Local Bait Shops

[Traveler2586]

............................ I think we need to support the local shops as much as we can, think how it will be if we only have BPS & Wally World, you sure can't ask questions at WW, some of them people don't even know they work there they have to look at their name tag to see if they do.

X2

[tbone1993]

First of all it was saltwater, but that doesn't really matter... Anyway I know it's your job to sell bait and what not but don't you think that when someone asks what they are hitting you can say something besides saying exctly---> "Gotta match the bait" plus the fishing was doing really well we were just asking the simple question. Im not mad about the situation, I thought it was funny. I still go to the same place and purchase my bait, tackle, etc.

I came of kind of harsh. What I meant was sometimes we really do not know as much as we appear to know, I have been on both sides of the counter so I know what it is like.

[SirSnookalot]

Long before the internet arrived discount chains like Walmart and Kmart were making it difficult for smaller stores to compete. Many other chain discounters couldn't compete with the 2 marts and closed their doors too. I do remember the days of the local hardware store and buying by the piece instead of pre packaging, no more. I remember buying minnows, a dozen was 1 dip of the net which usually yielded 2 dozen or more, today they are counted out. I'm all in favor of supporting local bait shops, that said they have to be able to supply what I need, if not I need to go elsewhere. I've read about Green top, sounds like what we have down here, Tuppens and Lott Bros, these stores are an in between big box and small shops, they carry nearly everything, considerable local knowledge, and repairs. Lott Bros is but 2 miles from Gander Mnt, you can even test your gear from their parking lot, they'e on the water. Stores like them will probably be around forever.

I don't blame the internet for anything, hundreds upon hundreds of posts telling me where to buy something on line and if it weren't for net I wouldn't be on BR right now.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Just to clarify, when you guys say Wally World, your talking about the fishing section at Wal Mart right? Or is there actully a store called Wally World?

[SirSnookalot]

Just to clarify, when you guys say Wally World, your talking about the fishing section at Wal Mart right? Or is there actully a store called Wally World?

Fishing section at Walmart.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Thought so. I try to support my local shops as often as I can, but if Im already in Wal Mart picking up other stuff, Ill check out the fishing section. They don't have much selection though. Mostly just 1 or 2 brands of each bait type. Like Rapala/Stike King for cranks or Zoom/Berkley for worms and not much color selection. Plus the people that work there definitly aren't too bright. I was in there the other night and an employee who was helping a customer came up to me and asked where to find the pad locks. I told them to check hardware maybe around the door knobs but cmon, why are you asking me? Your the one who works here.

[Bankbeater]

I have found that, at least around here, you can get stuff that the larger stores like BPS, or Cabela's don't carry.

[SudburyBasser]

We got a small shop in my neck of the woods that's been around longer than sin on earth. My brother-in-law buys his minnows there and I always make a point of buying something myself when we stop there. Might be a lure, might just be some leaders...I just like the idea of a Mom & Pop place that has that accumulated history and I do what I can to throw some money on the counter when I can.

[Amoore9900]

when we got to the lake a few hours north they have a very big local shop that we love to go to it has been open for 30 years...and they don't have the big box stores. Here we have a kmart about 3 blocks away so when I need a bait that they have I just run and get it...i think we bought all of a certain color of KVD's...lol

[Fishes in trees]

KC Metro area has em all - BPS - Cabelas - multiple Wally Worlds - independent shops. I shop at all of them. If I have the time, I can't drive by a fishing tackle store without stopping. Wally Worlds are extremely variable - some of them have a good assortment of quality stuff and others don't. Don't know why.

What I do know is that occasionally I find a monster bargain at Wally world - you put a price sticker gun in the hands of some unmotivated GED candidate and no telling what is going to happen. The ones in my area, every Jan/Feb they have a pretty large clearance sale. I got a bunch of tungsten sinkers at 50 cents per pack. Other stuff happens from time to time.

The best place to shop for reels in the KC metro area is Rogers in Liberty, MO. From time to time they will deal and the other places for the most part won't.

[Jim_M]

I am in a lucky area when it comes to bait n' tackle.

BPS is a mile from me and has a couple go to guys that have helped me get on fish.

They hold bass fishing seminars every month and they are huge for me.

Two addition shops in my area are real stand outs. I wish everyone on the board had

a chance to visit them. The Hook Up out at Lake Pleasant is out of this world period.

A small shop in our east valley call Liars Korner is an old school road side store. Great

info to be had along with food, beer and ammo!!! Good times

[tholmes]

Living out in the hinterlands of central Kansas, I have one choice locally - Wal-Mart. To their credit, they carry a pretty good selection but there are some things I need that they don't have. For those items, it's off to the internet. There used to be an independent bait & tackle shop in my hometown but they mostly catered to the catfish and crappie crowd, with some trolling supplies for the walleye fellas, and a VERY limited amount of bass tackle. They closed the doors last year.

