Lucky to have local tackle shops nearby

[Eric 26]

As read a post this week about “Dicks sporting goods “it got me thinking about a tackle shop I like to stop & shop at. I’m fortunate that I have all 3 major “sporting goods” stores within a 45 min. to 1 hour drive from my house, and my bps is across from an IKEA store that my wife likes going to. I know Black Friday sales are coming and I took advantage last year from site sponsor “Tackle Warehouse” and I’ve discussed taking advantage of the spring sale at “BPS” but I recently took advantage of the fact that a local to me shop also buys used fishing gear. The other thing that separates them from the chain stores is the local knowledge the employees  have and willingly share from the sandwich board out front with the local fishing report on it to the vast selection of gear they carry inside. I hope this post doesn’t offend or come across as me telling anyone where to spend their hard earned dollars I just wanted to acknowledge the shop and what they offer. 

[WRB]

If you don’t patronize the local shop it will not be there long.

The big box stores and on line shopping is killing small shops everywhere.

Friendly knowledgeable tackle shop becomes a watering hole, place to gather and imo priceless.

Tom 

[DitchPanda]

I'm genuinely jealous of anybody that has a small tackle shop close by. Closest one for me is over an hour away.

[Smells like fish]

My shops aren’t very close 40 mins to 1hr &40 away but I owe 95%+ of my lures to buying in person. I’d be shut down for collecting if my shops disappeared. Support small tackle shops!!!!

[heavyduty]

1 hour ago, DitchPanda said:

I'm genuinely jealous of anybody that has a small tackle shop close by. Closest one for me is over an hour away.

Agree 100%

[T-Billy]

Great little tackle store in my town. Pretty good selection and fair prices. Best part is running into old friends and making new ones. It often takes me an hour to pick up a spool of line. I buy as much as I can there, and only shop online for items they don't have in stock. Great owner who often hooks us regulars up with a discount on more expensive things like rods and reels. It's a real blessing to have around. I wish we still had a mom and pop hardware store.

[FishinBuck07]

I am also lucky enough to have a great local tackle shop near me also, and they focus mainly on bass fishing.  I try to buy everything I need from them if possible.  They have an amazing selection and the prices are great.  If I do order online it is only TW and one other.  Never BPS or Cabela's.

[Johnbt]

I'm 30 minutes from Cabela's, BP and Green Top Sporting Goods (decades old Richmond favorite that took the Gander Mountain building on I-95 when they left town years ago.)

 

Locally on Route 5, we have a bait shop with some freshwater gear, saltwater gear, boat gear, local honey and fresh vegetables and flowers.     And great live bait. Being just below the fall of the James and near the county's Osborne Boat Landing there's a demand for all sorts of bait. 

 

 

[TOXIC]

It used to be that the big box retailers invested some time into bringing local anglers and guides in to do seminars and demonstrations.  I have worked many, many of them.  I also would go to the smaller mom n pop stores and do the same thing and hand out a few samples.  The big retailers are now just focused on bringing the big names to special events like the spring and fall classic sales, etc.  It’s a shame that they no longer see the value of the folks that actually fish the local waters on a regular basis.  

[Tennessee Boy]

I have two excellent small tackle stores within 5 minutes of me.  Please don't hate me.   

 

They've had a very hard time getting product to sell lately.  I hope they survive.

[T-Billy]

2 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I have two excellent small tackle stores within 5 minutes of me.  Please don't hate me.   

 

They've had a very hard time getting product to sell lately.  I hope they survive.

It's crazy. My local guy orders what he needs, and takes what he can get, sometimes months later.

[MN Fisher]

On 10/31/2021 at 12:10 PM, WRB said:

If you don’t patronize the local shop it will not be there long.

The big box stores and on line shopping is killing small shops everywhere.

City re-zoning or taxes took out 3 of ours...last of the 'old crew' left in the area is 20 minutes away

I frequented all three - one was where I always took my old Duo with the 40hp Evinrude to be worked on when needed as the owner was a certified Johnson/Evinrude service tech.

 

New one opened up several years ago - but he's primarily a custom rod maker and runs a guide service.

 

The convenience stores in the area have picked up the slack, with one of them actually having tanked minnows and leeches instead of 'bagged'.

[Munkin]

Only one close to me is about 45 minutes away and I try to go down at least once a month.  Places around here have slowly closed down over the years.  There is one in Williamsport with potential but the store is only open about 15 hours a week. 

 

Allen 

[fishwizzard]

9 hours ago, Munkin said:

Only one close to me is about 45 minutes away and I try to go down at least once a month.  Places around here have slowly closed down over the years.  There is one in Williamsport with potential but the store is only open about 15 hours a week. 

 

Allen 

Whats the name? 
 

My part of MD is so salt focused that no one really stocks much bass tackle.  

