South Shore Sportsman Sporting Goods

[jimd]

Hi, My name is Jim, I'm the owner of South Shore sportsman in Lakeport, NY. I'm new to icefishing and since there's not many baitshops left along the south shore of Oneida Lake I want to focus more on icefishing this season. I would really appreciate any input from you people on prefered baits and tackle.

Jim

[pikeking]

A word to the wise, Sell what the people want not what you like to use. What you like and what everyone else like are totaly different. How about setting up a corner of the shop with a coffee pot and some fishing and hunting movies that will get you to good info on what people want.

[jimd]

Well pike king, sounds like you read my mind. The TV/VCR is already there and the coffee is not far away. Since I'm new to ice fishing, without you and everyone else on this forum, giving me your advice on bait and tackle, I can only guess what the ice fishermen will want. I have great distributors for bait and tackle but I dont have money to waist on junk to hang on the walls that nobody will want. Everyone's advice is very appreciated.

Jim

[jonesy74]

The early bird sells the bait. To me at least. Try to keep a good selection of bait. I hate it when I'm going for pike/musky and the bait shop is out of jumbo shiners.
Good luck

[taxi1]

Where are you located and what are the main species that people go after icefishing in your area? Find you a couple of reliable locals that are ice fishing fools and ask them what you should stock.

Yeah a good seclection of bait is a good start like Jonesy said. If panfish jigging is popular then panfish jigs, light line, ice scoops, augers, power augers, extra blades, etc. If tips ups or both then tip ups and assessories etc.

If you've got a Wallmart nearby I feel for ya. 

[pikeking]

Look into selling tip-ups like Jack Traps, and good jig rods. If you need Mousies and meal worms let me know. Also try to stock things that people can afford.

[scavengerj]

Hi Jim,
You may even want to make up some sort of a list of tackle manufacturers and products and have them at the counter then ask people to check off or list items they would like you to carry or suggest items. Compile a list of items that seem to be the most popular or wanted and it should help you stock what you will sell. As I saw on a previous post...think it had something to do with the perfect baitshop and as someone mentioned here, stock a variety of bait and be open at hours when people need it. Opening at 9 on a Sat. and closing at noon, or not even being open on Sun. doesn't help you sell alot on days when most are able to get out to fish. Seems to be my biggest problem.....I sometimes have to drive an hour or more to get to a lake to fish, but the local store by me doesn't open until 8 or so. By the time I get my bait and make it to the lake, it is almost 10:00! Just some thoughts 

[duck doctor]

If I see a demand for them, I'll stock some. Thanks again for all your help. Keep it coming.

Jim

Won't be IF you see a demand it is have them BEFORE you see the demand.  Every person I have ever fished with has used shiners and buys them by the dozens!

[USMC130FE]

Jim,
Welcome to IS for starters, you'll find the people here are great and loaded with a wealth or helpful information.  If you would, try and ask the local guy's on what they use and such.  Better to stock what is used in the area.  I know a bait store in Michigan that wasted too much of his store on Bass and Salmon fishing, appeared to have forgotten the Panfishers and such.  Took him a couple winters to figure out that it's hard to fish for Salmon trolling trough 10 inches of ICE.  Same with Bass chasers.  You don't have to stock everything but make sure you have enough for guy's like myself to choose from and offer to add items when there appears to be a need. 

Everyone always say's WallyWorld is hard to compete with which I find not to be true.  Offer your wares at a fair price, the personal service will offset the small price difference.  It's great to shop at a mom and pop's store, atleast I know thats where I shop for the most part.  I'll look at your website and get your number and give it to a few friends that live local and see if they can give you some ideas on stocking stuff for the HARDWATER!

Steve.

[jimd]

I have no problem competing with wally world, my prices very close if not the same as theirs.  Just takes time to get people to know I'm in the area.

[PWR BAIT]

I have no problem competing with wally world, my prices very close if not the same as theirs.  Just takes time to get people to know I'm in the area.

Jimd,you don't have to worry about the wallyworlds around these parts  they don't carry CRAP around this area.One of the the employees that work in the fishing section in the (oneida store) said there is no big demand for ice fishing stuff FIGURE THAT ONE OUT  .  PWR BAIT

[Tomhusker]

 I buy alot of my gear and supplies from a Mom & Pop bait shop that is about 3/4 mile from Wally-World. I pay more, but they know my name and they know fishing gear. If I want something, they can get it.

