Your local tackle store

[bilgerat]

One of my local stores is affiliated with BPS. I can walk in, order anything I want from the catalog, and get it for catalog price plus sales tax...no shipping.

We have the same thing here, STC Sports in Gibbstown, New Jersey. They get most of their inventory from the company that owns BPS. Unlike the chains, they carry what actually works around here. They are smart and can compete as the majority of their inventory is based on what the customers ask for.

I had to laugh when I read Fourbizz's comments on the store owned by condescending saltwater guys. That describes just about every saltwater tackle store on the coast here.

[SWMIBASSER]

The only thing "local" here is Dicks, Wal-Mart, Gander Mtn., and Bass Pro Shops, most of the mom & pop stores are gone, with the exception of the live bait joints, which I don't go to.

People like to blame the big box stores for driving out the locals, but that is BS, if the locals wouldn't have charged $10 for a box of 10 year old Trilene XL, or $50 for a $20 Zebco reel, and actually carried items that people wanted they would have made it.

My father-in -law owns and operates a 1 store family owned grocery and survives just fine, even with all the big boys moving in around him. He keeps his prices in line with Wal-Mart, yeah his profit margins are slim, but as he says, he would rather make a little less and be his own boss, than try to rape his customers, have to sell the store when no one comes, and end up working for Wal-Mart.

Selection is key here. That's what makes VanDam's shop so great.

They don't waste shelf space on NFL team crankbaits, or hot pink jelly worms.

The stuff they sell is the stuff people want, or that is hot on the Elite trail

[Ima Bass Ninja]

The best one here is Lake Murray hardware. Its has  good quality tackle. Its hard to compare prices cause they carry stuff no one else does, but from what I've seen online its only a few cents more. Well worth the extra cents for convenience.

[angler1]

Unfortunitly Dicks is my local tackle shop. On the bright side, since i've joined BR, it is now Tackle Warehouse. They have everything i want and need along with thing i did not know i wanted or needed.

[salmicropterus]

Well i feel the need to support my local shop.

1) their prices are good, if they dont have it they will order it

2) I fish crappie fish alot and need minnows

3) If i/we dont shop there, they wont be there long

4) their are closer than any big box fishing stores easy in easy out

I have a Bass Pro Shop only about 8 miles from where I live and I go there a lot but I do try and throw some business to a local shop. They carry some tackle lines from smaller companies that BPS doesn't carry and I can get shiners in the AM when I take my grandkids out fishing. I might pay a little more there but I'd like to see them stay in business

[NewKidInTown]

No such thing anymore, where I live. Except for fly-fishing shops, it's all chain stores. I have no loyalty.

Closest thing to Mom&Pop niche stores with expertise as well as products are various online entities. ***, ***, and others are examples of such outfits that have taken on this role. I also like some manufacturers sites too.

Sad but true.

[RoLo]

Sadly, the Ma & Pa stores have pretty much gone away.

On the bright side though, we have three benefits today we didn't have years ago.

1) Internet Shopping (everything purchased without leaving your happy home)

2) One-Stop Shopping (the big-box stores carry a mind-boggling array of inventory).

3) Discount Prices (thanks to high volume sales)

I always give Tackle Warehouse first dibs, and what they don't carry (like zulus and J-spoons)

I order from Bass Pro. The only exception is "Performance Tackle", which I use exclusively

for ordering Owner sled heads and Owner type-Z heads.

Roger

[FD.]

There are about a dozen mom and pop shops around.  Depending on which lake I'm headed to determines which one I will stop at.  I always buy something whether I need it or not.  They are a valuable source of local info and I always look to see which baits are in low supply.

[fishfordollars]

Ann's Tackle Shop

Owned and operated by Ann Thomasson-Wilson

Located between Lake Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend Reservoir in Jasper, Texas.

What impressed me is Ann's wall to wall trophies, plaques, and awards which represent over 20 years of bass fishing excellence with trophies from Alabama, New York State, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, with two World Class Bass Championship trophies.

Yep, and she stocks those two special traps we like.

[krisjack69]

Down here we have this http://www.backwoodsoutdoors.com/

We also have a store called wf surplus store which sells baits,reels and rods.They also sell lumber.

[microman]

because greentop is the best

[zero limit]

Well i feel the need to support my local shop.

1) their prices are good, if they dont have it they will order it

2) I fish crappie fish alot and need minnows

3) If i/we dont shop there, they wont be there long

4) their are closer than any big box fishing stores easy in easy out

I have a Bass Pro Shop only about 8 miles from where I live and I go there a lot but I do try and throw some business to a local shop. They carry some tackle lines from smaller companies that BPS doesn't carry and I can get shiners in the AM when I take my grandkids out fishing. I might pay a little more there but I'd like to see them stay in business

I've got a cabelas and bps both about 20 min. away but still go to my local bait store 10.min.away

one reason the little bait shops will last around here is Lake Michigan,

[SWMIBASSER]

Well i feel the need to support my local shop.

1) their prices are good, if they dont have it they will order it

2) I fish crappie fish alot and need minnows

3) If i/we dont shop there, they wont be there long

4) their are closer than any big box fishing stores easy in easy out

I have a Bass Pro Shop only about 8 miles from where I live and I go there a lot but I do try and throw some business to a local shop. They carry some tackle lines from smaller companies that BPS doesn't carry and I can get shiners in the AM when I take my grandkids out fishing. I might pay a little more there but I'd like to see them stay in business

I've got a cabelas and bps both about 20 min. away but still go to my local bait store 10.min.away

one reason the little bait shops will last around here is Lake Michigan,

I'm not sure which BPS Outdoor World you go to but I found the Gurney Mills store, while nice, to be to shopping mall esque for my liking.