[zpelletier]

On 10/31/2021 at 1:35 PM, DitchPanda said:

I'm genuinely jealous of anybody that has a small tackle shop close by. Closest one for me is over an hour away.

Exacty this, super jealous. The closest big box store for me is Dicks, and their selection is horrible and there is never anyone working in that section. The next closest would be Cabela’s that’s about an hour away. I would LOVE a local shop, I would gladly spend more money to support them over a big box store. Especially since I recently got more into fishing, I would love to be able to talk to people from the area and get advice. 
 

 

For the sake of honesty, I will say that there is one local shop up the road from me. However, it is exclusively for fly fishing, which I haven’t gotten into, not yet at least. They’re all a little snoody.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I live in a town with a 800 acre lake, and there is one shop that you could barely call a bait shop.  They have old tackle stock from like 30 years ago when the original owner sold it to someone, who sold it to someone else, who sold it to them.  They do have some bait, but I was told they buy the bait at retail from another sort of local shop and then resell it.  Not a great business model, and I assume they'll be belly-up by the end of next year.  Pretty sad..

 

The closest *good* shop is about 25 minutes from me.  They have tackle, guns, kayaks, ice shacks, augers, lots of stuff.  They also manufacture and sell tons of trapping items.  My best bud runs the floor of the store, so I tend to make a trip every month or two.  I also have a business relationship with them, as they sell tungsten ice flies that I tie and retail.  Their prices are actually very competitive with any online retailer, so if they have what I want, I make sure to get it there.

[Munkin]

5 hours ago, fishwizzard said:

Whats the name? 
 

My part of MD is so salt focused that no one really stocks much bass tackle.  

 

Jakes bait and tackle in Winchester, VA is what I was referring to. Anglers (whatever its really called) right on the western shore of the Bay bridge actually has some good bass stuff.

 

Allen

[Deleted account]

57 minutes ago, Munkin said:

 

 Anglers (whatever its really called) right on the western shore of the Bay bridge actually has some good bass stuff.

 

Allen

Their reel (sic) name is Angler's Sport Center,

The sign says Anglers

                             Fishing

                                   Hunting

but everyone knows them as Angler's. A couple of the guys that work or worked there are hardcore fresh, bass, snakeheads, and everything else. Their fresh water selection is good for a shop right on the Ches. Bay.

Frozen green crabs on the other hand, that is just offensive!

 

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, Munkin said:

 

Jakes bait and tackle in Winchester, VA is what I was referring to. Anglers (whatever its really called) right on the western shore of the Bay bridge actually has some good bass stuff.

 

Allen

Thanks, I had never heard of Jakes. 
 

I haven't been to Anglers in a while, good to hear their bass section is growing.  I recall the gas station next door had oddly good Mexican food too, will have to make a trip out there soon. 
 

There used to be a great bass shop up by Towson but it went out of business. I made it up there 2-3 times a year but the drive was rough, esp not being able launch into any of the reservoirs up there.  

[DitchPanda]

8 hours ago, zpelletier said:

Exacty this, super jealous. The closest big box store for me is Dicks, and their selection is horrible and there is never anyone working in that section. The next closest would be Cabela’s that’s about an hour away. I would LOVE a local shop, I would gladly spend more money to support them over a big box store. Especially since I recently got more into fishing, I would love to be able to talk to people from the area and get advice. 
 

 

For the sake of honesty, I will say that there is one local shop up the road from me. However, it is exclusively for fly fishing, which I haven’t gotten into, not yet at least. They’re all a little snoody.

I would also gladly pay more..within reason of course..to support a small shop but they are hours from me. Because of this I do the majority of my buying on tackle warehouse.

[Eric 26]

Just swung by my local shop (Anglers Outlet) in Tinley Park on my home after seeing @A -Jay posted a picture of his favorite jigs. I’ll post a photo in the “latest tackle purchase” thread. Seeing these responses is definitely making me appreciate this shop even more. I didn’t realize just how lucky I am as I have a different local shop (Fishing Connection) In Orland Park also on my way home from work,  just a different route home.

[heavyduty]

7 hours ago, Munkin said:

Jakes bait and tackle in Winchester, VA

Good place! I make it a point to stop by each Spring and Fall on my way back home from the Susquehanna. They carry what the local fishermen want and use. Wish they had an online presence.

[Columbia Craw]

I buy everything I can from my local family owned sporting goods store.  They also carry work wear and foot wear.  They are a hard core Daiwa dealer.

[Krux5506]

I wish we had a decent bass oriented local tackle shop in my area but it seems to me anything reasonably close by is practically always geared toward the big lake trolling crowd. Yeah they might have a small section of senkos and basic soft plastics but beyond that forget it. I'm not sure how you can really make a living with a tackle shop nowadays. 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Krux5506 said:

I'm not sure how you can really make a living with a tackle shop nowadays. 

You start with a large fortune...