IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Iowa => Ice Fishing Iowa => Topic started by: Mr.Seaguar on Oct 23, 2021, 05:29 AM
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There are no baitshops that clean fish at the lakes anymore. Kabeles became an ammo dealer, Stan's decided not to and Shucks got run into the ground. I guess there is a lady who does it behind Casey's in Spirit lake. I'm glad I got to use that service while it lasted. The fishing went to heck and the baitshops followed. I shouldn't be surprised, I guess.
Anyone know why that Travis is never at Stan's anymore and someone else does the fishing report? My buddy asked me and I didn't know, I've been in there one time since March.
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A Wahpeton resident told me he gets his fish cleaned at Oak Hill Outdoor.
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There are no baitshops that clean fish at the lakes anymore. Kabeles became an ammo dealer, Stan's decided not to and Shucks got run into the ground. I guess there is a lady who does it behind Casey's in Spirit lake. I'm glad I got to use that service while it lasted. The fishing went to heck and the baitshops followed. I shouldn't be surprised, I guess.
Anyone know why that Travis is never at Stan's anymore and someone else does the fishing report? My buddy asked me and I didn't know, I've been in there one time since March.
Travis got fired. He never owned the baitshop, his dad does. I enjoyed Travis but many did not. He got into it with his dad and he fired him. I do believe OakHill Outdoors cleans fish. That whole baitshop is filled with former Stans employees. They all left Travis a long time ago.
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Whole thing is just a big mess. I still prefer Stans though.
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Thanks for the info fellas. Sad what has transpired in 10 years but I guess that is frequently the case in life.
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Thanks for the info fellas. Sad what has transpired in 10 years but I guess that is frequently the case in life.
The problem with Travis is he was wanting to get rich. His prices were high and his bait prices just kept going up. No one ever got a deal while he was there. He ran a tight shop and that is not how a local bait shop should be ran. A little goes a long ways and many customers started going elsewhere. No one should ever have to pay 1.79 for a 4” chub.
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So there is 1 bait shop in all the lakes area that cleans fish. Who woulda thunk. Are you very sure about Kabeles?
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Southern Minnesota boy here, Y'alls baitshops clean your fish? Dang wish we had some around here that did! ;D
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Kabeles ditched fish cleaning for ammo sales.
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Kabeles ditched fish cleaning for ammo sales.
I mean can you blame any of the bait shops? It's not like it would be a money maker, or really even worth the time. I mean who is going to buy anything when your done fishing.
On the other hand, I can't agree anymore that all the bait shops have gone to crap. I do like Stan's, and Travis there or not......I could care less. Didn't have a problem with the guy, but he surely didn't add anything to the shop IMO. Fishing reports were ok....nothing great.
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One of my favorite things was dropping my fish at Stan's or shucks, heading to Spencer, getting some KFC, going back to get my fish then going home. I have been made fun of 900 times for that until the person rides along. I've had multiple people say I'm never cleaning fish again afterwards. It's just too awesome when you can avoid cleaning fish.
They don't have to clean fish. I don't have to stop in. Nobody has to do nothing.
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It surely is nice not having to clean fish at the end of the day. I prefer to do it myself because I feel like I can do a better job. I guess I have high expectations on how I like my fish cleaned and anytime I had a baitshop do it, it seemed like I had to go through them again. The amount of people dropping fish off to be cleaned over the last 2-3 years is unreal. Many people have gotten into the sport and with the good bluegill fishing, it’s not uncommon to clean well over 1000 fish a day. Then there’s the guys who drop off buckets full of yellow bass (no limit). Most shops had no choice but to scrap it. It used to be an evening job for a few hours for an employee to clean fish, and it turned into a full time job with overtime. They had to cut back to say no fish in after 5 pm. It was just getting to be too much.
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Stopped at Okoboji Gas Co. and asked them if they cleaned fish. The answer was no because they couldn’t find anyone to clean fish. Bait shop owners nowadays pretty much don’t clean fish. The moneymaking side of cleaning fish is having those repeat customers come back through your door to buy the products you sell. Even more money when the owner does the labor (clean fish). Customer service goes a long way. It does take a special person to clean a lot of fish.
