Local tackle shops episode

[thmyorke1]

I find myself buying online mostly. I still try to at least buy a bunch of stuff I know i'll need from a tackle shop, but only when i find myself walking into one. But when i do ill try and stock up on common stuff like lures and lines.

However usually a specific piece of gear or lure is online only, and i purchase it there. Then the "free shipping at $X" incentivizes me to buy more stuff that I dont need now- but know i should stock up on; common stuff like line or lures. Same stuff i'd buy at a tackle shop. Clicking some buttons on the computer and having gear show up at my front door is just easier.

The times i need something in a pinch too, there's no local tackle shop around, just a Dicks or a Walmart. Last pair of waders i blew while on the river, thankfully there was a dicks just in town 15 minutes away. Unfortunately i didnt see a local shop any closer or double the distance.

I watched the podcast, great episode. Im no business man but Old School Outdoors has a good idea selling more than just fishing+outdoor stuff. I wouldnt mind seeing all other local shops doing similar. Heck if i could buy some fresh bagels along with browsing for a new rod maybe that would work lol
I understand some just dont have the space and need to choose carefully what to stock however.

Going back to my first point, i just dont find myself walking into tackle shops much.
Info about whats biting etc is online or with my friends. Live bait is definitely the primary reason, maybe if tackle shops could find more reasons to make me walk in-
I recall last year the RV tournament hosted the results and a lil get together at the shop itself.
Maybe shops could offer more like that? More events, small simple tournaments, maybe even a club etc. I would definitely enter in at a local tournament maybe like SMB and limited to the local creeks (Catch and release!) where you had to show up to the shop at the end for prizes.

[AndyS]

Most shops will tell you, they can't make a living just selling bait.

[Dclark2]

Maybe I am old school which I am but I would not buy a rod without running a line through the guides with different weights to feel and see the bend. You need a shop to do that or a UPS store close to return what you don't like.

[Jigman13]

I frequent salt water shops. I rarely if ever go to those largely designated for freshwater. I'm 99% artificial when fishing freshwater. Saltwater is bait, leader, hooks, info., etc.

The bait i do use in freshwater isn't carried by any shops within 100+ miles of me, so I trap and catch my own within NJ baitfish regs.

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I frequent salt water shops. I rarely if ever go to those largely designated for freshwater. I'm 99% artificial when fishing freshwater. Saltwater is bait, leader, hooks, info., etc.

The bait i do use in freshwater isn't carried by any shops within 100+ miles of me, so I trap and catch my own within NJ baitfish regs.

Theres a lot of good local secret info hiding in those local shop owners though!

[AndyS]

The saltwater shops seem to be doing surprisingly well.

[bulletbob]

. Those shops need traffic.. If not they fail, simple as that.. I agree a shop needs to be open VERY early, especially if they want to sell bait.. One problem is this-Most guys simply don't use bait anymore in FW. With modern high tech lures that are so effective bait just isn't all that neccessary except for maybe Carp or catfish... Shops LOSE money on live shiners, fatheads, Herring or Sawbellies as they are known up here in NY. They just die in the tanks after a while..Owners need to buy and sell them fast as they just start dying quickly. Right now, I can't buy bait anywhere, except worms in gas station.. There might be one or two bait shops within a 50 mile radius. The vast majority stopped because the cost was killing them. They told me. Different scenario in NJ, with the big population but still online sales of tackle and accessories has to be hurting a lot of those small businesses. It cannot be easy to make enough profit in NJ with its crazy overhead selling just bait, even saltwater bait.. bob

[Chrisper4694]

Originally Posted by AndyS

The saltwater shops seem to be doing surprisingly well.

Probbaly because live and dead bait is accepted by saltwater anglers but for aome reason demonized by freshwater anglers.... i blame the bass fiahing elitists