The RISSA show was Massive!
I spent the weekend in the Aquaskinz booth helping Kadir man the booth, making sure the candy supply was tended to like a chum slick, across from the Saltwater Edge where I saw a first class operation at work. Any shop that had less than a spectacular event should camp out in front of the booth and watch how interest based customer service should be done.
The number of booths related to fishing is incredible. There were no gutter kings, no insurance companies (although I did miss the girl walking around in the Lobster outfit) 2 cars (GMC Trucks) a jerky counter a candy counter and a
. Not too shabby!
It’s great to hook up with friends and just hang out and catch up. Habs and Tatoo are way too busy working most of the year so the time we get to steal on the beach is too few and far between, the shows allow us to at least share a few laughs, Joe and Jeff of PT Jude Tins have a great product but are even better people (I was lucky to be in the adjoining booth at the Mass Bass show, we have to fish this year gentlemen!) Craig and Billy of VS are always good for a few laughs and were there to show off the new reel with a bail, Rich Johnson also there was selling some if his show tapes for $5.00 (the show that had the rigging of an eel is worth adding to your collection reading a how to book or a magazine is nothing like seeing it done correctly) that he was playing on a big screen TV in the booth he had tapes on sharking, bass, blues, fluke, surfcasting in Montauk, Surfcasting off jetties & Black fishing to name a few.
What I am trying to say that is after paying your admission, you didn’t have to spend anything to walk away a better anglah. The knowledge in the room was frightening. Nick Karas was there (I see him at a few shows and was able to pick his brain on the ferry ride home that was worth the trip alone) available to hire as a charter, ask questions or sign The Complete Book of Striped Bass Fishing (a must have in any serious fisherman’s library IMHO). My buddy, 5 time distance casting champion, writer, star on the silver screen and all around good guy Ron Arra was in the Surfcaster booth when he wasn’t doing seminars, the enthusiasm he has for fishing is contagious!
The Seminar Speakers did great, even walking down the isle all you had to do was say hi to start a conversation with the likes of Andy and Rich from the Northeast Angling TV show, Al Gags, the Representatives from companies large and small, it gets you excited about the prospects of the upcoming season!
I saw a lot of familiar faces, got to spend quality time with Clammer and The Eel Man (who is a much better public speaker and gives more helpful information than…. well some Greek guy who lives on LI) solving the world’s problems over pizza Saturday night.
This is starting to sound like an academy awards speech and I don’t want to leave anyone out so I’ll end this by saying that this is one of my favorite shows due to the products available and the people who frequent the event; it just gets better (and bigger) every year.
Congratulations to RISSA, I am looking to seeing what’s in store for 2007