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| Wondering what you all think is the better of the two to attend? Is there more vendors and either? which venue do you feel is better? Ive never been to either but am planning to hit up one or the other.
Thanks. |
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Posts: 3150
| I have been to the Chicago show every year since 99 we drive over from Minnesota,,I go to the Milwaukee show about every two years. I would never miss Chicago it's the first show of the year which means your going to get the best crack at all the baits you want and the new custom colors and the products that have the attention of the off season internet buzz, alot of baits get sold there and it's only 30 some days till Milwaukee so sometimes a bait or color or product that sold well the maker of it may have trouble getting enough produced in time.
Great seminars,a fabulous fun swap meet on Sat nite.
Great local food.
Milwaukee is a fun show too,,however this year it moves to a new venue so I would wait a year to see how it goes.
Whichever one you choose I suggest booking a room at the designated show hotel,,it's usually cheaper with a show rate and it's definitely funnier because the whole place is filled with musky guys you can hang out with in the lobby at night or at breakfast in the mourning.
Edited by happy hooker 12/14/2015 11:47 AM
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Posts: 576
Location: Elk Grove Village, IL & Phillips, WI | The old Chicago show is gone and now we have the same person that runs Milwaukee doing the Chicago show. I'm not thrilled by the Sears Centre because you are basically in the halls around the arena and it's very cramped. Harper college seemed to be laid out better and I think it had better seminars. The best place I feel was the really old Chicago show that was in Villa Park at The Odeum Expo Center.
I've never been to the Milwaukee show, but many have said it has surpassed any of the Chicago shows.
Edited by KenK 12/14/2015 11:48 AM
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Posts: 2024
| Never been to either, but want to go to both someday. But my true intention is to bait Sled into the comment about shows I know will follow... |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Good points by hooker on special custom baits, and I also agree with Ken that the new Chicago venue of the Sears Centre has a odd configuration. I have always attended both shows, just to get out and talk muskies, and prefer the Milwaukee show. However, this year the Milwaukee show has moved to West Bend, so who knows what may change?? Kinda bummed about the move out of State Fair Park, but I will give the new setup a try. Hope it is not a step backward! In many ways both shows are more similar than different. Rollie and Helen's at one, Thorne Brother's at the other, if that matters to you. Either way, its just great to see all the vendors and talk a bit, pick up a few must have baits, and the swap is good time as well. |
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Posts: 20231
Location: oswego, il | Go to both. Each have unique vendors. Being a fib the new Wisconsin location is farther and takes away some of the other cool reasons to be in the west allis area so I am undecided whether to go.
The odeom was part of the musky extreme expo, I think they only had one or two shows there. The original Chicago musky show was in Westmont on Ogden ave and if anyone remembers that parking headache, everyone was glad they moved to Harper although no beer was a hot topic.
Last year was the first for the sears center. Good people running the show. I am sure it will be even better this year.
Edited by ToddM 12/14/2015 2:47 PM
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Posts: 1220
| Obviously not sure what building they have at the Washington County Fairgrounds, but everything up there is pretty new, roomy, and really nice. I've been to several events there personally and am positive it's going to be a total upgrade from State Fair Park. Probably won't have to stop and pay five bucks to park either?? |
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Posts: 2283
Location: SE, WI. | I believe the Washington county fair grounds will be a Plus for the Muskie show . Less traffic issues, better parking, also the 84 th street on and off ramps from I-94 are currently close. Speaking to a local vendor, He thinks it is a better Location overall for the Milwaukee Show. JD
Edited by jdsplasher 12/14/2015 7:45 PM
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Posts: 340
Location: Lake County Illinois | I always attend both Chicago and Milwaukee shows and think both have always been good shows. Chicago being first I do try to load up on customs and hard to find baits thinking they might be gone by the Milwaukee show. Although Milwaukee might have custom colors just for that show so I end up buying just as much there and things I forgot to get in Chicago.Also being a FIB as Todd had mentioned,Im not sure if im willing to drive an extra 45 minutes or however further it is past Milwaukee and just might load up at the Chicago show.I know alot of Illinois guys are disappointed at the further drive and had their routines in Milwaukee as far as Food and bars and such but it is what it is. I still might end up going. Maybe a FIB shuttle with beverages to the new location would be nice. ToddM will you be our FIB shuttle driver ? LOL
Edited by Ray Fuller 12/15/2015 2:34 AM
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| Given the road construction around Milwaukee and the relative ease of getting to the new location south of West Bend, I don't think the time difference would be that great and the frustration level would be much less than if you were attempting to get to the old location at state fair park. |
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Posts: 20231
Location: oswego, il | It would.have to be a covert unmarked fib shuttle with fake WI plates otherwise the jeers would be louder than a screen pass to Kuhn. |
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Posts: 150
Location: Appleton, WI | ToddM we know the reason you go to any of the shows is the sat. drinking that occurs after the swap meet. |
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Posts: 109
Location: Pewaukee, WI | The Milwaukee show's move should be a big plus from the old Stallis location. Plenty of Free parking and the 2 building are new and should make for a good show layout. The walkway between the 2 buildings get an enclosure for winter events there. The new location is 2 exits past the Cabels store in Richfield. The only draw back I would see is for some the 20 min. drive north of Milw. for the guys to the south.
Last years new Chicago show venue I was not a fan of. Walking around you ran into 2 dead ends and if I had a booth in the bar area I would have asked for my money back. The lack of lighting thing can be fixed easy enough.
Both shows offer a ton of new product and great speakers. It's a fun time at ether one. |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | ToddM - 12/15/2015 8:55 AM
It would.have to be a covert unmarked fib shuttle with fake WI plates otherwise the jeers would be louder than a screen pass to Kuhn.
It would also have to hold under 50 passengers.  |
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Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | I'm going to miss the ease of the stallis location, plus there's a lot of other action that people coming from out of town will now have to drive an extra 45 minutes. Though free parking will make up for the gas. I still would think that any fib shuttle would be sniffed out by the State or County Boys. Just pay the fine and leave it on the dash your good after that...... |
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Posts: 3150
| FIB bus/shuttle thats used to go through wisconsin to show or even through Minnesota to go to that show wouldn't even be noticed,,,Illinois license plates,engine and exhaust LOUD so it's heard over everybody else,and paint some fictional musical group name on the side of it.
In Minnesota and wisconsin were used to seeing Illinois guys jumping on a bandwagon!!! |
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