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I have a lot of respect for anyone who owns or runs a bait shop. I don’t think anybody starts one thinking they are going to get rich, it’s someth8ng they enjoy. People knock kabeles all the time but they run a great business, their prices are pretty fair and the selection is good. I clean all my own fish but that is mainly because I’m cheap. Can’t blame them for finding another source of revenue that happens to be less labor intensive.
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Why can't I blame them?
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I have a lot of respect for anyone who owns or runs a bait shop. I don’t think anybody starts one thinking they are going to get rich, it’s someth8ng they enjoy. People knock kabeles all the time but they run a great business, their prices are pretty fair and the selection is good. I clean all my own fish but that is mainly because I’m cheap. Can’t blame them for finding another source of revenue that happens to be less labor intensive.
I don't disagree about them running a good business. Business wise. What I don't like about them is the false fishing reports they consistently put out for ice fishing. Misleading a lot of people. I mean it's one thing to do a fishing report.....or even a broad general one.....it's another thing to flat out make up a report. Now maybe they are just talking to fisherman that are feeding them absolute false information and repeating it......but come on....I will mis Travis reports from Stan's.......he was actually pretty accurate and truthful on his reports.
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Did Shuck's ever get redone?
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Shucks did get redone but it's something different now. I rolled through the parking lot to look but I didn't go inside.
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Okoboji Gas Company
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So is there a bait shop or anything fishing related to do with it?
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So is there a bait shop or anything fishing related to do with it?
No. Kraftys meat market is attached to it though. Awesome jerky. And all sorts of stuff. It’s definitely worth checking out.
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Brother-in-Law bought some bait there. I priced an ice shack.
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No. Kraftys meat market is attached to it though. Awesome jerky. And all sorts of stuff. It’s definitely worth checking out.
I make My own jerky….but might have to try some.
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I make My own jerky….but might have to try some.
You should. I bet it is better than yours. :roflmao: :roflmao:
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You should. I bet it is better than yours. :roflmao: :roflmao:
I doubt it. I make it the way I like it. 🙀 Beef jerky is kinda like Steak. Very few places do a decent job making it.
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They also have some pretty good brats. Neat place.
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And so it starts MR. Seaguar........stockin g stuffers for everyone.
(https://i.postimg.cc/CZHWc6dh/Screenshot-20211207-212905-kindlephoto-11337415.png) (https://postimg.cc/CZHWc6dh)
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And so it starts MR. Seaguar........stockin g stuffers for everyone.
(https://i.postimg.cc/CZHWc6dh/Screenshot-20211207-212905-kindlephoto-11337415.png) (https://postimg.cc/CZHWc6dh)
😂😂😂
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So are any of the shops cleaning fish yet? Stopped by the new okaboji gas company….odd….had more clothing then typical gas station stuff or fishing stuff…to bad. Stan’s is my bait shop of choice so far…anyone feel there is a better one?
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Kabele’s? Kidding. I would agree with Stan’s. They have anything you could need, priced fairly, the spikes and waxies are fresh and good quality. Anytime you ask for about some info they are more than willing to help a guy out.
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Kabele’s? Kidding. I would agree with Stan’s. They have anything you could need, priced fairly, the spikes and waxies are fresh and good quality. Anytime you ask for about some info they are more than willing to help a guy out.
I've been stopping and trying to give the majority of my business to Stan's. For the exact reason you just mentioned. They will give a guy truthful and decent information to help a guy narrow stuff down. Not only that if you call they won't go into detail like when you are in the store, but they will still give you the highlights.
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Likewise , Stans is getting my business , always polite and helpful , I do miss having Travis in there tho , more knowledgeable and unlike what others have said , he gave me some really good deals on equipment , altho on bait I just paid whatever price was charged and thought nothing more about it , so possibly was paying to much there