Do you shop online? Fishing related

[Sportland_Bait]

What types of fishing related products do you guys purchase online? It is such a growing market. I would like to get some firsthand response from the consumers. What do you guys like? What do you look for? What is hard to find? Thanks.

Jason Erlandson

[mamohr686]

I try to support the local baitshops as much as possible for the terminal tackle. The only items I get online are bulk plastics, swimbaits or a big purchase such as a depthfinder where I can get a really good deal even with shipping. Most retailers don't have a selection of sebile, osprey or other swimbaits. I was buying some really cool baits from a retailer in japan for a while off of an auction site, but it got to be an expensive habbit that I had to stop.

[Nate McVey]

I do some of my shopping online using auction sites mostly. If I need something small (mostly fly tying stuff) I prefer to use the local stores. In fact today I drove around looking for some things I needed to get ready for steelhead season, but couldn't find what I needed. Rather than order it from a "big box online store" I called my old fly shop up in Duluth and he is going to mail the things I need. Not necessarily the most efficient way to do it, but I'd rather give him my money.

[Esox_Magnum]

I buy what I can local but my muskie habit forces me to buy online for the most part. Lots of what I want and use I cant buy local. Walleye gear I buy all localy but that I can buy cheap around home.

[thedeadsea]

I have been buying locally much more frequently ever since big boxes, namely Cabelas, has jacked their shipping prices through the roof and ship based on $$ value of order and not weight.

With a MINIMUM shipping and handling fee of $5.95, I try to save up a big order if I order online, and use my rewards bucks a couple times a year. Just can't justify paying them $6 to ship something that costs them about 50 cents to ship.

I do order things off the online auction sites as necessary or if a great deal is found. I try to stay away from the sellers that insist on shipping everything in priority flat rate boxes if I am buying a small item that could be shipped much cheaper through parcel post.

SOME of the ma and pop stores will match prices on larger items, I.E. depthfinders, downriggers, etc if you ask them to match a price.

[Steve Foss]

I buy almost everything online when it's outdoors related. Many things I can get in Ely, but prices are so high here (and things so often are out of stock in local stores) that it's usually cheaper to order online, even with shipping. Otherwise I wait until we've got a Duluth/Twin Cities trip planned and bring along a list for outdoors shopping. I generally only pay Ely prices when I have to have something right away.

As one local example, last time I was in there the Ely Pamida store wanted $11.99 for a 330 yd spool of 12 lb Trilene XL. Say WHAT???

[thedeadsea]

As one local example, last time I was in there the Ely Pamida store wanted $11.99 for a 330 yd spool of 12 lb Trilene XL. Say WHAT???

That is robbery! You can get a quarter pound spool of Trilene Big Game from Wally for $6!

I am surprised with as many stores as there are in Ely, that prices aren't lower. End of the line, I guess.

[Steve Foss]

A motto I coined: "Ely, where the End of the Road means the End of your Wallet." Never had the guts to print that when I was the newspaper editor.

To be fair, local bait/tackle stores don't charge that much for the same spool, although good luck finding it this time of year. But Pamida is a mini big box store, and one expects that type of pricing, not convenience store prices.

Actually, Steve, I think I might ask you to pick up a few things down there in D-town before you head up next week. I'll shoot you an e-mail.

[Esox_Magnum]

I pay $2 for that line Fishermans Factory Outlets a good place to live near.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Plain hooks. Ridiculous what they cost in person. I will buy online but other than hooks I dont always do so.

[thedeadsea]

Actually, Steve, I think I might ask you to pick up a few things down there in D-town before you head up next week. I'll shoot you an e-mail.

Absolutely, just let me know.

[picksbigwagon]

I don't like to buy too much stuff online, I need to physically see it and touch it before I will buy it......come to think of it, I have never bought any fishing equipment online, unless you count my H20C........strange, cause I am looking online at stuff all the time....

[jigginjim]

father-in-law said, I could start my own tackle shop, because I have so much equipment. So, this winter I started selling several items on-line.

Mailman had better start eating his wheaties.

