#40, Gear Buyers Guide to Shopping Small

Shops to shop at, or Shopping Small, a Gear Buyers Guide

Once again I want to thank you for taking a few minutes so we can talk, I want to cover a topic that might be a sore spot for some, but let’s dig in, and talk about a gear buyers guide, or shopping small.

If you are learning to fly fish for the first time, or have a season or two under your belt, I constantly see the words, “I found it on-line”. I get it, in today’s economy it is wise to save a few bucks now and then but think for a second what happens when you shop online. (I’m not trying to be the bad guy here, just food for thought).

I personally know several small merchants that sell fly fishing, and fishing products, and I know firsthand the struggles they face on a day to day basis, just to survive much less stay in business. When you make a purchase from a small shop you are doing several things. First you are paying the wages of the employees who usually take the time to answer your questions or offer advice. Next you are keeping that money in the community in which the shop is located. This means the coffee shop, the tax money, and so on, all because you choose to shop small.

Can't do this on-line

A quick story about a local shop I heard the other day. A patron that shops at a local shop here in Colorado purchased a rod and reel combo about 3 months back. By no fault of that person, his car was broken into, and the rod reel combo was stolen.

Going back into the local shop where he originally purchased the set-up, and upon telling his tale of woe, the shop owner was gracious enough to give this man a 25% discount on the new gear.  I know this may be a one off story, but I have never heard of Cabela’s or Bass Pro doing that.

When you learn to fly fish, and start to accumulate gear and tackle, please keep in mind the local shops in your area, before you make a purchase. The dollars you save online can go a long way to helping your local shop just to stay open.

When I go on a trip to a new area, one of the first things I do is to go into the local shop, talk to them and buy a few flies or other knickknacks.

Many years ago, in the town of Bishop Ca., the State fish and game was making changes to the catch and release policies in that area. The argument was that “only fly fisherman” would benefit from this, and the dollars brought into the region were minimal.

Some of the local clubs in California banded together and started the “two dollar campaign”.  

Basically, when you bought anything in the town of Bishop, you were asked to pay with “two dollar bills”.

After a season of this campaign, the local merchants were polled, and the response was overwhelming as to the amount of two dollars bills that were received in the local banking branches, literally they received thousands of these bills.

In response the State had to rescind the proposed policy changes, all because of the $2.00 bill.

You can see the power of local dollars and the benefit to not just the local shops, but the community as a whole.

Local Shops have a great vibe

Plus, if you have any questions or problems the local shop is right there to help answer questions for you, or just let you put your hands on a rod or reel if nothing more than to just touch it. I know when I go into a shop I literally have to put my grubby mittens on almost everything in a shop, (you should see my wife lose her mind while I touch everything in the store).

When you buy a rod or a reel it is critical to choose the right equipment. I can cast a rod, and you may cast that same rod and you may hate it. If you can go for a test drive before you buy, you might make a different choice.

Ok, enough of me standing on the top of my soap box. Go out and use your best judgement when you are making your next purchase.

I hope you are having a great time learning a new sport, and as always if you have any questions or just want to yell at me, please feel free to contact me.

Tight lines

Gary, aka LaMachine.