The all new Muskie Expo Chicago drew in approximately 10,000 anglers and visitors during its inaugural 3-day run from Friday January 9th to Sunday the 11th. According to show promoter, Doug Reuter, the event will return once again in 2016.
Over the weekend, Fishing-Headquarters was on hand to assist its partners, Llungen Lures, and Toothy’s Tackle. We’ve been helping both brands in advisory and developmental roles with their marketing/advertising and web development in varying capacities.
Both brands introduced new product at the inaugural Muskie Expo Chicago.
Matthew Gunkel, Andrew Ragas, and Chris Piha pose for a photo at the Llungen Lures exhibit. On display is the new hybrid spinnerbait.
Llungen Lures released new hybrid bucktails in all sizes, and spinnerbaits in both Nutbuster and Nutbuster JR variations. Keeping it’s traditional lively silicone skirts in play, the new hybrids incorporate an all-new flashabou to make the baits livelier to muskies, and stand out to the crowd. According to the team of Chris Piha and Matthew Gunkel, the new hybrids experienced strong sales and will be available at all other upcoming winter 2015 sport shows…. and perhaps prompting some online availability at some point in the future.
Additionally, for a limited time only, “The Cash Series” is another introduction of theirs. The Cash is an all new concept devised for night fishing utilizing a combination of single or twin black blades with reflective skirts that contrast in dark conditions. These will also be sold exclusively at all remaining 2015 season sport shows.
Next door and conveniently located behind Piha and Gunkel was Stephen Wesoloski, of Toothy’s Tackle LLC, whose products made their Chicago area debut. A resident of Green Bay Wisconsin, Wesoloski has designed, refined, and developed all of his lures on Green Bay’s world class muskie fishery.
On display for Chicago was his entire product line: The Toothy Tickler and Original Toothy, Cookie Cutters, and new for 2015 items that included The Bully and Tid Bits.
His signature item, The Tickler, excels at power fishing with its unique triple tail action to trigger monster muskies. Its single-hook system (3) features curly tail trailers and comes available in size 9 and 11 Double Custom Toothy blades. In the last few years it has accounted for several 50 inch muskies caught in Green Bay by guides and customers alike. What gained more attraction however is his 2015 introduction of the Bully, which is built with a combination of his engineered blades, skirt, and a 6 inch Kalin’s Mogambo Grub. Truly a one of a kind bait.
Toothy’s Tackle manufactures their own engineered blades that start and spin faster, thus requiring less strength and cranking torque for retrieving. They also use their own skirts that creates improved flash in all water clarity and conditions. An architect and structural engineer by trade, Wesoloski has created his lures using top shelf components and craftsmanship which is now being enjoyed by Midwest, Great Lakes, and Canadian muskie anglers.
Musky fishing continues to grow more expensive, and the ruthless spending habits and behavior of some of its participating anglers is another thing to behold.
With the skyrocketing expenses of sport fishing and the overblown commercialization and corporatization of the sport, the game is often being treated as a business. Too many ‘fishing celebrities’ who are at the top level acquire the perception that they are better than everyone else. Rather than help the industry improve, some of these people choose to conduct themselves and their business practices to only better themselves and belittle others. Long story short, there is no more humility in fishing.
Consequently of this behavior that is often on public display, egos and jealousy, lunacy, and ill-advised entertainment often arises amongst the immature personalities and self-proclaimed experts on both Facebook and in the real world. Friend and guide, Chris Taurisano, of T-Bone guide service stated it best the other day in a Facebook discussion;“I always have to laugh at the guys who have egos in this sport. It’s honestly a bit pathetic and goes against everything most of us believe fishing is all about. I think most of us in the business have dealt with this in some way or another. Just block those people out and realize that the good majority of guys in this are great people and down to earth. Don’t let the few bad apples give you a bad taste in your mouth.”
The union between brands and anglers in large public venues like Muskie Expo Chicago makes many anglers including myself realize there is a lot of good left in fishing. And it gets even better when you’re reciprocating with the right people in both business and on the water. The camaraderie and friendships acquired by a sport we mutually love makes each winter event like this all the more special for all vendors, anglers, and paying customers. I thank all friends and visitors who stopped by both booths over the weekend, or who pulled me aside for discussion so we could catch up on life, and rekindle those friendships.
