Don't forget the small shop owner
 

I have talked to a few small shop owners. All say that business is "really sloooow". This is their slow time anyway, but with the recent snows and with most fresh water areas and creeks frozen, very little fishing is happening right now. After the Tri-state show this week, I plan on stopping by my favorite small shop to spend a little. I'm sure I can find something I "need"......................................Ma rk

Me too. I have spring break in the first week of March. I'm plannin on doing all my tackle rigging,rod getting ready, tackle inventory, etc. and making a trip down to my favortie little tackle shop. I'm sure there's PLENTY of things I NEED !:D New rod reel, shads, umbrellas, "chutes", etc... Better stock up on pink shads. Heard they're gonna be real hot this year! :rolleyes:

I was planing on stopping by Bowleys today to get my license and maybe pick up a couple things I don't need. These guys do need our help to stay in business.

Good thing for Catch and release still being open or I wouldnt need anything until the end of April. :)

Went to PSG show. I had a booth 2 years ago with the lures and rigs I make. Not worth the hassel This years show the prices were so low. Not much money to be made with all that going on. Now I only make lures to order. Almost given up making them completely. I do give some to my MSSA chapter and to the guys I fish with. Heck I know I have the cheapest price in town for rigged scotty clips but there I only sell by word of mouth.

I can just imagine how hard it is for the shop dealers with the overhead they have to crack. I still buy at every shop I visit even with what I make.

My local shop "Clydes" will have their spring sale March 5th -14th. Excellent prices on 309 combos, individual reels, or rods. All mono line will be half price and power pro will be a couple cents cheaper than normal. Bring your empty reels and they will spool it while you wait. If you have several reels to spool, it's best to hit Clydes during the weekdays of the sale; or drop off your reels and pick them up later.

I may post closer to the 5th and try to get some guys interested in going to the shop around 11 am and then hitting my local watering hole (Howards Subway) for a brew and sandwich.

5th (Marty)

I wish I still lived up that way sometimes. Clyde's and Howard's are two of my favorite places.

Where is Clydes...I have a couple reels I need spooled with mono.

I live in Bowie...there really isn't a "local" shop for me. Marty's in Edgewater is closest.

I drive 70 miles round trip to shop at Martys, I'll give Jim my money over anyone else all the time!! In fact, I may have to run by in the next week or so!

I grew up in that area and allways went to Howards. What about the crabcakes and G&M. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Vince

Clydes is in Landsdown. Exit 9 off rt695.
Marty's is a great shop as well. I make a couple trips a year because he normally carries all the current tackle that's "catching". Jim makes sure to listen to the local fishermen and he stocks what we need.
I always buy my Dr. Julie Ball calandars from Marty's:D.
5th (Marty)

You did not here this from me :rolleyes:

Almost every local shop will match the big box store prices on rods/reels/lures.
Paying with cash rather then credit card helps too.
It's good when a shop owner knows you by name - they will pass on info that few know about.

Our local shops might not have 100,000 square feet of display the big box stores have - but guess what ?

The items stocked in that 1,000 square foot local store is what you need to catch fish.

The Mrs. is bringing home crabcakes from G&Ms tonight for dinner!!!

Of what little money I have to give out, I've given a large portion of it to Marty's.

I don't need any fishing equipment right now but I will stop by Marty's and buy Jim a few beers!!.Isn't that supporting your local tackle shop?...........Gary

Marty's for those things you could not get at the shows
 

Last week at the PSG show I picked up three used rods in good working order and a used rod that needed a tip. Wouldn't you know it, that rod that needed a tip was a perfect match for a rod tip I picked up at Marty's last year when I could not remember the proper size for a rod I was repairing.

I started doing yearly maintenance on the rods I have, and wouldn't you know it, I am out of reel oil. Marty's has Quantum Hot Sauce, which is what I use for reel oil. I ran over this morning and picked some up. I also saw some neat lures on the counter at Marty's. Had I a little more money, I think I would have picked up a few of them. Afterall, lures are made to catch fisherman, not necessarily fish.