Portland Sportsman's Show

I am getting ready to go to the show this year and am wondering who else is going or working a booth and what are your favorite attractions?
What is going to be different with the new group putting on the show this year? I know that it is spendy to just get into the door, but once you are in who or what are you looking for, or need to walk away with? One of my favorite areas to watch is the trout pond!

I'm headed up tomorrow.  Not looking for anything in particular, but I have seemed to find a good handful of lures that I "must" have for the upcoming season.  I also like looking at some of the items produced by some of the more local/smaller businesses that you can't find in most stores.  I'm a sucker for a good looking lure/bait even if I already have three that do the same thing.

I had seen a seminar on nearshore halibut fishing that looked interesting, but it appears to have shifted to a more general halibut seminar which isn't nearly as interesting for a kayaker.

I can't imagine what being there on a weekend is like.  Wed/Thursday crowds and traffic are robust enough for me.

I'll be there tomorrow, not really looking for anything in particular but I'm sure I'll walk out with something...

I was there yesterday.  It was a good show.  Prices have certainly gone up vs last year but still found some good deals.  I got a Daiwa steelhead rod on closeout from 300 on sale for 100 at the Fishermans booth.  Paired it with the Okuma Safyre on sale at Fishermans.  Fisherman's Safyre had the higher gear ratio but cost $10 more then the bimart model with a lower gear ratio.  Careful to select the one you want.  I went with the higher ratio for steelhead fishing.  All okuma lines get free braided line at the Okuma booth- they are using their new no-fade line that is pretty neat.  The line has a lifetime warrant- so excited to see how it holds up.

I looked for the HOW booth but it didnt seem to be in the same area as previous years-seemed to be replaced by the some dog training kennels.  I had kids and had to run but gave it a decent effort looking- i did not have a map which i was bummed about.  Anyone know their booth number or location? 

Addicted had some killer custom beads that i hope will produce aswell. 

Lots of familiar faces at the show.  Fun to see everyone

I looked for the HOW booth but it didnt seem to be in the same area as previous years-seemed to be replaced by the some dog training kennels.  I had kids and had to run but gave it a decent effort looking- i did not have a map which i was bummed about.  Anyone know their booth number or location? 

We didn't have a booth at the show this year.

Heading out there on Saturday. Just looking to look, but I know I'll pick something up.

Fred "True" Trujillo

Keith said Gorge outfitters had a good booth. Some sweet looking deep diving walleye plugs from a company called Vertical jigs n lures. I have in recent months been discovering how effective deep diving plugs can be. My new favorite is from Bandit lures, I have a chrome one that has caught me my PB smallie on the Columbia, my second biggest laker ever, some lunk winter large mouth and, a few nice coho. Maybe someday I'll actually get a walleye on it!

The halibut seminar was pretty disappointing. I knew they changed the title to not include the word "nearshore" anymore but the presentation wasn't really about catching halibut but rather about the state of the fishery. So if anyone could point me to some good info about the nearshore fishery I would really appreciate it!

If anyone is going to the show, Dan would love it if you could grab a bunch of business cards from vendors so he can wrangle more sponsors. My friend was going to do that today, but ended up not being able to make it.

YES Please! If someone would send me those I would love to try to hit them up for sponsorship!

You can send pics of the business cards to my cell if you want. (541) 401-9290

The halibut seminar was pretty disappointing. I knew they changed the title to not include the word "nearshore" anymore but the presentation wasn't really about catching halibut but rather about the state of the fishery. So if anyone could point me to some good info about the nearshore fishery I would really appreciate it!

Nearshore halibut spots are pretty heavily guarded and i doubt people will share them in a public forum.  Search forum history a bit more and i am sure you will find enough hints to get you started