On February 29, 2016 at 11:29 PM, Master Bait'r said:

I would if I had one 

Same here. There's a Gander and a Field and Stream both about 40 miles from me but no local shops that I know of. No way that mom and pop can compete with the biggies,which is really sad when you think about it. But that's the way everything is going now.

1 hour ago, Buckeye Ron said:

Same here. There's a Gander and a Field and Stream both about 40 miles from me but no local shops that I know of. No way that mom and pop can compete with the biggies,which is really sad when you think about it. But that's the way everything is going now.

 

Only specialty shops can hang on, and even then only in markets with enough demographic to sustain profits.  Even then you will likely have to market online in a big way to be successful.  

37 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

 

Only specialty shops can hang on, and even then only in markets with enough demographic to sustain profits.  Even then you will likely have to market online in a big way to be successful.  

My shops been going on 64 years. The biggest advantage to small shops is live bait.  We sell more live bait in the summer than we do lures. I would love to see a surge in that side of the business. Been going to my shop since I was a kid and despite my discount I still shop at other small shops in the area. 

I do religiously. They are a little more expensive than tackle warehouse, but they are great people, who will post pictures sent to them of fish on their webpage. If you do have a local shop, that isn't a bass pro, gander or another box store, then SUPPORT THEM. They are what made this lifestyle so great.

My favorite local shop Wacky Worm is holding their spring sale right now. 10% off lures, so if you are in the NY, NJ, PA border area stop in and check out the 70 foot long wall of plastic lures for some great deals. They also make their own version of popular lures like senkos and soft plastic jerkbaits. Sale ends March 6th. 

I like the idea of supporting my local brick and mortar store and love to shoot the breeze with them. I ordered a Revo Sx spinning reel from them and they beat TW's price by about $20 so I cannot complain there. They had a sale last month that was suppose to be 30% off certain items through the end of the month. I stopped by a total of three times and realized that the percentage changed each time I went in from 30 to 20 to 10% off. I thought it was kind of strange that each time I went in the prices changed. The only other thing that keeps me going back to the online retailers is the fact that the prices are clearly marked on the sites. When I go into my local shop I find it frustrating that nothing has a price on it and I constantly have to ask what the prices are. I understand that it is a business and I like supporting them but I find it to be kind of shady to not have prices clearly marked. I have made several purchases from them and like the customer service aspect of things but shopping online has its perks.

 

I shop for saltwater gear exclusively at one shop near me. Nice little shop, has everything you could ever need, and nothing you don't. The guy that owns it is awesome. Always friendly and professional, knows what the fish are biting and where. The prices are fair, about what you would find something online for, but I'm there so often he's given me discounts on some of my bigger purchases. 

The bait shop here in town is a BAIT shop, worms, minners amd goldfish.The lures are old as dirt and the tackle is Zebcos and catfish rods. I guess I have to run by Mondo on the way to work for some Sasuteki Craws and to see what they have.

If there were one, I'd definitely support it.

Josh

2 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

The bait shop here in town is a BAIT shop, worms, minners amd goldfish.The lures are old as dirt and the tackle is Zebcos and catfish rods. I guess I have to run by Mondo on the way to work for some Sasuteki Craws and to see what they have.

Say what, live goldfish for bait?  Out here that's a huge nono and they'll drain an entire lake to get all the goldfish out.

3 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

Say what, live goldfish for bait?  Out here that's a huge nono and they'll drain an entire lake to get all the goldfish out.

Man, the folks here, for the most part, are catfishermen and goldfish catch big [butt] flatties. I can't stand cattin' as I feel it's boring as hell.

I try to support local tackle shops when I can, but around here they just don't carry a whole lot of tackle.  I have one I go to for minows, bee moths, and night crawlers.  I did buy an ugly stick spinning combo there because it was black and pink in color and the wife wanted a pink rod to keep the boys from taking her fishing rod.

Tyler

I would buy a lot more from the local shop, if the owner wasn't such an A-hole.