2008 NFLCC National Show
Peoria, Illinois
July 10-12, 2008
This is the fourth year the National show has been held in Peoria,
Illinois. There were over 500 tables at the show. The Pere Marquette
Hotel was full with many also staying at the Holiday Inn nearby. In room
trading started as early as Monday and picked up pace during the week. There were approximately
130+ rooms open at various times
during in-room trading! Show set-up started at 7:30 a.m. on
Thursday. The show room floor was full of nice tackle and collectibles and
there were a number of interesting displays this year. The annual meeting
was held Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. Bylaws and Standing Rules
revisions are still underway and should be ready to be presented by next year's
meeting.
Membership of the club is around 4,200 members. Growth of the club is
important. There are ways we can all continue to grow membership in
the club. This can be as simple as including a membership application form
with any lures sold to non-members or sponsoring a new member for the first
year. If each of us sponsored just one new member, our club would double
in size in no time. We are considering some new and innovative ideas to
increase membership at the Rochester, Minnesota show. This includes a
drawing for a club lure or door prize for anyone becoming a member on the day of
the show, announcements about the club right after the public comes into the
show, etc. If you have other suggestions, please
send them to me.
A very special thank you to show hosts Gary and Joye Baze, Dean Karouzos, and
Virgil and Gerrilynne Hester and the many volunteers that make this annual event
so enjoyable.
One of the best aspects of going to a National show is seeing friends, meeting
new people and exchanging information about the history of antique fishing
tackle. On the way home from the show this year, we took a different
route that passed through Maquoketa, Iowa. What's in Maquoketa, Iowa you
ask? In 1947, the Fishing
Tackle Company of America was founded as a South Bend affiliate. South
Bend contracted with G.L. Stockham and Son of Maquoketa to build the 20,000
square foot plant at 510 East Grove in Maquoketa, Iowa, to produce South Bend
lures, including the Obite baits. The facility is now occupied by WADY
Industries. The distinctive outline of the building is still the
same, with some additions and landscaping. Here are the "then and
now" photos.
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Show floor action (over 500 tables) |
Show floor action |
Selling and talking tackle |
Show floor action |
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Show room floor |
A Big Foot sighting! |
Ted Bingham with his new reel book (available from the
author at edwardvomhofe.com) |
Arbogast Display |
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Bill Kingsley display of Jacob Hansen Minnows, Boxes
and Paperwork |
Jacob Hansen Display |
Jacob Hansen Display |
Large Jitterbug Display |
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John Collen's Pikie Display |
Pikie Display |
Pikie Display |
Barb and John Collen (Region 6 VP) |
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Arlan Carter's Pflueger and Early Metal Display |
Pflueger and Early Metal Display |
Pflueger and Early Metal Display |
Pflueger and Early Metal Display |
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Pflueger and Early Metal Display |
Pflueger and Early Metal Display |
Bob Guist Best Topical Display for Phantom Devon &
Minnows |
Bob Guist Best Topical Display for Phantom Devon &
Minnows |
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Bob Guist Best Topical Display for Phantom Devon &
Minnows |
Bob Guist Best Topical Display for Phantom Devon &
Minnows |
Bob Guist Best Topical Display for Phantom Devon &
Minnows |
Bob Guist Best Topical Display for Phantom Devon &
Minnows |
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Gordy's Decoy Display |
Gordy's Decoy Display |
Gordy's Decoy Display |
Gordy talking decoys with a fellow collector |
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Gordy's Decoy Display |
Pico Display |
Pico Display |
Pico Display |
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Pico Display |
McHarg Display |
McHarg Display |
McHarg Display |
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McHarg Display |
Steve Knight's McHarg Display |
Frog Display |
Heddon Hi-Tail Display |
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Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
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Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
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Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
Best of Show Darter Display |
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Fishing Tackle Display |
Al Foss Display |
Dick Wilson's Kent Frogs |
Dick Wilson's Pardee Minnow Display |
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Dick Wilson's Mice Display |
Dick Wilson with his Displays |
Show floor action |
Show floor action |
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Dennis Mac's P&K Display |
Dennis Mac's P&K Display |
Dennis's P&K Display |
John Collen giving a seminar on "How to Host a
Regional Show" |
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Dave Hoover's Tackle Boxes |
Dave Hoover with his tackle boxes |
Junior Display Awards |
Rochester show host Marie Munson with "Best One Day
Show" winner Tom Schofield (Wisconsin Dells) and "Best Region" winner John
Collen (Region 6) |
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John Collen being interviewed at the show by a local
Fox affiliate reporter |
Show floor action |
Dick Streater waiving "Hi" from the floor |
Show floor action |