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As we roll out of hunting season and headed toward fishing season I have tried putting what I can "spares"for bass fishing convential tackle on a few bass sites and eBay but no takers.Do you feel people are holding onto what money they have or have just quit the want buying and not need buying.
I believe you're right about people slowing down on their buying habits. I also believe that more and more of the "Baby Boomers" are reaching retirement age and are no longer earning an expendable wage. I certainly fall into that second category. Forced into retirement with bills, a house payment and only social security to pay for everything.
If the stock market is any kind of a barometer, stuff is going well. On the other hand, if that's not one's bag, stuff ain't so well. The second scenario is the predominant state of things at this time IMHO and discretionary spending suffers.
My wisdom /insight on this subjet is by virtue of a BA from UW ( Go Pokes!) and a PHD from U of HARD Knocks ( which I am still attending seeking and avoiding even HARDER knocks)
Mark
FISHING?? Right now, fishing seems eons away... we're still battling snow (it's snowing again right now) and ice, and worrying about scooping the driveway, and slipping, falling, and breaking our old-ish bones! Give me a day or two of sunshine and temps above -25, and, sure, I'll be thinking of parting some change for fishing equipment!
I don't know if is slowing or maybe were are at rock bottom , sloooow growth .hope when spring arrives things well start a growth,
I have noticed on the bass sites that items do not sell unless you basically give em away just to rid yourself of them.I know I was buying up what I call spare lures in case the ones in the tackle box got lost but then I realized my spares where outnumbering my boxes amounts!:p
I'm planning the bulk of my fishing purchases for the next couple of months. I'm just waiting on my tax refund. Thomas, it could be that other people are waiting on the same thing.
Since July 1, 2009 population has grown 10.22 million, during the same period of time jobs have grown 6.7 million jobs. This does not take into consideration those of us who are underemployed. The difference between 10 .2 million and 6.7 million may affect some purchasing decisions.
There is little doubt in my mind that the economy is still going down hill. We have a number of major stores in our area that have closed their doors within the past two years and others are going to be shutting down very shortly. The people coming to fly fishing events are spending way less than they used to. The purchase of raffle tickets has gone down each year for the past 5 years. The bidding on silent auction items has greatly decreased so now the norm is one or two bids on items that usually would have had half a dozen bids at least. I don't blame shops for not carrying heavy inventories. If I owned a store I would carry only the items that I knew people had to buy right then, not a lot of items that may sit on a shelf for a year or so or that people can order off the internet if they don't mind waiting a while for shipping and such. It just isn't worth it. Larry ---sagefisher---
I agree with a lot of what you are seeing and saying, here in AK. The AFF Auction has had a hard time selling off extremely high end donated trips, dirt cheap...Quote:
Originally Posted by sagefisher
Raffle tickets have not been bad, though, but that is a function of turn-out and prizes, more than most things. I gave away a donated St Croix High Stick Drifter last Monday and sold far more tickets than normal for a low turn-out night...
In April a Cabela's store is going to open here and it is probably less than a mile from home and I have to drive right by it to get to my favorite fly shop...
I wouldn't worry too much. They opened two in the Denver area recently. The one I stopped at had 1 aisle of tying stuff, an area of rods, (mostly Cabla's branded) and an acre of gear chucker stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by hap
The best hackle they had was Whitting bugger hackle.
Three years ago there were 6 fly shops in Boise. Today there are two (plus a Cabelas, but it certainly isn't a fly shop and I seriously doubt it has had much of an impact on the fly shops that closed).
I'm sure the economy has impacted the industry as a whole along with guide bookings, lodge bookings, and new equipment purchases. I personally don't buy that much anymore because I've got all the rods/reels I need and let's face it, the newer and better advertisements from Sage, Ross, Abel, Winston, etc are just schtick to sell new equipment.
My brother owns a dry cleaners, and we were discussing just this issue the other day. he has had to cut the hours of his employees, and cannot even afford to leave work to take his daughter to visit colleges. he is doing about half the business he had 6 years ago, and other cleaners in his area are doing even less, at least 2 have closed.
He feels it has a lot to do with the fact that people are afraid to spend "discretionary" income on things like dry cleaning and other "luxury" items. This does not bode well for the economy, especially in the luxury areas, such as fishing/fly fishing. I don't see anything changing anytime soon.
and as far as fly gear goes....it doesn't help that the manufacturers come out with "new" stuff every year, and it really isn't much different than the "old" stuff...so why buy it? I know I am not buying anything but hooks and a few tying items for the foreseeable future....unless I see a wicked deal, online or not, big box or not.