The Portage IN store is OK, but they don't carry alot of inventory that you can get in the catalog. And some of the staff.....I wonder if they have ever fished with anything except a zebco 33 and a can of worms.

But it's still nice to get away to such a big place. Maybe stop at the Quaker steak and grill for some wings. ;D

[Under the Radar]

Life lesson's have taught me to support local business. (Survivor Hurricanes Andrew, Charlie and a few others since 1971). Granted, if the service isn't there. then maybe they should close the doors.

Economics - Why spend $7.50 in extra fuel to save $2.50 on a single lure? Duh...

Not to say that if I can save $50 by driving to the big box stores I won't do it.

Supply side. Sometimes the Big Box Stores will have something the local shop doesn't.

But for me, if it can wait til I have a list big enough to make it worthwhile then I'll shop BPS.

Gander isn't so much a problem.

1.) Local Tackle Shop      6.1 mi < $2.5 fuel

2.) Gander Mtn            13.6 mi $5 Fuel

3.) Bass Pro Shops      27.6 mi $10 fuel

Last year 3/4 of my tackle money went to the local tackle shop.

not to mention that the local shop has a vested interest in my success these people actually care and know what they are talking about. if they don't know they have the integrity to say they don't know.

Guess I'm just lucky to live close to Bitter's. (Shameless plug)

I'm not old,

I'm vintage

[SWMIBASSER]

Life lesson's have taught me to support local business. (Survivor Hurricanes Andrew, Charlie and a few others since 1971). Granted, if the service isn't there. then maybe they should close the doors.

Economics - Why spend $7.50 in extra fuel to save $2.50 on a single lure? Duh...

Not to say that if I can save $50 by driving to the big box stores I won't do it.

Supply side. Sometimes the Big Box Stores will have something the local shop doesn't.

But for me, if it can wait til I have a list big enough to make it worthwhile then I'll shop BPS.

Gander isn't so much a problem.

1.) Local Tackle Shop      6.1 mi < $2.5 fuel

2.) Gander Mtn            13.6 mi $5 Fuel

3.) Bass Pro Shops      27.6 mi $10 fuel

Last year 3/4 of my tackle money went to the local tackle shop.

not to mention that the local shop has a vested interest in my success these people actually care and know what they are talking about. if they don't know they have the integrity to say they don't know.

Guess I'm just lucky to live close to Bitter's. (Shameless plug)

I'm not old,

I'm vintage

You need to invest in a more fuel efficient daily driver.

[aarogb]

Thomas Bait & Tackle

Probably his personality that keeps me coming back.  He is always willing to talk about fishing with you or talk about anything else.  His prices are not bad either.

[hyerollerfisherman]

Bass Pro is mine. We dont have a local good tackle shop around the kansas city area or lenexa or bonner springs. Bass pro is like a home to me i walk in their and cant stop exploring threw the isles. Its GReat

[b.Lee]

I mainly do it to keep in good relations with the owner and workers and also to support local business

[Fishes in trees]

In the KC area, we've got Bass Pro, Cabelas and Dick's.  Roger's Lures in Liberty, Mo is one of the better family owned tackle stores I've ever been in.

I go there pretty often.  They are nice to you when you walk in.   They understand that most people who come in are addicted to fishing and fishing tackle at some level.  They are knowledgeable about their products.

[bass or bass ?]

About a mile from my house is Fisherman's Choice Pro Shop. It is exactly that. We have Cabela's, Bass Pro, and Sportsmen's Warehouse all in this area. I go to Fisherman's Choice Pro Shop 80% of the time. Superb expert advice under any conditions. Far better than the box stores. I'd rank Sportsmen's Warehouse second best around here

[Sam]

Green Top.

Great Zoom selection.

Excellent bait selection.

Rods and Reels selection.

They know electronics and marine radios.

Good selection of terminal tackle and other items we use and destroy on a regular basis.

But the main reason are the clerks.

They bass fish and give suggestions. They are very knowledgeable and helpful.

You can ask them a question and get a valid answer. 

[jc450r]

man all i have is dicks sporting goods and there selection is not even that good, so about 3 times a year i talk my dad to go up to bass pro( which is almost an hour drive) and i usually get my fishing stuff there

Knapp, it takes very little effort on your part to capitalize and punctuate your messages. By doing so, it makes it much easier on the folks who are trying to read what you are trying to say.

Since your the spell check police his name is knap  not Knapp. Now I know why it's the same 10 people posting all the time.

[Big Bait Fishing]

most all of the tackle stores around my area closed up    the only other tackle store (independently owned) around here is run by a crook , but there is one that is a chain operated one that i frequent alot , mostly to buy trout bait and occasional hooks and stuff , and a guy who works there that is into swimbaits alot like me , plus they stock line that i use for most all of my setups and the line is fresh , not stuff like wal-marts that has sat on a shelf for years !! but most of my bigger purchases like reels and such are done thru good ol' ebay , no tackle store can touch e-tailors prices !!!

[SirSnookalot]

I prefer my local store because :

Location

Some items are returnable even slightly used

Carry the items that I fish with most of the time

Price on rods and reels are good

On the spot minor repairs and spooling, quick turn around time for major repairs

Small staff of experts or professionals that put you on the fish and what they are hitting on

http://www.oleflorida.com/

Boynton Fisherman Supply

[flyboy]

While in the Orlando area, take time to visit Bitter's Bait and Tackle in Longwood.  It is like the Valhalla of bass tackle shops and when they get to know you (takes a couple of minutes) it is like you are family.