Support Your Local Tackle Shop......

Technology is constantly changing all around us, sometimes faster than we can blink. We are always searching for a new item to improve our way of life. With the Internet at our fingertips, we can purchase just about anything we want and have it delivered to our front door, many times at the same or less cost than heading to a retail store. But what if that was the only way we could purchase an item? For instance; You are traveling to work for a meeting, and you need to stop for a pack of gum, a pen, batteries, etc. A local store is always available to provide that last minute item to make our day a little brighter. What if they weren't there? With the economy the way it has been for the last 2 years, businesses are closing their doors at an alarming rate. Smaller retail shops are disappearing fast, and empty strip malls are almost everywhere. The bottom line is that we need those retailers to be there for us, for those last second items, and because of that, we frequent them quite often. Gas stations capitalized on this need, and began to sell almost anything, while we stop to fill our tanks. How many of you have seen the "Live Bait" signs that are hanging in many of our gas/convenience stations? Have you ever wondered about the consequences of purchasing your live bait from them? Well let me explain myself a little further. I have been on the water a few too many times when I didn't have the right color jig, the wrong size hook, or the wrong type of live bait. The boat next to us is catching fish after fish and we can't seem to get a hit on anything. After checking in at the local tackle shop and getting a few pointers from the store owner or employee it is almost always the ticket to improving the afternoon or next days catch! Your local tackle/bait retailer has the items you need to have a successful day of fishing. The best bait, lures, line, rods, reels, and most of all knowledge, are all a part of your local tackle/bait store. We as educated anglers must continue to support these local shops. If we purchase our live bait from gas stations (which are overpriced anyway) we are cutting into the livelihood of the local bait and tackle stores. When you put them out of business by not supporting their shops, you will no longer have that local knowledge, and superior products, that at times can be so critical for a great day on the water. Please remember this the next time you stop to get your live bait and remember to ask for the latest information on where to go, what's biting and what they're using. You'll be glad you did!