Why is it so hard

[redux]

During peak Covid I had a slow TW order. Paid for 2-day and with their fulfillment delays and shipping it got to me one day faster than standard shipping, Something like 10 days. My last order (placed on a Saturday) was fulfilled and shipped the following Monday. I had it Wednesday.

 

DIck's is a lame company and has a pretty weak selection. I've popped in 7 times in the past month and didn't buy anything. There are no Academy's near me. The Bass Pro up the road has a fairly weak rod selection at the moment, but they have everything else in spades.

 

My area is heavy salwater so the selection for bass tackle is not always stellar. I'm thinking I may need to drive up to Clewiston and see what Roland has on the shelves or look into some of these other online retailers I see everyone talking about.

[joshuaray83]

Why aren't people making their baits? Especially things like jigs (and all the different types of jigs there are), buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and spoons. Go to Lure Parts Online, buy the parts, and assemble it yourself. Not only will it ship quick, but it'll likely be considerably cheaper. They also have hardbait blanks, you could simply spray paint and then seal.

[J Francho]

1 minute ago, joshuaray83 said:

Why aren't people making their baits? Especially things like jigs (and all the different types of jigs there are), buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, and spoons. Go to Lure Parts Online, buy the parts, and assemble it yourself. Not only will it ship quick, but it'll likely be considerably cheaper. They also have hardbait blanks, you could simply spray paint and then seal.

Time.

[MN Fisher]

^ Hit it right on the old noggin', John.

[joshuaray83]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Time.

Sure, it takes time to paint hardbaits, but spinners, jigs, spoons and the like are basically just assembly. Get a pre-painted jig head and skirt, tie the skirt (or use rubber rings), cut it to your desired length, and you're done. I'm certainly not a professional. Heck, I wouldn't even call myself an experienced angler. I just think there are easy things we can do to save a buck while still getting quality tackle and you really only need to invest a couple minutes at a time. I don't think I'll buy another mass produced jig when I can put two pieces together and make 10 good quality jigs for maybe $10 and 15 minutes of my time.

[J Francho]

9 minutes ago, joshuaray83 said:

$10 and 15 minutes of my time.

My time doing something other than inhaling lead fumes, tying up a toaster oven to powder coat, all the trial and error getting good at wire tying skirts, not to mention ordering materials and maintaining equipment, making a space to do all this work safely, etc.  My time is worth a lot more than your grossly underestimated $40/hour.  If making your own baits is your hobby and you really enjoy it, then I'm all for it.  You asked why doesn't everyone follow your thinking, and I answered: time.  Not all of us want to do it.  Yours is but one perspective, and not wrong or right for everyone.

 

I don't buy mass produced jigs either.  I get mine from Siebert Outdoors.  Mike does a better job than I could ever learn to do.  All I have to do is open the envelope, tie on the jig, and fish.  Not bad for less then $4. It gives me more time for other hobbies.

 

Hot tip: skip the rubber bands and learn how wire tie your jigs.  Skirts last forever and have better flare.

[Spankey]

OP I can understand the hate hate relationship with Wally World. Any Wally near me sucks as far as fishing stuff available and nothing else I use on a day to day basis doesn’t need to come from there. I refuse to go there also. 
 

But if you can remain patient things (stock) is getting better at these places you mentioned. I have seen where TW had an expected date and items were gotten for me before that date. Not just for me but everybody. 
 

Covid, what is essential and what is not essential comes into play. Parts for the trades (real working materials) needed in my line of work are tough to get. Imported stuff is quarantined. Production is slow. 
 

But things will get back close to normal. Your stuff will come. I had baits I waited months on. Finally got them. Places like TW have to put some type of lead time on things. Most likely out further than reality. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I hang out in the fishing department at Walmart every time my wife drags me to town to go shopping. It’s my little oasis.

[joshuaray83]

32 minutes ago, J Francho said:

My time doing something other than inhaling lead fumes, tying up a toaster oven to powder coat, all the trial and error getting good at wire tying skirts, not to mention ordering materials and maintaining equipment, making a space to do all this work safely, etc.  My time is worth a lot more than your grossly underestimated $40/hour.  If making your own baits is your hobby and you really enjoy it, then I'm all for it.  You asked why doesn't everyone follow your thinking, and I answered: time.  Not all of us want to do it.  Yours is but one perspective, and not wrong or right for everyone.

 

I don't buy mass produced jigs either.  I get mine from Siebert Outdoors.  Mike does a better job than I could ever learn to do.  All I have to do is open the envelope, tie on the jig, and fish.  Not bad for less then $4. It gives me more time for other hobbies.

 

Hot tip: skip the rubber bands and learn how wire tie your jigs.  Skirts last forever and have better flare.

