In Your Opinion

[BUCKEYEone]

I would much rather spend my dollars at a ma and pa shop, as long as they know what they are selling!  Not only do they typically have most of what I want (and a lot of old stuff no one else has), if they are out, they order it.  If I walk up to the counter to ask if they carry XYZ product, and they don't...they find out how to order it (most recently Rage Tail products).  I will never buy a rod or reel from a BPS or Cabelas because I know that MOST small shops are hurting because so many people shop online that they will match any deal I can find elsewhere, and there is no shipping.  I know if the product fails for any reason they will take it back.  

[Pitchinkid]

We have a Sportmart here. it has catered to the anglers in Central WV for more than 15 years if not longer. It sponsors our local tournament trail. They have always taken care of the fisherman that are loyal to there store. Every year they hand out discount cards to local anglers that have been good customers in the past. It really works out great. There is an Older guy that has worked there since Lauren Rapala carved his first Rapala. He cant get out and fish like he used too but he still gets out and fishes. Listening to his stories is well worth going . About 2 years ago we got a Gander Mountian. They really did have an amazing amount of fishing tackle and some things at better pricing than Sportmart. I might spend $100 dollars at Gander and be in there less than hour. But ill spend the same $100 dollars at Sportmart and be there for 3 hours talking to him about fishing. Hands down my favorite tackle store,

[thetr20one]

When I am shopping for gear or tackle I already know what I want or need. The sales people are immediately met with a "yes I am finding what I need thanks". I have found that most salesmen/employees will try to get info from you while trying to give you B.S. that you should already know about. The Internet is the easiest non-chatting way to find everything you need. Even though I still must visit tackle shops every couple weeks during the fishing season.

 

[senile1]

For me a scan of what they carry says it all.

If a place has white and green pork frogs, culprit worms, NFL team crank baits etc that tells me the staff isn't clued in at all.

They aren't the only worms I use, but I like Culprit worms.  8-)

[Captain Obvious]

I think tackle stores are like lakes, every fisherman has a favorite, Mine is a place which has a sign on the road saying,"Come in and lets talk fishing," great tackle selection, and conversation, can't beat it

[CWB]

I usually go to the big stores to try to pick up women. I'm beginning to think that single's bars would be more productive.

Show em your ten inch power worm. Then explain why they call you Long Mike! ;D

[Volman482]

Selection and value.

[silvercliff_46]

I got a small sport-shop about 30 miles from my house (Crivitz WI.) called Hook, Line and Sinker.  Frank is pretty knowledgeable on both hunting and fishing, has a surprising variety of goods in his little store, and will order what you need if he doesn't have it.

The other place, (believe it or not) is the Walmart in Iron Mountain Michigan.  They have a pretty good variety of stuff.  Most Yoopers (male, female, young, old) fish, hunt and do most things outdoors (I think it may be required by law).  It makes for a pretty knowledgeable crew.

[fishfordollars]

I go to buy tackle and be left alone. Most employees of tackle stores don't know a crankbait from a jig. Heck most cannot even tell you if they have worm hooks. 99.9% have never been in a boat and very few fish so why would you take any advise from them. Like the blind leading the blind.

[RobbyZ5001]

I find it interesting that a bunch of you guys say you want to be left alone. I tend to have the same mentality when I go into a store and they try to sell me their home brand or an off brand that they have marked up to high heaven. For you guys who want to be left alone why? What aspect of a shop or workers would change the mentality of just wanting to be left alone? I personally love it when shops have the atmosphere where you can sit there and bs for a bit of time. If I am off topic I can make a thread.

[silvercliff_46]

I find it interesting that a bunch of you guys say you want to be left alone. I tend to have the same mentality when I go into a store and they try to sell me their home brand or an off brand that they have marked up to high heaven. For you guys who want to be left alone why? What aspect of a shop or workers would change the mentality of just wanting to be left alone? I personally love it when shops have the atmosphere where you can sit there and bs for a bit of time. If I am off topic I can make a thread.

I'm on your side, but I don't live around people just critters.  I know the folks at the Walmart store, they are friends and neighbors.  So is Frank at the sport shop.  I guess when you know folks you figure they won't screw you over a couple of nickles.  Especially when you get to see them at church, picnics etc.

Must be different in the cities..., to bad for that. :-/

[bass wrangler569]

Most employees of tackle stores don't know a crankbait from a jig.

It's true, the vast majority of large tackle store employees are incompetent. I went into Gander Mountain's fishing section the other day (for the first and last time) and this is the conversation I had:

Do you guys carry lucky craft pointers

Whats a pointer?

Its a jerkbait

Is that a company?

No, lucky craft is a company, jerkbaits are a type of lure

Oh, well I don't think we have lucky craft or jerkbaits, we have plastic worms though, are they similar?

