Just came back from the FH 2011. It was a good day. As usual all the vendors were there and all of them had specials prices for everything fishing. As a trout angler I had a small shopping list and I came away with $300 worth of stuff.
Highlights: I bought an Okuma Teton Trout Rod for $20. Turner's had a Kencore for $59 and Jimmy`s had a Shimano Symetre for $79! I got good advise from all of the mentioned companies. I saw Jared Smith and Marlone Meade seminars on fishing the Eastern Sieras and Ronnie Kovach was very funny. I picked up way too many stickers for my kids. I purchased the new Berkley Pinched Nightcrawlers and Micetails and the new Bite-On Garlic set of trout attractants. Cherrywoods were on sale for $20. The small Krocodile spoons were at $1.75. And finally I won a day pass at Irvine Lake, my usual fishing hole. There were a lot more vehicles this year (Toyota) and a few new inflatable boats and watercrafts. The ticket I bought oinline worked without a hitch. and I was almost the first in line to get in. I won a certificate to a shooting range that my wife snagged from me as I set everything down as I walked in.
Disappointments: NOBODY was selling Pfluger Reels. Everyone kept telling me "that's an East coast thing", which for me was a shame because I wanted to get a President or XT reel. Shimano sent me on a wild goose chase that ended in 0. The guys at Zebco were too busy 3 TIMES to help me buy a spincast for my oldest daughter. There were a lot less freebies this year! It got really crowded in the evening....it seemed like a Saturday. I didn`t get a Phenix, Fenwick or St. Croix rod because the prices were barely discounted. Nevermind the G. Loomis. It was $6.50 for a small Coors Light and $10.00 for a medium. Apulled pork sandwich cost $12.00 and the cheapest parking was $7.00 Last year I was with my daughter and they gave us Okuma hats this year they wouldn`t give any unless I was with a kid. Way too many beef jerkey and nut/trail mix stands.
Overall I was content and came home with a smile on my face. Imagine a kid in a toy store for 6 hours; that was me. I`ll go back on Saturday with my kid and probably a sack lunch and a few suds in the car for sustenance. We`ll see all then wormies that she likes and  I`ll be patient after getting all the hoopla out of my system today. Anyone going should checkout the dog jumpers, duck races and the 2 trout ponds for kids. I just might pick up a couple of rod carrying cases but that`s it! Whoever goes be patient and bring a lot of $$. Many bendos to all.

I always enjoyed the Fred Hall shows, used to go to the Del Mar show. I haven't been in several years now as I am now 300 miles away, I am jonesing for a fix but it is not going to happen this year.