Last post I mentioned that I didn't have any pink hackle to make a Pinkie Variant, so I used white.
This morning I had to run down to Sacramento (an hour and a half one way) to drop off some papers to our CPA. I got there at 8:30, dropped off said papers and since I was in Sacramento thought I'd drop over to a couple of the local fly shops to pick up some pink, if they had it.
A little after 9:00 I ended up at the front door of Kiene's Fly Shop. Sign said "Open at 10:00". Sorry, but I'm not sitting around for almost an hour and wait for them to open.
I headed back down the road.
I know that American Fly Fishing Co. doesn't open until 10:00 either. Nor does Fisherman's Warehouse for the needed 1/8 oz. pink Kastmaster I lost yesterday.
My point here is "Support your local fly shop" that doesn't open until way after you're on your way back home or shop online.
I know that most of the fishermen I talk to are up and running at the crack of dawn. Maybe fly shops and tackle shops think local fishermen will wait until 10:00 to come in an spend their hard earned money, but I for one will shop online line unless I happen to be near there when they open.
If most fishermen are like me, the tackle shops are losing a lot of money.
Bitching done for now.
Fly shop or not, what business waits until 10am to open up these days? Seems strange. Only way it makes sense to me is if they used to open earlier and no customers ever came in. Odd.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Mike and you, Mark. Fishing on the lakes may be all but over by 10:00 for morning fishing. They must expect you to plan in advance. As you know, that is a hard thing to do for most of us Geezers! I am finding myself shopping more online these days for a number of fishing related items... Which online outlet do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteHi Mel. I go where ever I can get what I need. I'm an indiscriminate shopper. I do look for free shipping, though.
DeleteMy comment disappeared! I try to spend my money at local fly shops. I'm lucky because the two that I support have great customer service. What I won't hesitate for one second ordering on line. I've developed relationships with a few online stores that have great customer service and are really fast shipping.
ReplyDeleteI work at a fly shop occasionally, we open at 9, 8 on weekends. Seems like nobody EVER comes in before 9:30-10 or so...except for ONE guy who always complains that we don't open early enough for him!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Eddie. Here's the deal. As I said in the post, I live an hour and a half (one way) from the fly shops and let me note that I have to go out of my way to shop at any of the three I mentioned above. So, if I'm in the area of any of those three after 10:00 am, need something, and I've not ordered it online, I will probably stop and get it. I probably would have spent $50 or $60, which I usually do at the fly shop, but the hours of operation are those of the owner. Apparently, from the comments above, I'm not the only ONE that has a problem with shop hours.
DeleteMark
ReplyDeleteCrack of dawn and late in the evening are my fishing times and yes no fishing shops are open at those hours, well could be a few in the evenings, my point is like you for convenience I shop online. I do try to support our local fly shop on our tailrace when it is convenient for me not them.
I try to support local shops, often near where I'm fishing, but have had to reverse the process, which doesn't always work: I'll visit the shop during the afternoon AFTER fishing. If I expect to fish the area again, I'll pick up some local flies; if not, I'll stock up on 'universal" flies. The downside is that I can only get advice about what I did wrong after the fact. Oh well...
ReplyDelete