[craigkoproski]

This is a complete joke. I just want to go and get some leader material and figured I could stop there before work and just tie some rigs at my desk. Wrong! I stopped at two places on my way to work and both were closed. I knew one didn't open until 9:00 so I knew it was just a shot in the dark but the other one was closed and no sign on the door about when they open. The funny thing is these are the same guys that piss and moan when you order stuff from the catalogs instead of the local shops. I don't get it. Am I missing something? Another thing that pisses me off is that you can't get live bait around here if you ask for live eels these guys look at you like you are from mars. I would love to open my own shop and run these guys out of biz! I just had to vent and figured this was as good a place as any. I am also very jealous of you guys on the island it sounds like you have some very good B&T shops out there so take this as a reminder not to take them for granted they are harder to come by than you think!

 

[615065]

Sounds like u just found a good business venture........

 

[Brown Trout]

craig,

It's possible they're still operating under winter hours. Until things really heat up and they know it's worth their while ($$) to open up early, they may be slacking a bit.

I've felt your frustration before however. There's nothing worse than showing up to a shop to find out it's closed, especially when you need bait and are headed to fish.

P.S. Shouldn't you be working at work?

 

[craigkoproski]

Brown Trout

Your probably right about the winter hours. But you would think these guys would open for regular hours on April 1st. Especially being so close to the NY border. Not even from the bait aspect but the rod reel and tackle aspect. I know I get all my gear ready well befor the weather shapes up because you never know when you are going to get a day like today. The one shop that opens at 9 has that schedule all year long 9-5. Can you even imagine that? What reputable tackle shop has those kind of hours? The worst part is the guys that work there are real idiots and you would not even believe the bad advice they give there. It really burns me up just listening to those clowns. I guess that's what happens when you are the only game in town! At least I know what I am going to do when I retire.

 

[MakoMike]

Craig,
I feel your pain. Seriouslsy, when I lived in Western CT I just gave up on all the tackle shops and got my sutff either in Montauk (That's where I kept my boat) or via mail order. There isn't a shop in fairfield county that's worth supporting. Besides, 99% of the time they either don't have what you're looking for or, if they do, its waaay overpriced. Sportsman's Den used to be fairly good when Joe Bon was part owner, but its more like an Orvis in training nowadays.

 

[craigkoproski]

Mike,

That's exactly who I'm talking about. And besides those hours no live bait and oh yeah closed on Monday's! Its unbelievable. While I was there one day they actually sold a guy a brand new fly rod combo spooled up the reel then took him out in the parking lot to show him how to cast. I'm sure his fly line was just fine after his casting lesson and I'm sure they were counting on him coming back after he broke a fish or two off to replace the line. Its unreal and you gotta feel bad for the guy that doesn't know any better. Thank God for boards like these that will hopefully give the newbie a heads up.

 

[Brown Trout]

A bit of a drive, but under the circumstances...

Cross River, NY has a shop on Rt. 35 near the corner of Rt. 121. 5am opening 7 days if I remember correctly.
Zeke is a good guy.

Further west on 35 at the corner of rt. 100 is Bob's B+T. Lucy runs the show and is great as well. 5a-6p currently.

Might be worth the trip?

 

[MakoMike]

Brownie,
Zeke is a good guy and one of the best turkey hunters around, but, by and large, he doesn't carry much in the way of saltwater stuff. Stuff that you might use in freah and saltwater he's likely to have. I guess that's to be expected when the shop is right on the bank of the cross river reservoir.

 

[Brown Trout]

Good Point

Mike,

Your right he's almost exclusivly Sweet water (ditto for Bobs), but I think he can order whatever is needed for an early am pickup. Croton B+T has more salt stuff, but it's more of a drive to Rt. 9. Sport auth. in Danbury carries a lot of Salt tackle, but I don't know what time they open.

 

[opiesuds]

Fairfield, CT

Mike,

I've always liked the people and selection at Fishermans world in Norwalk.

 

[morning dew]

Do yourself a favor and just go see Big John and the boys on City Island . Its not that far south on 95 from Stanford. He has a great selection and his prices are not bad either. Most of the stuff I know I will be using a lot of during
the season I do mail order- like hooks, leader material, line, diamond jigs fluke bullets etc...I like Bass Pro and Terminal Tackle on LI for that- I try to avoid buying tackle at the shops in Norwalk due to the high prices- but they do have a good selection. However , their supply of fresh bunker is often tenous as I often get "we are expecting some shortly" when I call. Its tough operating a one man show
B&T but I do agree with you that hours should be posted and kept.

