Fishing in a bad economy

[pulleye16]

So I was at a big outdoor's store this weekend and was supprised by how much they over charge outdoor men and women for typical tools and supplies by just adding "for fishing" or "for the outdoors" to the item. I was just think of some stuff you could purchase that aren't labeled for the outdoors but would work just fine for our use. If you can help me add some low budget ideas, I'm sure myself and others would fine it very helpful.

1) Fishing needle nose plyers, $9.99 at fishing store, found them on sale at a local hardeware store for under a dollar.

2) Bubblers for portable live wells (filters), $9-15 at fishing store, got a pack of 2 for $4.99 at local pet store.

3) Fishing flashlight for lures and jigs (glowing), $5-7 at fishing store, can get for a $1 at any dollar store...okay mine does have Dora the Explore on it but it works great.

4)I found a bottle of sunscreen and a bottle of bug spray that were both labeled for "fisherman" but charged $5 more...

When I think of some more I'll be sure to add them.

[Steve Foss]

Great thread, pulleye. The number of items whose prices get jacked up by calling them specialty items is huge. Excellent tips on how to save money on fishing stuff by buying it where it's cheap, not where anglers pant to be seen.

That kind of penny pinching works just as well when times are flush.

[hydro]

To get good deals, try to think "outside of the box", especially the big "C" box. You can find things shopping online but don't forget shipping. Try to plan your purchases carefully and group the purchase to minimize shipping expenses. Look for good quality product at a reasonable price and remember usefulness and price are NOT directly proportional. Just because a "Pro" or a salesperson at the big outdoor store recommends it does not mean that it is really needed.

Last, don't buy what you don't need. Ask yourself twice if that lure or accessory is really needed, or just wanted. If you don't need it, do not buy it.

[bucketmouth64]

I've seen lures discounted quite a bit at dollar stores or places like deal smart. Selections may be limited, but you can save quite a bit. I saw rod/reel combos with small pack of lures for about $15 or less, lures for about $2. Usually have lots of swivels, sinkers, hooks.

[mainbutter]

Another tip:

Don't tell yourself you can save money by do-it-yourself lure-making or rod-building. Those are expensive hobbies unto themselves

The only mold I've made my money back on is my senko mold, and I am FAR away from making my money back on the tools to make my own crankbaits.

[Joe's Kid]

Yep. I've seen it in a lot of places. Specialty items.The only thing special about them is the label and the price.

One thing that helps me is to make a list of things I need before I leave the house. Of course, the hard part is keeping the blinders on at the store and just sticking to the list.

"Sales" are another thing that can suck you in. If I wasn't going to buy it in the first place and don't need it, it's usually not a good deal...for me.

Also,I save money all the time buying "last years model".

Every year there's something that is "better than anything that's ever been!"

Then it ends up half off when the new model comes out.

The only thing I can think of that I've bought lately instead of a specialty item is an 85 cent bottle of vinegar to clean the inside of my truck windows. Much cheaper than windex.

Thanks for the thread. Good idea.

[Jim Almquist]

A few things that I have done is to watch for plugs that are on sale or discontinued. At the local L&M I have found Rapala Husky jerk-baits for $4.09 when most are going for $7-8 bucks. The color pattern works great for me even if its not the latest and greatest.

The other thing that I have been doing is to only run at 2/3 throttle once I am on plane. I have plenty of time just not plenty of money to throw in the gas tank.

[mrklean]

check out the bargin cave online, or there close outs, you can have them shipped to the store and its free shipping then i always do that. Fleet farm usually has some really good deals as well on certain things

[rugbymn]

Don't waste your money on the specialty bait boxes for Gulp plastics. They make the jars leak on purpose so you have to buy their silly little "leak proof" boxes. All you really need is a 99 cent roll of pipe thread wrap (teflon tape) and that will fix every leaky jar you can get your hands on.

[OnAFly]

I've noticed all of this stuff. Every time I need fly tying materials, I hit up Michaels or hobby lobby first, then the fly shop.