[Iambjm]

I guess I am a typical woman, I shop for bargains. If it's on sale online and the shipping isn't too bad I will buy online. Otherwise I buy from my local shops. I bought my Lakemaster chip online, but I would never buy a rod and reel combo online.

[Double A]

I'm looking for a good place on-line to buy spinners, hooks, beads, etc.

[harvey lee]

I purchase many items for fishing online. Typically I can buy for less but one needfs to watch the shipping charges.

I purchase almost all of my crankbaits and reels online.

[wplatehunter]

I buy most of my smaller things local, but my last three gps/graphs were online.

[CAMAN]

I've bought TONS of things off that online auction site that shall remain nameless. Everything from lures to rods and reels, a depth finder(brand new and saved $800) and I even bought a brand new, in the box, Strikelite auger from a retailer on there. Saved $150 bucks off MSRP and included free shipping(it was at my front door within 2 days of ordering). I buy only high-end rods and reels and many times if I can find them brand new, in the box I will usually be able to save atleast $100 per item. Never had a problem yet with having to return anything, just need to check out the feedback and description really well.

I don't buy anything from Cabelas or BPS anymore because of the insane shipping charges and because most of the things they sell that I use, I can buy at my local Gander or FF. If there is something out there that I can't find at Gander or at auction, I will search the various smaller online tackle shops or Tackle Warehouse and build up my order enough to get free shipping.

If I'm on a trip and need something right away, that is the only time I will pay above MSRP for any of my tackle, and when I do, its almost guaranteed that lure is the first to get bitten off by a pike, so I almost always need to buy two...or three.

Over the last 2 years I've saved around $3000 from buying online. And will continue to as long as the bigbox retailers refuse to compete and drastically lower their prices.

[Ed Carlson]

When I wish to buy on-line, I research what I need first very carefully...no impulse buys. I compare many vendors and the price spread.

Than I shop for the best deals, and I only buy from secure sites with full factory warranties and secure on line commerce systems.

A-List, B-List, Or Crgs-List and E/Bay I skip completely, I don't trust them, or the likelihood a hot-deal may be somebody's stolen Hot-Stuff.

[LegattoAD]

I usually do my shopping online but I prefer to do my buying at a store where I can touch/feel/ask questions.

Either M&P or big box, whoever has the better deal and is more convenient to get too at the time.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I like to support the local market when I can, but the reality of the situation is around my place there isn't much of a local market. There are a few mom and pop stores that I buy stuff from but their inventory is very limited. Unless I want to make an hour and a half road trip to Mankato or S. Falls I buy on-line.

Before buying something on-line I do a LOT of research so I don't get e-screwed, tho.

[shizzy]

I also try to buy local whenever possible. If however its a can't find item or I end up with a gift card to a non local spot Ill use that.

I much prefer to be able to put the item in my hand before I buy it.

[Big Dave2]

I got more into catfishing this last year and it's hard to find catfishin' gear in the retail stores so I buy most of my catfishin' gear online.

[Chode2235]

I buy most everything online. It is the same stuff from every place, so I am very price conscious. I seek out the lowest price on the item(s) that I want and order from them. Rods, reels, lures... everything. Sometimes I frequent the online classified sites, or the auction sites for some good deals or out of production lures. I also like finding those unique lures that are local hot lures in other parts of the country. There are so many great lure makers out there that you find some good stuff too. Searching regional forums is a great place to learn about and buy the next big thing before everyone knows about it (I made a pretty penny re-selling Basstrix hollow bodies).

I am a sucker for those $20 off $100 or whatever promotions Cabelas likes to run.

In the world of limited manufactures and brands the only real differentiator is price. Local bait shops could convince me to be a little more loyal, but I would have to be treated better than I typically am.

[MN Mike]

Pretty much brick and mortar for me ( if I've got my hands on it, it's not going to be good for the pocket book ), about the only time I'm looking online for a purchase is if something has been discontinued or I couldn't find it right away at a couple stores. I can honestly say I'll bet 99% of the items I have for fishing both summer and winter came from a store within 90 miles of where I live.

Mike