Mike
As to shops closing...I agree. Just because some trout bum has a dream, doesn't make him a buisnessman. And then there's location, location, location. I live somewhat close to Denver. If I took a 100 mile radius of the city, there are probably 30+ fly shops. The number remains somewhat constant, but the names constantly change. Some shops close because the owner thought he could own a shop and yet fish every day. Locally I know an owner who closed because his main buisness was guideing the S.Platte in Cheeseman Canyon. Then the Hayman fire and the aftermath silted every hole/run for who knows how long. Aside: even in high runoff years, the water co. controls the dam above so we don't get the raging runoff that would move the silt out. His problem: one dimentional. There's a shop right on the river that will never go out of biz 'cause they're a "destination shop". So, everyone can feel sorry for the fly shop that went out o buisness inQuote:
Originally Posted by RS2
Quarzite Az. but, Location, location, location.
Fishing interests always rise when the warm spring wind begins. It's been a hard winter.
As to cabelas,I have heard rumors of one coming mid state NC and I hope it does not.I can buy from them online with free shipping and no sales tax,if one moves to NC then if you buy online then you will be charged sales tax.
I guess I am looking at the selling end more than buying end for one reason and please look at it in my shoes.
As I stated in a topic a few months ago,I have had a heart problem for 18 years,walls are thickening and I was on toprol to slow my heart rate so the walls would shrink or stop closing more.Then in Dec I went in to the hospital for non sleep and found I had afib.I have gone in for nuclear stress test and found no blockages but my output flow was 46% verses 50% normal which wasn't much difference.I then began thinking about all the extras I had bought up just because of a "deal"or excess money and thought ,I don't need this stuff and if I died!what would and how would the wife know how to sell it all and cost.So I am going to sell off some conventonial tackle and lighten the load and hold onto my dough!
That is what I have seen in the couple Cabela's stores I have been in, too. We lost one shop here last year, but that was just an owner deciding to move to WA to guide for steelhead... He never really liked the shop work/life, it seemed.Quote:
Originally Posted by chewydog
We also have a Bass Pro that was supposed to open early last year. Through their own ridiculousness they will be lucky to open this year. They brought in "their People" to do the work and cold climate construction was not in their experience bank. Caused a fair piece of heartburn for a number of folks in the process. They have already hired people and some of them are hanging around in the remaining fly shops taking notes and not being very cool about it...
What steelhead? He must not have fished for steelhead in Washington before making that decision.Quote:
Originally Posted by hap
Sounds like he may be another statistic. The failure rate for new businesses is astronomical. I cannot imagine going to a region where I am a newcomer and competing against the established guys.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kerry Stratton
I agree Kerry. If I was going to guide for steelies I would move to the Great Lakes, they have some great steelie fishing. (I can hear the moans now from those who think steelies have to taste salt to be called steelies)> ;) Larry ---sagefisher---
No groans here but your statement is correct to be a true steelhead it has to go through smoltification. Can't do this without saltwater.Quote:
Originally Posted by sagefisher
I am a the point where I am trying to use up the materials that I have. I have enough to tie thousands of flies.
The rods I have allow me ot catch fish. I could take the Disciples out and still have rods to fish with.
Not sure that I need much more.
Rick
I can understand that, Rick. I want to get either a 2wt or 3wt this year, and I know She Who Must Be Obeyed is going to raise a stink about how many rods/reels I already have. I don't have enough materials to tie thousands of flies (yet), and I'm not sure if I really need that much stuff, but I do have a list I'm working on......
I just sit and look at my spares on both my flyfishing stash and bass stashand ask myself do iI really need it or the money in the bank in case something happens.
Heck,I am living large 1.5% cost of living this year
The economy has NOTHING to do with my fly fishing. Over the years I've purchased all I need or will ever more need ( probably about $2500-$3500 or maybe a few bucks more) for the rest of my days. Obviously I don't tie my own$$$ or buy into trends or "new and improved" AND I still hurt the many trouts. Again, obviously, I am unlike a vast percentage of you folks but that's the extent of my interest in equipment. I once was approached by a "friend"? to possibly open a fly shop in the Chicago suburbs . I opted for a sharp stick in the eye instead - less pain.
Mark