Supporting Local Tackle Shops

[MonsterZero]

4 hours ago, LootyDjibouti said:

I try to balance my purchases between both. Our local tackle shop is relatively small. They pack a lot in but they can't possibly compete on price, sales, or inventory. 

I can get rods/reels for 30-40% less online if I'm patient and do some research. 

That said I love going to the tackle shop and physically checking out gear. And I will pay a "premium" at times to support them. 

My general policy is that if I am in a small, independent shop, I do not leave without buying SOMETHING. I am not going to throw money away, but who does not need more hooks, soft plastics, etc? Easy enough to throw a few dollars their way, especially if I am taking up their time with questions or chatter.

[Hogs_n_Logs]

I'll be honest, besides a couple saltwater focused places in FL, I've never had a great experience at a small tackle shop anywhere in the country. Paltry selection that is either poorly curated or 90% focused on budget gear to catch the local meat fish. Staff often nice enough but not that helpful. 

 

BPS and big chains are typically garbage too, my local ones are always sold out of fundamental stuff like wide gap hooks or line, and their rod/reel selection is pathetic for being touted as a fishing superstore. 

 

I would kill for any type of brick and morter shop that focused on mid-high end gear, particularly for rods. Would happily pay the small shop premium to be able to try stuff out before purchasing. 

[BassKat]

@Hogs_n_Logs It was pretty common that the Huntin' n Fishin' stores around here were 80% huntin' and 20 fishin'.  We only had one legit fishin' store and it was amazing. I mowed lawns and had a deal with my Dad that went something like 5 lures for As, 2 for Bs and I was always on the honor roll. 

[Tennessee Boy]

Five years ago I had two shops within 5 minutes of me.  Both are now gone.  There is one 20 minutes away that I've been to once.  It was not worth the drive.  BPS is about 20 minutes away and has a good selection but I mostly buy online now.

[MonsterZero]

1 hour ago, Hogs_n_Logs said:

I'll be honest, besides a couple saltwater focused places in FL, I've never had a great experience at a small tackle shop anywhere in the country. Paltry selection that is either poorly curated or 90% focused on budget gear to catch the local meat fish. Staff often nice enough but not that helpful. 

 

BPS and big chains are typically garbage too, my local ones are always sold out of fundamental stuff like wide gap hooks or line, and their rod/reel selection is pathetic for being touted as a fishing superstore. 

 

I would kill for any type of brick and morter shop that focused on mid-high end gear, particularly for rods. Would happily pay the small shop premium to be able to try stuff out before purchasing. 

I think the difference is that a good tackle shop is run by fishermen; a bad one, by our standards, is run by businessmen. There is absolutely a difference between people who have a passion for the sport and people who are looking to make a buck off of the weekend warriors. I have been fortunate in my time to have come across a lot of good ones, a few of which are still around.

[Hogs_n_Logs]

9 minutes ago, MonsterZero said:

I think the difference is that a good tackle shop is run by fishermen; a bad one, by our standards, is run by businessmen. There is absolutely a difference between people who have a passion for the sport and people who are looking to make a buck off of the weekend warriors. I have been fortunate in my time to have come across a lot of good ones, a few of which are still around.

 

The staff of the stores im referring to definitely seem like fisherman, but they seem to have a passion for filling their coolers with a limit of fish by any means necessary rather than passion for sport angling. An example, theres a time of year cisco come inshore and can be caught at piers, a popular lure/method is "jigging" huge 1-3oz spoons with giant trebles, for a fish with a mouth you can barely fit your thumb in.... lol

[Munkin]

On 2/23/2025 at 8:18 AM, LonnieP said:

I wish I had a local shop to support

 

Me too, the two "Local" shops for me are 45 minutes and 1:15 minutes away. Dicks is crazy high prices so I only hit there when I really need something right away which is rare.

 

Allen

[GRiver]

I try to support local shops, but when you’re on a budget, it’s tough. 
@SC53 I’ve never been in the store but ordered online from Bitters. Love their color selections, and you can buy bulk too. 
might make a trip there and stock up.
 

[SC53]

@GRiver and @Hogs_n_Logs if you ever get a chance to visit Bitters, you will very impressed. Like I said, it’s owned by a tournament fisherman ( retired now) and the staff are all anglers and most tournament fish. Even Doug Gilley’s daughter works there on occasion. Once you go there, you’ll never go to the other stores.

if he doesn’t have it, you probably don’t need it 😂

 

And if saltwater is what you want, Strike Zone in Melbourne and Handlers in Cocoa/Merritt island are the best. The rod and reel selections at Strike Zone are unreal. Again, these are all run by fishermen.

[Rockhopper]

19 hours ago, BassKat said:

@Hogs_n_Logs It was pretty common that the Huntin' n Fishin' stores around here were 80% huntin' and 20 fishin'.  We only had one legit fishin' store and it was amazing. I mowed lawns and had a deal with my Dad that went something like 5 lures for As, 2 for Bs and I was always on the honor roll. 

I had a deal like that.  New rod/reel every year that I got straight A's.  Poor guy had to pony up $300+ a year for about 6 years straight. 😂

[BassKat]

@Rockhopper If I'm honest, it started with Star Wars "action figures" (dolls) and, luckily, quickly evolved to lures. Every Christmas was nothing but fishing equipment from around 8 and up. It has been the same for my son.  My daughter just borrows our stuff!

[Rockhopper]

3 minutes ago, BassKat said:

@Rockhopper If I'm honest, it started with Star Wars "action figures" (dolls) and, luckily, quickly evolved to lures. Every Christmas was nothing but fishing equipment from around 8 and up. It has been the same for my son.  My daughter just borrows our stuff!

I quite literally never had anything less than an A my entire life.  Not even an A-.  I suppose he probably already knew what he was in for going into that deal.  Started in the 7th grade.  I still have and use some of the rods.

[BassKat]

@Rockhopper Man, I came pretty close! And it all started with the report card "deal"! Usually, with my Dad, the deal was if you want something, you work to buy it, and I'll help you out when you prove your work ethic. As it somewhat relates, I love the saying, teach a kid to hunt and fish, and they'll never have money for alcohol and drugs.