Thinking About Not-For-Profit "Business"

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

"Business" isn't even the right word.  I'm not advertising here, but rather am messing with an idea and would like input.

I have my own business, but it has nothing to do with fishing.  The one time I tried to expand into that line, I fixed up a pre-UC 5000c, supertuned and all, and put it up for sale.  My (now-2yr-old) daughter claimed it, and I considered it sold.  She practices working with it daily -- it's one of her favorite 'toys' and probably the most expensive.

So, I'm not looking to do that again.  She has a good reel.

What I would like to do more is this:

I'm seeing folks new to fishing, or getting back into fishing, asking about good quality, inexpensive reels.  Now, we know that those usually don't exist.  Over the past couple, few years, though, I've ordered some of the old bulletproof reels from an auction site when I got good prices.  I reconditioned and supertuned them, and gave them to those who could use them. 

One went to my brother-in-law as he wanted to get back into fishing.  It was a Silver Max/Lightening Rod combo with braid if I recall right.

One reel went to someone here, I think.  It's been a couple years so I'm not 100% sure, but it seems that happened.

I have an older Daiwa setting on an older Browning graphite rod for a childhood friend just reacquainted, for him to pick up.  (His old rig disappeared someplace.)

I've been playing with Shimano Bantams, and I really like them for what they are.  They're a little slow even for my taste, but I think would likely serve a new person well.  Even with lack of factory parts, they are readily repaired and upgraded using stock or slightly modified parts intended for other reels. 

As an example, my wife needed a better setup for frogging.  She prefers pistol grip, short rods due to preference and her height (5'0").  I found an old Fenwick rod with the tip busted, and with a new tip eyelet, it makes an excellent H/F rod.  I rebuilt and upgraded a Shimano Bantam, mounted it, and spooled it with braid.  It casts well and should make a better rod than her M/F graphite rod (forget the brand right now) mounted with the rebuilt and modified 1310 Quantum.

The Bantam is a great little reel for small hands, even if the gears are a little slow even for my tastes.  (They seem to be about 4.1:1; my lowest reels are 4.7:1/21-23ipt.)  Should help smaller folks pull bass out of grass.  I even found carbon fiber drags which work with this little thing!

For larger hands or different preferences, there's always a wide array of Ambassadeur models that were made in Sweden, and early Quantums which, while the paint wears poorly, tend to keep good function.

So, the bottom line is this:  I'd like to acquire reels cheap, maybe rods as well, fix them in my spare time, and get them to folks who will use and appreciate them.  Maybe set up a program of some sort, under the premise that folks who are fishing are folks who are not bored and are therefore staying out of trouble.  This goes doubly for teenagers.

Retailers would benefit because more folks would figure out what they like/need in the way of new equipment instead of going in blindly and becoming frustrated by perhaps inferior brands/makes of reels or rods. 

I can't see anyone losing by this.  I get to spend time on a fun hobby when I'm not able to fish, and it would make use of tools I already have.  Retailers would benefit.  Reel repair folks (@Delaware Valley Tackle!) would benefit.  We'd benefit as a community.

What do you all think about this?  Ideas?  Would this board like to be involved?  Do you know (or are you) are person who wants to fish, but needs equipment?

This is something I've been thinking about doing for a couple years.  I just don't know how well it would fly, or if it would.  This is why I'm bringing the idea here before the 'committee' before moving forward.

Thoughts?

Regards,

Josh

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Josh I'm there with you. I do free or deep discounted work all the time for young, beginning or needy anglers. Only thing I would caution you on is that unfortunately there are dishonest people in the world that will take advantage or charity just out of cheap or greediness. Too broad a program may become troublesome to monitor. I like the sentiment though. 

[Josh Smith]

3 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Josh I'm there with you. I do free or deep discounted work all the time for young, beginning or needy anglers. Only thing I would caution you on is that unfortunately there are dishonest people in the world that will take advantage or charity just out of cheap or greediness. Too broad a program may become troublesome to monitor. I like the sentiment though. 

I'm glad you do that.  It's excellent!

There was a county cop here who I was acquainted with in my youth (Explorer Scout with the Sheriff's Dept).  After he retired from the force, he hired on doing youth work and one thing he did was took kids fishing.  His heart is bad, though, and I believe he's had to stop.  It's a shame.

The guy who's going to run for sheriff next election (and probably win) is an acquaintance, as is the new mayor (formerly a city officer.)  Generally I like to stay out of the spotlight, but I've been thinking about approaching these folks about starting a fishing program of some sort for kids.  There's one that's televised (I just found out) called Hooked on Fishing with a Captain Dan(?) which seems to be concentrated on kids, and it seems to work, though they have sponsors.

I guess this is an idea which needs a direction to work.

Regards,

Josh

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

As long as the sponsor proceeds go toward legit expenses of the charity that's a good way to fund it. 

[buzzed bait]

i think what you described is a charity....  most non-profits turn a profit for somebody....

awesome idea!  i actually sent a spinning reel to Mike at DVT for this very purpose.  He put it back together again with the intent of passing it along to a fisher in need!

[dave]

If you want to be a non profit business in the fishing industry,  become a guide...