The nearest Cabela's and Gander Mtn. are 125 miles away (Wichita) and the nearest BPS is in KC, about 250 miles.

Tom

[tbone1993]

Just to clarify, when you guys say Wally World, your talking about the fishing section at Wal Mart right? Or is there actully a store called Wally World?

When they say wally world I picture the National Lampoons Vacation

[fishking247]

I buy all of my saltwater tackle at the local shop and all my freshwater online or at dicks sporting goods. (i am on long island and the primary fishing is here is all saltwater). IMO, there is no other better place to shop for bass tackle then tackle warehouse.

my experience at local shops is generally if you do not know them on a personal level they are rude and are not helpful (atleast the shops that i go to) and i will take my business elsewhere. i don't mind paying few extra dollars to support the mom and pop shops but when you're disrespectful to me i will walk right out and you will never see me again.

[Loop_Dad]

I try to buy some from local shops to keep their business going as much as I can.

They are handy when I need to buy something little quick. At this one closest to me, the folks work there are generally friendly, except for this one woman. The price is not so bad, actually found some of them are cheaper the BPS, but of course the selection is limited.

If I were running the store, I would see if there's any way to increase the lure selections. Not sure if they have sophisticated inventory system there or not. They have three locations in northern California I think. Other than that, I think they are good as is.

Online stores are good, but when you buy little bit at a time, shipping will kill the benefit. And TW being California, I don't have a benefit from buying them for tax free like many of you folks enjoy, which could have offset the shipping cost.

[HuskyKMA]

We have a few local chains, Fisherman's Marine and Outdoor in the Portland metro area, a regional chain called Wholesale Sports, and Bob's Sporting Goods up in Longview, WA. With the Columbia River being what it is for salmon and steelhead, they really cater to that more than the bass fisherman. Seems like a lot of people look down on the bass fishermen around here. Wholesale Sports had probably the best selection until they recently sold off much of that on clearance to make room for new stuff, their prices weren't very good either.

For salmon, steelhead, trout, and tuna you can't beat the local shops around me for knowledge and product selection. But for the warm water species, they leave much to be desired.

[SirSnookalot]

This is how some local bait and tackle stores stay in business for decades. I was having a bit of trouble with one of my abu sorons, it felt a bit " sticky" This past Sunday, I took the reel into my local shop. Jack, the owner, pretty much just comes in and works on reels and does some stock ordering, he has a rod expert coming in on Saturdays for repairs. I pick up my reel this morning(Wed) at 7:30, that's 3 days including Xmas day. All that was wrong was somehow a piece of line got wrapped around something inside, as long as it was apart he cleaned and lubed it, the beauty was NO CHARGE!, in addition to lighting fast service. Rods are even faster, providing his man is not on vacation, I can drop a rod off Sat. morn at 6:00 am and pick it at 6:00 am Sunday.

[PABASS]

People tend to forgot that the internet connects us and bring us closer in some aspects, while I do spend a nice chunk of change at my local bait shop I also like to visit my local internet only stores as well, a few places that are small in size and local at heart that I would rather use simply because there product is better and cheaper than what others tend to sell. They work well on the same waters I fish but I think they live 100 of miles away but when you fish a river that goes through many states like mine does, local can be broad. I would say some advertisers on here are of local roots but may only have an internet store, so lets not discount the internet just because its the internet, if you have a local shop you should have a online presence as well.

[Trackick9707]

Randalls bait shop in Star Prairie WI. Great selection of live bait, very knowledgeable staff, and they carry all the quality stuff that a guy can't find at wal-mart.  I've stopped asking questions at stores like dicks and gander mountain because most of the employees have little to no knowledge when it comes to practical application of anything in the store. 

[Teal]

You know that you live in Gods Country when the best and really only bass tackle place in my town is the locally owned Drug store. Nice mid level and high end stuff. The manager s a tournament fisher and he is very knowledgable. And whatever he doesnt have he can order and have in a few days. I normally do all of my shopping online from TW or sme of the other small sites. I don't really care for bass pro unless I'm passing through Richmond VA. It's got too much of a box box feel and hardly any of the young men in the fishing section are serious bass fishermen. I have met a couple of employees tho who were knowledgable but it is few and far between.

[endless]

Another here all for Green Top!! But I do love my small tackle shops like Mike's tackle here in Bowling Green and Ken's tackle n Fredericksburg. I don't do much buying in them just more less go to talk to the owners or their family employees. Great people!!

[Triton_Mike]

We have a shop in Hiram, Georgia (Natures Tackle Box) that started out as a makeup (yes Makeup LOL) and fly fishing.  4 years later she's one of the better if not one of the best selection bass shops in the Atlanta area.  Her secret.  She just has the personality to go with it.  She can sit there and talk to customers with the best of them.  She also offers alot of custom made baits as well.  She has a Academy 200ft from here and a Walmart across the street and a bass pro coming soon that will be within 20 minutes from her.  She is still going strong.   You can't beat good service and selection.