Question on bait shops...

[Sackless Pro]

Noticed a lot of people are catching...or trying to catch their own bait this year. What do you think will happen to some of the bait shops? If 10 guys stop showing up every week to a bait shop for shiners, that could be a lot of lost business.  I heard some people are melting lead for their own split shots!

[paqman]

I was thinking the same thing Sack. A lot of people will say "Its too bad that ... went out of business," but they really won't give a crap.

Where can I get my cake mix and shiners at the same place?

[Sackless Pro]

I was thinking the same thing Sack. A lot of people will say "Its too bad that ... went out of business," but they really won't give a crap.

Where can I get my cake mix and shiners at the same place?

I agree Paq, I see a lot people that want to support "the little guys" but at the same time they will spend decent amount of time and money on catching bait.
I don't have a problem with that, its just when the shops close and then these people start b***hin'

Stinkin Liberals, first shiners ... and then cake!

[lenz]

ellis marine is closing due to economy. boat sales/service have dried up. bait was just a side $$$.
another bait shop is litterally 300 yds down road and another one is about 6 miles away.

burp

lenz

[FishingNewEngland]

Maybe if they stopped raping us on the cost of shiners, I'd still buy mine. And I'm a gun toting Republican for life.

[Roncarr]

Maybe if they stopped raping us on the cost of shiners, I'd still buy mine. And I'm a gun toting Republican for life.

@ 2 bucks a pop for pike shiners wow then you get there and they are all 6 to 8 inches? I like to buy as much as I need from bobs bait. tackle hooks ect but not bait catching it is fun for me always has been and the mom and pop shops are getting the shaft from wally world, BPS, ect .

[gigs1o1]

I agree ROncarr, Catching bait is fun. As well as mom and pop places being hurt much more by walmart, BPS, ..... Than a few avid fisherman catching there own bait.

[unoman]

there are no bait shops that actually make a significant part of their income from bait...most sell gear and provide other services...ie..Ellis Marine was a shop selling boats and providing boat service with bait as a side business....and they sold fishing gear also...Barrys
bait shop does engine repair and trolling motor service and sales...

that tank in the back of the shop is not the bread winner...gets people into the store...I still feel bad about it

I catch my own bait but still buy small shiners and worms from the locals

[MUNICH]

I went to a local bait shop yesterday to get some "pike" bait. $1.75 a piece and I think two of the dozen were over 5 inches. I told the guys I'm not paying for that and he dumped them back in his tank. I can't find consistancy anywhere. Bought mediums a week back or so and half of them were the same size as the smalls I used last season for trout. Ellis is the only place I've never had a problem with. Good prices and their sizes are legitiment. And on inventory, the owners usually never know what to keep in stock. I'll look at a whole wall of weights and hooks and either trash or overpriced. My money, so it's being spent where makes me happy and I feel like its deserved.

[lenz]

best thing about ellis is they kept the bait water cold with a chiller. no shocking bait or wating 30 min on ice while you change out a little water at a time. R**'s down the street has the bait water at room temp. i don't know how many times by bait was belly up after i put it in my bucket, or put it down a hole and it dies. they must be happy since ellis took most of their bait business. oh well the past 8 yrs was good.

don't know where i will get bait now

burp

lenz

[drl823]

Natural bait as opposed to farm raised shiners is a big difference. Catching your own bait for the hardwater is part of the ice fishing season in itself, at least it is for me. I would much rather bait up a golden pond shiner than what you can purchase in a bait shop. I still buy bait at the shops during open water and supplement the naturals during ice season when the need arises.

[BogMan]

My place in Lynn isn't usually open on sundays. Till the season really get's going.

[pikeking]

We have a local farmer that has been selling bait for years. I went to see him today and get some worms and he told me that he isn't selling bait this winter!!! I almost yelled at him. He is the only place here to get any bait for 10 miles. I asked him why and he told me that his mother had passed away and he needs to work different jobs to support the farm.
 I offered to go in as a partner or buy his tanks and he told me no. I am sad today because he is a nice guy. I think is he was to sell some fishing gear and some tip-ups he would make a lot more money. Sorry to hear about this happening. I wish he would let me help. I wish my wife would let me spend the money and open up my own shop.

[DasRottweiler]

 There are alot of advantages to trapping/bait-tanks . Larger baits are easier to come by. When ya have a bait tank, there is no waiting for the baitshop to open or running out the night b4 a planned trip only to find they don`t have what your looking for. I think if I could find someone to sell me large quantitys of the bait I use for a reasonable price, I would do away with trapping. But as it is, I`m not paying what they are asking for Pike bait, when I can walk out my front door , down the hill 30 yards to the river and rod n reel creekchubs pretty much at will.
 Be careful what ya wish for PikeKing, I know a shop-owner and he never has the time to fish anymore, cuz staying on top of things at the shop consumes all his time. When I pop in to grab odds n endz he always asks if I caught anything good and drools over the pics with a look of longing in his eyes. Truth is , most small business fail in thier first two years and baitshops are no exception. There is only room enough for 1 in each town , give or take. We had three in the area and one closed down simply because there wasn`t enough business for all of them.

[the wizzard]

Like I have said in some previous posts alot has happened in the bait industry,since I have worked in that field numerous years ago. Alot of bait shop owners cannot afford today's economy and have been forced to close there palaces.The few struggling shops need our constant support to stay alive and prevent monoplization.
Unfortunately,we have b.p.s. wal-wart,etc..controlling the market to date.
As a whole,we need to stick together and support our local bait shops...that's our duty and that's all we can do for now.
Keep the faith~~~WIZZARD~~~