 

[MakoMike]

Opie,
Ricky Mola is a good fisherman, but most of his stuff is waay overpriced. He also doesn't keep a consistant supply of bait. He and a couple of his buddies net their own bunker right there in the harbor, so whether or not he has bunker depends on where the fish are. If they aren't right in Norwalk harbor he doesn't have them. Also if he only has a few he'll save them for his buddies. Similar deal on green crabs and sandworms. When I ran a boat out of Norwalk I used to buy bait from him occasionally, but if I could get down to city island before a trip, that's what I would do.

 

[morning dew]

MM- I guess you knew what shop I was talkin about right off the bat. I have always got real nice sandworms there but you hit it on the head concerning the bunker supply. If we are going out at night for Stripers I usually leave work in Yonkers and go to Jacks while my partner trailers the boat to Norwalk and then meet up with him there with a cooler full of nice bunker. Yes Fishermans does have an awesome selection of tackle but it is quite costly- but hey you have to pay for convenience- you really cannot beat their location-and their reports are usually accurate. I should also add Capitol Tackle on W 23rd In NYC has a great selection at relatively reasonable prices.

 

[Captneilf]

Hi guys,


+Spoke to a friend of mine today and I would like to show the "other side" if I might.

A guy walks into a shop that sells rod building components along with building custom rods. He is looking for grips to install on a new blank. The store owner doesn't remember selling him the blank so he asks where did you buy the blank?
The guy bought it from catalog business out of state because the price was lower. When you add in the shipping the prices from both places was close.

Now I ask, why not support the local businessman? I can tell you from first hand experience, a small local business can not compete with a large national distributor. On price alone because he orders much more he, the distribtor/wholesaler/retailer, gets lower prices. Then he marks up the prices he sells to us that can buy wholesale. And marks up the price even more when he sells retail.

Now the small local business man has to make a profit or else he goes OUT OF BUSINESS. Then where do you go when you need some thing right now?

Many times the overhead is much less in other states than it is here. That is some thing else a local has to contend with.

Now, how many times do you go into the local shop looking for info? Isn't the expertise and knowledge that the local willing shares with you WORTH SOMETHING?
That alone is sufficient reason to buy from the local shop.

If the folks in a local shop aren't helpful or have attitudes then that is good reason to go elsewhere.

Guys, life is all about sharing and helping. Money is important but not the most important! A friend of mine use the say, "there are only 2 kinds of people, givers and takers. Unfortunately there are more takers than givers."

Support your local B&T shops if you can. There are many reasons to do so. When thet are GONE you lose also.

 

[MakoMike]

Neil,
Normall I would agree with you. But the specific shops we're talking about are not worth supporting for a variety of reasons. From thier stuck up attitude, their really poor prcies, their lack of service, etc etd. the only reason they stay in business is because of their location. Remember we are talking about two specific places, although much the same can be said of all of the salt water shops in Fairfield county CT.

 

[618412]

MakoMike

You are absolutely correct on both accounts. Mola brothers are the biggest
rip offs I have ever come across. There
are no tackle shops in Fairfield county
or anywhere in ct.that carry what I
want, for a decent price thats why everthing I buy is Mail order.

 

[Billy40]

Craig - if you planned so far in advance, you would've bought the stuff you need froma mail order company and not have to worry about this mess.

This is your punishment for living in Conneticuit.

I hate teh feelinghtat I was ripped off, and that's how I feel in a tackle shop. Which is why I do my best to stay out of them at all costs. Teh internet is a wonderful thing.

 

[Captneilf]

Mako Mike

Hi,

I am real sorry to hear that about the B&T's. On Long Island all the B&T's I visit try very hard to be accomodating, helpful and friendly. There are a lot of them. The ones I visit are mostly in Suffolk County and I know there are also excellent ones in Nassau County.

During the winter there was quite a long thread on this very subject. I forget which Forum.If my terrible memory serves me well I think there were more positive posts than negative.

Operating a B&T is hard work with long hours. They also are at the mercy of weather and the availability of fish.

 

[B4sunup]

Causway rocks

I live in Western Suffolk county. I'll go out of my way to go to Causway B & T. Mike & Bobby keep their shop open no matter what. Open early close late. Doesn't matter what the weather is or if it's winter time. Shop is stocked with everything for surf or boater. Stock eel's, fresh bunker(in season), and any other bait you might need. I guess I'm spoiled. There are at least 5 B & T shops I pass just to go to Causway. Thanks Mike, Bobby, and the boys (Chris, Andy, Greg).

Artie

 

[624952]

shop or not to shop...

capt neill,this is not directed at you...craig, screw `em! if those conn guys have the holier than thou attitude, aren`t open at reasonable fishin hrs, don`t carry a moderate supply of "stuff" in demand(if they`re big on the PC trout, forget it! they most likely won`t be of much help.) fed ex/ups will have it to you the next a.m.
and walmart will tide you over til then!