Tackle Show Long Beach ‘09

The Fred Hall Tackle Show in Long Beach was a great show! The doors opened at 2 p.m. on Wednesday to record crowds and the crowds continued throughout the show. So much fun was had seeing old and new fishing friends and reminiscing about shared fishing experiences. I loved seeing everyone from our regular fishing charters and the Captains and crew of the sport fishing boats (local and Cabo boats). This is the time to check out what’s new in tackle, who’s a new owner/operator of a sport boat and to sign up for trips. So much to do that it just can’t be covered in a day or two.

Braid Booth

Excel Booth with Bill Poole and Chuck Garrison

Berkley Booth

Berkley Bass Tank

Accurate Booth with David Chaote

Shimano Booth

I never got to see the Dock Dogs or Duck Races. In fact, I never saw any of the outdoor activities or walk the entire show. I did handle twice a day knot tying seminars (as one of the Knotty Ladies), assist in the Berkley kayak seminar Thursday at noon and work the Braid Booth. Capt. Jimmy Decker gave out all his tips on in-shore fishing at the kayak seminar. Fascinating! I did make a couple quick runs out to buy spinner baits, a kayak/kelp tether and to buy a yellowfin tuna sculpture.

My Tuna Sculpture

Dana Point Jet Ski & Kayak Booth

Tim Boyer, kayak fishing partner and owner of Dana Point Kayak Center

Jim Carlisle and I sat in on Don Gale’s digital photography seminar Friday evening and a Lowrance seminar on How to Use your fish finder on Saturday evening. Both were well worth the time. I made a run to the Sportsman’s Gold booth (http://www.sportsmansgold.com/) to buy more of their fabulous marinades and to the Sporting Chef Café to say “Hi” to Scott Leysath (http://huntfishcook.com/). I also made a quick jaunt to buy Brandon Hayward’s new book “The Southern California Angler.”

One of the most interesting things to see at the show was the Cortland spectra weaving machine. This machine (which is 30 plus years old) produces about one foot per hour of 16 strand spectra line. No wonder spectra is so expensive. Check out the videos.

Spectra Weaving Machine

Spectra Weaving Maching in Action weaving 16 Strands

At the end of the show Sunday evening, all the booths had to be broken down and everything out of the convention center before Monday. Dennis, Teresa and I dismantled the Braid Booth in record time this year and I actually got home by 9:30 p.m. I am exhausted.