G.R.U.B.

January 9th, 2010, the Guts-R-Us "Road Trippers" headed out to beautiful Novi, Michigan for the Ultimate Fishing Show at the Rock Financial Expo Center. Like all real Michiganders we first picked a meeting spot to dump a few rides and posse up in one vehicle. That's right folks, we are conservationists doing everything we can to save on gas and our many other resources. Plus when your meeting place is Tony's Sports Bar, it’s good to designate one driver. So by 3:00 pm we were off to the show, where we spent another hour and some change tailgating in the Rock Financial Parking Lot doing what real sports fans do! It was good practice for ice fishing and since parking was $5 I was getting my lot worth.

Finally the Grubs arrive: Kojak, Vortex2theneck, GreedySmurf and GhostRider were primed and ready to go! Ready to get our $10’s worth of all that the fishing Industry has to offer. But first, a stop at the beer stand to make it all feel real! GhostRider was right 2 it, checking out the huge offering of boats that were on display. The show probably should have been called the,” Ultimate Fishing Boat Show” but I digress.

And it was only a short time later those brothers, Vortex & Greedy started thinking good thoughts of the family charter service they’ve been talking about for years…Put some down riggers on it!

It was about this time also, that Tony’s Bar, Tailgating and Beer Stands brought me to the conclusion that my feet were not working properly. And when that happens, grub needs FOOD! This brings me to my personal favorite part of the show…Lots of wild game processors with lots of FREE samples. The vendors were all very generous letting us try all sorts of goodies. Mmmmmm smoked critters! We took home a bunch. My personal favorite is always Almont Smoke House, but all were awesome.

With a last stop at the beer stand for a beer, water, some hotdogs and Rolaids, we were full and ready to get back to shopping. Although the wild game food vendors were my favorite, I really came for the gear specials. Rods, reels, lures…That’s what I’m talking about. Show me the latest innovations. Show me the catch all Wonder Worm, Banjo Minnow, Disco Dunker, Mutha Mutha for 2010! Nope. Just a bunch of old crap that was probably sitting on a Kmart shelf 10 years ago that some guy bought below wholesale and still has not gotten rid of. Alright that’s harsh. There were some really nice custom rods and what not, that were out of most anglers price range too. I am only one man and one opinion. These shows do not have many deals or cool fishing supplies. They have other stuff but not fishing supplies. However, Vortex did have a bag of something from one of the lure stands. I think he bought them because he knows what an amazing Muskie Angler he is and wants to brag and laugh about being able to catch one on a turd of a lure.

Despite my disappointment with not being able to spend a pocket full of cash on new lures and gear, we were off and running again to see what else the “Ultimate Show” could offer. One word…”ARGO”! These things are too cool. Not the first thing to come to mind when I think fishing but really cool and a must have none the less. Vortex and Greedy were right there with me. If only that thing came in a metallic blue to match that paddle boat you guys were looking at early. Price would have been no question. SOLD!

From there it was off to ice fishing. My favorite! For those of you that don’t know my saying its, “the only way I like my ice is with scotch or bourbon poured over it”. But I have been know to head out every now and again so lets see what is new in shanty technology. Still looks like a pain in the a** to drag out on the ice…Check. Zero built in heat source, insulation or solar panels…Check. Tight quarters with uncomfortable seating…Check. No automatic hole puncher…Check. Wrong color to double as a deer blind…Check. Is there any more beer or free jerky sample booths around here???

In conclusion, the show was pretty alright. The kids all seemed to be enjoying themselves at the live fish pond. The giant pool they had for demonstrations was bigger than most lakes in Indiana. Lots of boats. Plenty of charter services that you look up on line and see any time. Great wild game samples. But here’s the thing: Last I checked we live in Michigan, home of the Great Lakes and some of the greatest fishing in the nation. We have arguably the best Muskie and Smallmouth fishery in the world, in Lake St. Clair. Lake Michigan is amazing for Trout and Salmon. We put up a world record brown trout in 2009. We are fishing. Why then is not every big name in fishing showing up at our events? Where are all the guys with the shows on the outdoor channel and ESPN? Where are the bait companies and electronics guys? And no offense to the good City of Novi, but Novi for the “Ultimate” fishing show? Let’s get some out-of-towners in here and at least give them a view of a lake. We do have a couple. Can we get a top country act to throw us a little twang at one of these things? Or at least, “Kid Mr. catching walleye off the dock Rock”. I’m going to Nashville in a month for the Turkey Convention. They have Jeff Foxworthy as the MC and bunch of other acts + like every hunting show in existence and real hunting names like Knight & Hale showing up. I guess I just think it’s a shame that Michigan has so many outdoor resources, so much talent in our outdoor manufactures, tons of amazing charter and guide services yet the best promoting we can do, is to call something “Ultimate” to fill a parking lot in Novi with a bunch of folks already suffering from cabin fever because we love our fishing so much. One Industry that can always stand strong in this state is the outdoor industry. Many depend on it and we are doing an injustice to our state and outdoors folks by not better promoting it!

I will continue to contribute to all Michigan Outdoors Biz on any level, even if it’s weak at best. Remember this; charging me 15 bucks to go to something called “Ultimate” should be a step up from the local retail in the area. Cabelas, BassPro, Gander and Dicks put on better show and give me 20% off coupons.

All in all we had a great time as we always do. It was the company. We knuckled up with Kapt. Kayak and Greedy gave us the best demonstration of the day, with a quick instructional on proper shot placement. Sportsman, women and children UNITE!