At that point I turned around and left. Strangely enough though, at the local BPS all of the employees are actually really knowledgeable and you can actually have intelligent conversations with them. So to answer the question, what do I look for in a store? #1: There is a complete lack of morons #2: refer to number #1

[BassnMan Mike]

I generally go in knowing exactly what I want to buy but end up leaving with considerably more stuff and less money, HA!

[Boogey Man]

I recently had an owner/employee follow me around a with an $18 container of Gulp until I finally had to leave. Usually a simple "let me know if I can help you" and I'm set to shop. Another thing that drives me nuts is that 9 times out of 10 there will be one customer in there telling anyone who'll listen and usually anyone who doesn't want to listen about a fish he caught, a tournament he fished, a rod or reel he has, etc. They are usually the ones who are speaking so loud you can hear them all over the store. Drives me crazy!!

[jdw174]

Normally, if I'm looking in a tackle store, I already know what I want, so variety is the key for me.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

When I go to a tackle shop, I look to see if they carry swimbaits.  If they do, I see if they might be interested in selling identical baits that cost 1/2 as much.  If not, I explain why they might want to consider it and offer a consignment trial deal.

[southernyankee]

I own a tackle store and let me say that I am the only employee and.

1 I always say hi.

2. the coffee is always free, and its good.

3. I will ask if you need help.

4. i restock what sells

5. my prices are cheep.

6. i know what the hell i am talking about

now to you I know everything fishermen who like to be left alone. I do not throw out the used car sales pitch at you. But I will introduce my self and ask if I can help you find what you are looking for and maby suggest whats been catching in the local lakes or some new stuff that just came out. I will not follow you around the store and if you say no or do not respond to me I will leave you alone. After all its not my fault you are an unfriendly rude *** who knows it all. (I get about 5 or 6 of you a day) and I leave them alone. But the vast majority of my customers are normal, they ask a lot of questions and sit and chat a spell.

[fishfordollars]

I own a tackle store and let me say that I am the only employee and.

1 I always say hi.

2. the coffee is always free, and its good.

3. I will ask if you need help.

4. i restock what sells

5. my prices are cheep.

6. i know what the hell i am talking about

now to you I know everything fishermen who like to be left alone. I do not throw out the used car sales pitch at you. But I will introduce my self and ask if I can help you find what you are looking for and maby suggest whats been catching in the local lakes or some new stuff that just came out. I will not follow you around the store and if you say no or do not respond to me I will leave you alone. After all its not my fault you are an unfriendly rude *** who knows it all. (I get about 5 or 6 of you a day) and I leave them alone. But the vast majority of my customers are normal, they ask a lot of questions and sit and chat a spell.

Well I certainly don't know everything. From experience on the water I do know what I want. All you need to do is walk into one of our tackle stores(Pick any one) and ask a few questions. You will leave shaking your head. It's sad. Nothing against the employees in our stores other than the management's fault for throwing them to the wolves. You would think they would at least school them some or question a few as to their upbringing and whether they have spent more than a passing moment out of the house. Not blaming the kids, but I am blaming corporate.

[silvercliff_46]

I own a tackle store and let me say that I am the only employee and.

1 I always say hi.

2. the coffee is always free, and its good.

3. I will ask if you need help.

4. i restock what sells

5. my prices are cheep.

6. i know what the hell i am talking about

now to you I know everything fishermen who like to be left alone. I do not throw out the used car sales pitch at you. But I will introduce my self and ask if I can help you find what you are looking for and maby suggest whats been catching in the local lakes or some new stuff that just came out. I will not follow you around the store and if you say no or do not respond to me I will leave you alone. After all its not my fault you are an unfriendly rude *** who knows it all. (I get about 5 or 6 of you a day) and I leave them alone. But the vast majority of my customers are normal, they ask a lot of questions and sit and chat a spell.

I live in the boondocks ( I would have said boontullies, but I don't know how to spell that for sure) so I enjoy talking to folks I know. Even though the folks who work at the Walmart are 45 miles away in a huge city of 5000 people (Iron Mountain Mi.), I consider them neighbors. Heck I got to drive twenty miles to church. They have 3 good lakes in the city limits, and are bordered by a good size river (Menominee) It has bass (small-mouth & large-mouth), walleye, northern, musky, and sturgeon in it. Most town folks fish, so they know what is going on (fishin' and huntin' is what's going on). The guy with the little sport store has his finger on the local outdoors scene too. I appreciate them all.

It's the tourist eco-expert that makes me nuts. Not the guy that asks for help catching a few fish, the guy that tells me what I can catch, the SPORTING way to catch it, and what I can keep, that I consider a pain in the nether regions. I give them directions to a secret spot that will keep them driving all day, and they end up where they started. > ;D

Sport shop guys are in it because they love it, not for the cash not when B.P.S., and Cabela's are around They are a valuable resource, and worth the few penny's extra, because of the knowledge they have.

I.M.O. anyway.