[taxi1]

Yeah don't waste too much of your time on tournament bass fisherman. Most of the ones I know order from Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas.

[walleye tattoo]

I do not know how long your ice season is That info would help make some suggestions .

[PAcatchreleaseman]

you want to have bait(shiners-all sizes, waxies, mousies, mealies, spikes), tackle consisting of light line, jiggin rapalas(all sizes), a nice selection of Caty Jigs, Your Bobber is Down jigs, Glo-Jigs etc... Some tip ups,tip-up line, scoops, replacement auger blades, steel leaders etc...1lb propane cans-please dont sell them for more than $2.99

But all of this is worthless unless you open at 5am.  and thats no joke.

[jimd]

One of my best distributors is Basspro. They are the reason I can have the best prices on rapalas. Bass fishing is a big part of my sales but thats only for the summer. Everything I carry in my store is there only because of suggestions of the local fishermen. Like it was said earlier in this post, I stock what you fishermen ask for, not what I think you should use.

[dabber-doo]

One of my best distributors is Basspro. They are the reason I can have the best prices on rapalas. Bass fishing is a big part of my sales but thats only for the summer. Everything I carry in my store is there only because of suggestions of the local fishermen. Like it was said earlier in this post, I stock what you fishermen ask for, not what I think you should use.

OMG would you please consider moving your shop to Northeastern Wisconsin. Would love to have a shop owner like you open a shop here. And as far as wally world go's here they suck when it comes to any fishing idem .

[duck doctor]

wally world........... they suck .

[holeinhide]

But all of this is worthless unless you open at 5am.  and thats no joke.
[/quote] This is the key a bait shop that is open before first light will do well. The shops around me don't open until 9 am so I started trapping my own minnows and no longer buy from them. I would still buy my bait if they were open when I was on my way to the lake as it would be easier than trying to keep a bait tank running in the garage.

[USMC130FE]

......."Bass fishing is a big part of my sales but thats only for the summer. , I stock what you fishermen ask for, not what I think you should use".......

I understand that Bass fishing is a big part of sales, but start getting us "lowly pan fishers and Perch followers" not to mention the Walleye chasers to start shopping at your store and watch sales increase.  Minnow's, Crawlers and the like are a big part of sales and profits.  Usually when I stop in for bait I find a lure or 3 that I must have along with other things. 

There's more to life than chasing "Green Carp"!!

Best of luck,
Steve

[jimd]

I have already covered the basics for everything from catching minnows all the way to carp fishing. since the ice on Oneida Lake has been lousy the last couple years, I just didnt put much effort into getting ready for ice fishing. This year I contacted a few more distributors that handle icefishing supplies and decided it was time to expand my inventory.
Almost forgot....I will adjust my hours to work with the customer's needs.

[taxi1]

I understand that Bass fishing is a big part of sales, but start getting us "lowly pan fishers and Perch followers" not to mention the Walleye chasers to start shopping at your store and watch sales increase.  Minnow's, Crawlers and the like are a big part of sales and profits.  Usually when I stop in for bait I find a lure or 3 that I must have along with other things. 

There's more to life than chasing "Green Carp"!!

Best of luck,
Steve

I love that - "Green Carp!" I stopped growing them in my ponds to concentrate on monster yellow perch and monster bluegills. It just amazes me people buy $30,000 dollar boats to chase around these green carp. I spend $3000.00 on my first pond and catch more and bigger fish than they could ever catch out of that boat. 

And I don't have to put up with those idiots in their boats or anyone else for that matter! 

[Tomhusker]

 I use 'em for catfish bait... 

[dogfish]

Jim
Where in Lakeport I know there was a shop down there called Cookies.  You have Gander and Mickys to your West and Marion Mannor to your East.  You are close to Chapman Park that is great ice access once the ice is safe and they open the gates.

[PWR BAIT]

Jim
Where in Lakeport I know there was a shop down there called Cookies.  You have Gander and Mickys to your West and Marion Mannor to your East.  You are close to Chapman Park that is great ice access once the ice is safe and they open the gates.

Dogfish do you know where lakeport tavern is at the blinking light go 1 mile east  past the tavern it will be on your left.Its right on RT31 you cant miss it.