Swap In A few years for Milwaukee Show! JD |
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Posts: 20211
Location: oswego, il | Find a way to go to both. |
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Posts: 3147
| What any of the shows need is,,,bring back the poolside demos!!!
Bucktails are averaging close to $30, topwaters $40,,glide baits $ the skies the limit.
YouTube's don't show the whole story I want to see these things working in person.
Edited by happy hooker 12/10/2022 6:30 AM
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Posts: 22
| Wish going to both would be possible, but my work schedule won't allow it. After years of resisting the urge to muskie fish, I finally caved and decided to spend the money to do it mid summer this year. I knew it would be bad, but it was a crazy expensive summer. Just glad I will have time for 1 expo. |
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| Have not been to Milwaukee show since it moved to West Bend, but I am sure it easier to get to, less traffic.
I live an hour away from Wausau now, so have gone there. The folks that run Wausau are really friendly and welcoming. I don't really need anything this winter, but will check out the seminars. |
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Posts: 523
Location: NW WI | BustedTip - 12/10/2022 5:17 AM
Wish going to both would be possible, but my work schedule won't allow it. After years of resisting the urge to muskie fish, I finally caved and decided to spend the money to do it mid summer this year. I knew it would be bad, but it was a crazy expensive summer. Just glad I will have time for 1 expo.
Well welcome to one of the best rabbit holes that life has to offer. Your in good hands here.
As far as the show goes, it can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to. The seminars and getting to talk to guides,bait manufacturers, and personalities are the attraction. Walking around with a beer in your hand and people watching like your invisible in a Walmart is an added bonus. What'll likely hurt your pocket book is some of the smaller manufacturers that show up whose baits can't be just bought anywhere. |
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Posts: 20211
Location: oswego, il | BustedTip - 12/10/2022 5:17 AM
Wish going to both would be possible, but my work schedule won't allow it. After years of resisting the urge to muskie fish, I finally caved and decided to spend the money to do it mid summer this year. I knew it would be bad, but it was a crazy expensive summer. Just glad I will have time for 1 expo.
I get it, I've had 6 Saturdays off this year. At work now. This will be the first year since I took up musky fishing in 1997 that I have not had the opportunity to throw a musky bait. I will have to try and do Sunday trips to Indiana next year.
Edited by ToddM 12/10/2022 11:24 AM
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Posts: 1319
| Living in Colorado a trip out to a show cost the same as a trip up to the woods for the most part. I'd rather fish then shop, I do wish I could come back and rub elbows with all of you. (that would be fun) I used to go to a local show every January but it's been 20 years since I did that. |
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Posts: 1141
Location: NorthCentral WI | I haven't attended the Milwaukee show since the Wausau show started, mainly because I live 3 miles from the Wausau Convention & Expo Center. Most of the major manufacturers are in Wausau too and pretty much anything else can be ordered online. |
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Posts: 351
Location: Vilas County, WI | Just my opinions...
Milwaukee is much larger; I can easily spend a half day there or more. I like to do grab a beer, take a couple laps around, then go back and talk to who I want to see/buy from, etc.
Wausau is much smaller and I can be in and out of there in an hour. Last year, Wausau didn't even fill the whole convention center. Wausau has more of the ma and pa bait builders; lots of bucktail makers. I go there looking for a hidden gem... something slightly different that not everyone is throwing.
If I had to choose one, it would be Milwaukee for sure. However, I do enjoy the swap meet in Wausau. |
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Posts: 41
| Milwaukee... We drive a couple of hours and make a day of it there. Usually stay at a motel close by and have a few beers and dinner. If I can do both shows, I will go to Wausau too. To add to that I would go to Minnesota too. I liked that show alot, but I think it was because I had never been there before. |
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Posts: 143
| Went to the Wausau show in March 2021, was not that impressed. Had to pick up a replica from LAX because they cancelled the one in the Twin Cities.
It could have been because of pandemic-related issues. I'd be willing to give it a second chance.
Edited by gimruis 12/14/2022 7:55 AM
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Posts: 217
Location: ladysmith, wi | Wausau, Many baitmakers there that do not attend the other shows with hard to find baits plus most of the big boys are there also (T.R.O, CHAOS, MUSKY INNOVATIONS, LAKE X, ECT) Beverages on the floor with a beer cart girl, great seminar speakers, cool giveaway's and a killer swap meet on Sat night. All the expo's are worth going to. |
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Posts: 217
Location: ladysmith, wi | gimruis, 2021 was pandemic yr with Wausau being 1/2 its normal size but was the only Musky Expo that yr.
Edited by semper esox 12/19/2022 1:26 PM
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| semper esox - 12/19/2022 1:20 PM
Wausau, Many baitmakers there that do not attend the other shows with hard to find baits plus most of the big boys are there also (T.R.O, CHAOS, MUSKY INNOVATIONS, LAKE X, ECT) Beverages on the floor with a beer cart girl, great seminar speakers, cool giveaway's and a killer swap meet on Sat night. All the expo's are worth going to.
I thought Wausau, for its size, has some excellent speakers, but I have not been to Chicago or Minnesota, so have a limited frame of reference. |
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Posts: 943
| Both are very good shows and worth going to. Lot of smaller bait makers at Wausau that dont come to the bigger shows So, you can find some great baits not available anywhere else.
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com
Edited by Jeff Hanson 12/20/2022 4:42 PM
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