That's fair. I wouldn't want to pour my own lead or paint my own jigs either. I just think buying the pre-painted ones and tying your own skirt is easy enough on time and skill to make it worthwhile.

 

I've been meaning to learn to wire-tie my skirts. It doesn't strike me as something with a huge learning curve. Do you know what is typically used for wire? Just standard stainless wire from the craft store?

[J Francho]

Copper. There's a few threads you can search for here that have what people use. I think it's generally a craft store item. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

8 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Copper. There's a few threads you can search for here that have what people use. I think it's generally a craft store item. 

I get mine at hobby lobby. In my opinion the 24 gauge is the best. It’s heavy enough to get a tight twist but not so heavy you can’t work with it. 

[Tramp]

11 hours ago, J Francho said:

Time.

I’m just an old truck driver. I can get it done! But it ain’t gonna be pretty

[bassh8er]

On 4/19/2021 at 12:48 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Man we're spoiled. 2 weeks to get our shiny new fishing goodies and losing our minds? I just picked up my 2 handmade balsa cranks from a local builder tonight that I've been on the waiting list for 6 months to get ? If you need something right now then hop on Ebay and you can probably get it at your door in a couple days, you'll just have to pay a couple extra bucks in shipping instead of getting free shipping from TW.

I actually do a majority of my fishing purchases on eBay because of the prices being so much lower than other places online.

[Bluebasser86]

55 minutes ago, bassh8er said:

I actually do a majority of my fishing purchases on eBay because of the prices being so much lower than other places online.

I buy a lot of my stuff there and it just kind of depends. Usually it kind of balances out. I'll find it for a couple bucks cheaper, but the shipping charge puts it right back at about where it was if I got free shipping. Some of the stores do have good prices, plus free shipping over $50, so I can get a really good price. In the end, it comes down to do you need it or not? If so, then that's about the surest way to get an item. 

[Spankey]

6 hours ago, bassh8er said:

I actually do a majority of my fishing purchases on eBay because of the prices being so much lower than other places online.

 

5 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I buy a lot of my stuff there and it just kind of depends. Usually it kind of balances out. I'll find it for a couple bucks cheaper, but the shipping charge puts it right back at about where it was if I got free shipping. Some of the stores do have good prices, plus free shipping over $50, so I can get a really good price. In the end, it comes down to do you need it or not? If so, then that's about the surest way to get an item. 

I find eBay just the opposite. Have seen items 2X+ higher. Example just Berkley Worms. Lucky Craft hardbaits. 
 

I believe you guys. Admittedly I’m very rarely even checking there. I think it’s mostly because I don’t want to deal with PayPal. 

[MAN]

I have never found Ebay good for purchasing "brand new" items.  While there may be a couple dollars savings against a big box....the shipping cost makes it a wash.  Now I do use Ebay religiously to buy used/vintage fishing stuff.  

[Black Hawk Basser]

Ya gotta buy stuff in lots on eBay.  Like 5 packs of assorted Zoom baits or whatever you are after.  You may get a bag that you don't want, but they are generally pretty good deals.  Also, I can't believe so many of you are complaining about not getting fishing tackle.  OMG are you gonna die?

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, Pickle_Power said:

OMG are you gonna die?

Very close.

[BassNJake]

On 4/19/2021 at 2:31 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Haha! Everyone reading this please drive to East Tennessee or northern Alabama. There are tons of stores with tons of lures, I’ve never waited two weeks for anything. Reminds me of George Clooney wanting his dapper dan hair pomade in “o’ brother where art thou”

 

”well isn’t this place just a geographical oddity, two weeks from anywhere”

I do a lot of my shopping at the gas station/bait stores down here.

Rigsby's Hunting and Fishing and Southern Outdoors in Tazewell have most of what I would need.

Never thought I'd stop for gas and come out with a lucky craft pointer, a jackhammer and a spool of Gamma Edge. My wife used to wonder why I spent 30 minutes inside the gas station.

It's because they have about a hundred feet of pegboards and both sides are filled with lines, lures, soft plastics and anything else fishing related. One of the many reasons why I love East TN!!

 

[J Francho]

That place sounds awesome. 

[MN Fisher]

On 4/17/2021 at 2:56 PM, MN Fisher said:

Says they still have 11 in stock at that price

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0773DMF88/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Well, that was a bust. Arrived today and two problems

1: They didn't use any packing material inside the shipping box so the reel-box got tossed around, busted open, and the reel was knocking around loose...pic taken when I opened it.

 

2: I ordered a 7.1:1 - that's what the description had - what arrived was a 5.4:1. So after some back-and-forth with the seller...including the pics...I'm shipping it back and getting a full refund - they're not even going to charge me the normal re-stocking fee because of the hassle and mistakes at their end.