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After work today I stopped by Roy's Bait and Tackle for their Customer Appreciation Days! I was only there for an hour, but had a great time. BTW, the girlwatching was better than ever!! One real cutie showed up at the Avet booth while I was there, and mentioned she had a Purple one... if you're reading this, thanks for showing up and making my day!
Spent some time visiting with the Shimano guys, and they wouldn't give up any info on upcoming products, but they did tell me they are having two JIGGING seminars tomorrow, and will be giving away rods and reels to people that attend. You DO have to be present to win. Seminars are at 12 & 4. They did have the new Trevala "F" series rods there, and they seem very nice, but not as inexpensive as the old ones. Compared to the OTI Rods I saw last weekend, I think the Trevalas still need to be a little stiffer, but I would have to fish one to know! One thing I did get them to confirm is that they do have some smaller lever drag reels coming in June, also they suggested that they have something "new" that will totally revolutionize fishing as we know it! No other hints on that deal.
I visited with the Avet distributor from Oklahoma while there, and they didn't bring the "prototype" Avet HOOX, now named the HX5, but are expecting shipments of the production model soon. I was hoping they would have one with them, but they should still be available by the Cinco trip. These guys did have several of the Avet 4/02 reels available at $299 each, I think there were six of them still available at this price, and only at this show. If you think you want one, Call Roy's (361- 992-2960) and ask them to put you in touch with Cecil or Billy at the Sunbelt Sales trailer, or ask if they are selling them at that price. I think that price is a killer deal for an all aluminum 30 sized, two-speed reel, especially if you can modify the reel with Alan Tani's tricks and get 30+ lbs of drag from it.
I spent some time in the big tent and there were some very good deals on Penn International Rod/Reel combos, but nothing I needed. Definitely worth looking at though. Some of the smaller Shimano Stella reels were on sale as well, but too small for me. I think STXfisherman picked up a new Seeker rod at a 25% discount while there as well. If I remember right, the Calstar and Seeker rods are 25% off, so now is the time to buy if you are thinking of doing it anytime soon. Lots of miscellaneous gear is priced to sell in the tent too!
I tried to walk around inside the main store, but it was too crowded! I did walk over to the Jig wall, and low and behold, it was full to the brim with a HUGE selection of Ocean Tackle jigs!! I was already late to dinner or I would have taken more time to look more closely, but it was a great display. I didn't get a chance to look for the OTI rods or poppers, but hopefully tomorrow I can get around to it.
More later, hopefully a good picture post tomorrow!
TEAMOSO - You need to go hang around over there and go to the Shimano Jigging seminars to try to win a rod and reel!!
Tom - DBG
Spent some time visiting with the Shimano guys, and they wouldn't give up any info on upcoming products, but they did tell me they are having two JIGGING seminars tomorrow, and will be giving away rods and reels to people that attend. You DO have to be present to win. Seminars are at 12 & 4. They did have the new Trevala "F" series rods there, and they seem very nice, but not as inexpensive as the old ones. Compared to the OTI Rods I saw last weekend, I think the Trevalas still need to be a little stiffer, but I would have to fish one to know! One thing I did get them to confirm is that they do have some smaller lever drag reels coming in June, also they suggested that they have something "new" that will totally revolutionize fishing as we know it! No other hints on that deal.
I visited with the Avet distributor from Oklahoma while there, and they didn't bring the "prototype" Avet HOOX, now named the HX5, but are expecting shipments of the production model soon. I was hoping they would have one with them, but they should still be available by the Cinco trip. These guys did have several of the Avet 4/02 reels available at $299 each, I think there were six of them still available at this price, and only at this show. If you think you want one, Call Roy's (361- 992-2960) and ask them to put you in touch with Cecil or Billy at the Sunbelt Sales trailer, or ask if they are selling them at that price. I think that price is a killer deal for an all aluminum 30 sized, two-speed reel, especially if you can modify the reel with Alan Tani's tricks and get 30+ lbs of drag from it.
I spent some time in the big tent and there were some very good deals on Penn International Rod/Reel combos, but nothing I needed. Definitely worth looking at though. Some of the smaller Shimano Stella reels were on sale as well, but too small for me. I think STXfisherman picked up a new Seeker rod at a 25% discount while there as well. If I remember right, the Calstar and Seeker rods are 25% off, so now is the time to buy if you are thinking of doing it anytime soon. Lots of miscellaneous gear is priced to sell in the tent too!
I tried to walk around inside the main store, but it was too crowded! I did walk over to the Jig wall, and low and behold, it was full to the brim with a HUGE selection of Ocean Tackle jigs!! I was already late to dinner or I would have taken more time to look more closely, but it was a great display. I didn't get a chance to look for the OTI rods or poppers, but hopefully tomorrow I can get around to it.
More later, hopefully a good picture post tomorrow!
TEAMOSO - You need to go hang around over there and go to the Shimano Jigging seminars to try to win a rod and reel!!
Tom - DBG
