Shelves are bare

[slonezp]

just got back from Cabelas. Went to build a tackle box for my grandson. They have almost zero terminal tackle. Hooks, weights, bobbers, all slim pickings. No boats either. I would say normal stock is 30-40 boats. They had maybe a dozen. 

[Herbert Lorenzo]

Just a guess , but I wonder if maybe actual in person visits to stores is way down due to pandemic and these  stores are doing most business now a days online ?

[Big Swimbait]

Same at my local Bass Pro yesterday. A lot of open pegs with some complete soft plastic sections totally empty.

[Team9nine]

Same story about everywhere...My local Wal-Mart was about half cleared of fishing tackle the other day.

 

Tackle Story

[looking45]

The stores can't replace inventory even if they wanted to. The supply chain has been almost completely shut down due to COVID and the problems we're having with China. Manufacturers have cut back to skelton crews, if they are open at all. Best bet to buy tackle now is one of the big online sellers. Or, find an individual who hand pours or can pour heads for you. Good luck

[FishTank]

My local Cabela's is the same.  They have been getting a limited supply of fishing stuff.  When I asked they said the stuff  is either sitting in California and can't get through customs or there's just a limited supply due to production shortages. 

[snake95]

52 minutes ago, FishTank said:

My local Cabela's is the same.  They have been getting a limited supply of fishing stuff.  When I asked they said the stuff  is either sitting in California and can't get through customs or there's just a limited supply due to production shortages. 

LOL I assume you’re not intending to be funny but it reads like stuff is stuck in the country of California and can’t get through to the rest of the US!

[schplurg]

My Walmart shelves were bare so I ordered online. No shortage there, at least none that I saw. I ordered enough cheap crank baits to last me through next year.

 

I don't want to walk into BPS or Walmart anyways, especially right now.

[Crankin4Bass]

I'm so glad I listened to the bait monkey and have been stocking up for years. 

[slonezp]

3 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I'm so glad I listened to the bait monkey and have been stocking up for years. 

I have plenty for myself, probably 10 years worth. I went there today to get a tacklebox put together so someone else could take him fishing besides me. Literally, just terminal tackle was non existent. 

[FishTank]

1 hour ago, snake95 said:

LOL I assume you’re not intending to be funny but it reads like stuff is stuck in the country of California and can’t get through to the rest of the US!

That is correct sort of and not really meaning to be funny but......  Things are being held at customs due to lack of inspection and delivery options.  This has been an ongoing issues with parts we need at my place of employment.   It has been easier to get them through Canada and Mexico.  International loads, LTL, and even DHL have been questionable when it comes to getting things from China, Taiwan, and Thailand. 

[Bluebasser86]

Thinking about buying a split shot mold and setting up a stand at the local lake, probably make a killing. Walmart has been sold out of them for months.

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Thinking about buying a split shot mold and setting up a stand at the local lake, probably make a killing. Walmart has been sold out of them for months.

Ah, the American dream! You would probably get shut down by the local govt or taxes and permits would outweigh your profits haha

[scaleface]

I thought I was all set and in need of nothing . Nope , cant find bobber stops .

[Bass Ninja]

7 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I thought I was all set and in need of nothing . Nope , cant find bobber stops .

Literally just ordered some on Tackle Warehouse right now haha 

[gim]

There was a brand new Scheels that opened here in a west metro suburb on July 11.  I went on July 13.  Every single peg and shelf was completely full of items.  Not just 1 or 2 items either, at least 10 of each.  I went in there looking for about 10 items and I left with all 10.

 

Fast forward to a couple days ago.  I told a friend about how they had everything in stock a few weeks ago so he made a trip there.  He sends me photos of virtually completely empty aisles of product!  The z man plastics aisle was completely bare - literally nothing left.  The topwater frog aisle had 95% of nothing too.  I couldn't believe it.  In less than a month, a brand new store with loads of everything, wiped out.  Clearly not even a grand opening with full stock is immune to this problem.

[Mat_ski]

This is the case for everything made overseas, not just fishing gear. I could not evem find flip flops at walmart. 

[Mobasser]

Our local Academy and Wal Mart are both short on a lot of stuff. Soft plastics, hard baits, line and rod/ reels are all low. Now's a good time to dig out your older stuff. Start throwing some things you havnt used in a while. They will still work.

[PourMyOwn]

7 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

Our local Academy and Wal Mart are both short on a lot of stuff. Soft plastics, hard baits, line and rod/ reels are all low. Now's a good time to dig out your older stuff. Start throwing some things you havnt used in a while. They will still work.

See you later, Gamakatsu, time for the Tru-Turn hooks!

[NYWayfarer]

Time to re-sharpen your hooks, un-pinch your split shots, recycle and reuse your terminal tackle if you don't already.

 

I broke off with a rig with an Owner hook and a Strike King tungsten bullet weight this weekend. I almost cried.

[Tennessee Boy]

I took inventory of my back up tackle supply in the basement.  If this pandemic is not over by 2038,  I'm in big trouble.

[Spankey]

3 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

See you later, Gamakatsu, time for the Tru-Turn hooks!

I don’t do a lot of big heavy worm fishing. I can and do fish them on occasion. Have terminal tackle for that. 
 

Majority of my worm fishing is 4”, 4 3/4”, 5” and 6” worms. 
 

The Gammy Lite Wire Worm Hooks 1/0 - 3/0 and the Tru-Turns Worm Hooks are my go to hooks. 
 

I have not been effected too much by COVID or any trade war if that is going on. I’m waiting on something from TW but I really don’t care about the delayed delivery. 
 

Some of you guys are lucky to have some decent Wally Worlds or DICK’S. Ones out my way sort of suck and I’ve boycotted them years ago. Have a couple of mom and pop shops near me. They are sort of ok but they struggle to get things in. Situation stinks for sure. I really don’t impulse buy anymore. Day of that are long gone. Sometimes I get a certain color pattern in mind or is hot working color pattern and I try to find it in a different sizes or body shapes. Been able to do that so far. In season I don’t buy that much. Most things I’m looking for I pick them up in the off season. 

[slonezp]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I took inventory of my back up tackle supply in the basement.  If this pandemic is not over by 2038,  I'm in big trouble.

I have enough tackle to last me years,  minus terminal tackle which is what I was looking for yesterday. 

[Southernbasser]

I’ve been to Cabelas a numerous times over the past couple months. Every time I go, the fishing section is pretty much completely wiped-out, except for some plastics. 

[gall]

I have bps and Sportsman warehouse both 15 minutes away and Sportsman warehouse is totally bare in fishing and bps is dang close.