I can get 1 4"X6"X0.125" piece of tying foam for $5 at a fly shop, or I can get 8 12"X18"X0.125" sheets of varying colors of the same foam for $8.

As far as the leaky jars go, I just use old sloppy-joe mix jars. They seal 1000X better. Nuts to paying $20 for something that will probably end up leaking anyway.

[shizzy]

I cant count how many of my tackle or gear bags are discount store or freebies and work just as good. same with most of my "specialty tools"

I have caught just as many fish on the discount bin Rapala as the wiz bang $8 this seasons model.

[dfv87]

Used to be a crank bait junkie... slowly recovering...

Anyway the clearance bins serching held some of my best lures over the years. I have several $.99 cranks that catch lots of fish and some $8-9 that collect dust. Just talking about it makes me itch for a clearance bin search right now... ok ok calm down 1-2-3-4 breathe 5-6-7-8 breathe 9-10 ok back to work.

[Sonicrunch]

I see lots of that [PoorWordUsage] right here on this site.

[herefish101]

Garage sales anyone. I scored a few good reels, they were on junk rods but good midgrade shimanos for five bucks a peice, i'll buy it every time.

[winniewalleye777]

+1 on the garage sales... I got a vexilar console and cords for $5 a few years back. cost me about $40 for the battery and case and I have a vexilar that works just like new

[DTro]

You can always score at craft stores and hardware stores. Sure it might not say Rapala or Berkley on it, but you will probably pay half as much.

I don't think it's a myth either, I think there really is a "fishing surcharge" added to a lot of items.

Take electronics for example. Automobile GPS units are light years ahead of marine or sportsman units and they are still cheaper....How does that work?

I'm sure it's a supply demand thing.

[paceman]

+2 for garage sales. I have quite a few set-ups that I have found great deals on. This spring I stumbled upon a brand new pflueger rod/reel for 10 bucks. It was still in the wrappings.

[Shack]

Used to be a crank bait junkie... slowly recovering...

Anyway the clearance bins serching held some of my best lures over the years. I have several $.99 cranks that catch lots of fish and some $8-9 that collect dust. Just talking about it makes me itch for a clearance bin search right now... ok ok calm down 1-2-3-4 breathe 5-6-7-8 breathe 9-10 ok back to work.

Yes dfv87! A huge money saver when it comes to the bottom line at the end of year looking back is the "stuff" purchased out of urge verses the "stuff" purchased out of actual fishing necessity.

You want to save money and go fishing when the times are tough in your life, reinvent your tackle selection from what you have in extra tackle boxes in storage. Rotate your inventory instead of buying 10 of the crank baits for $0.99 each, that are normally $4.00 each, just to buy them at a deal.

That or if you replenish your inventory with a bargain buy, off set the spendature by taking inventory of your tackle and liquidating the tackle you really do not use via the internet. Who knows? Maybe you will be money ahead with paid for new tackle?

[dfv87]

Shack, I hear ya on selling some unused stuff; but the phrase "when you pry it from my cold dead fingers..." comes to mind regarding selling any of my fishing stuff... JK!

I have resorted to buying only for need and then looking for sales/clearance. As with any hobby, real life expenses come first (Always).

[Shack]

I am guilty of stocking up ( ) on stuff I really do not need when I see it at a 75% discount. It's pretty much classified as hording, but with a purpose and hobby just sounds better when explaining why.

[Palerider77]

For me it's a hobby, I set a budget and act accordingly.

[Shack]

That really great to hear Palerider77.

[Palerider77]

The hard part is explaing to the wife why a new side scan needs to be in the budget.

[Palerider77]

Also I can't seem to get out of fleet farm without some new plastics. helps me to find a deal on dog food.

[rugbymn]

Also I can't seem to get out of fleet farm without some new plastics. helps me to find a deal on dog food.

I hear you. Here's my philosophy on that wonderous orange amalgam of necessities known as Fleet Farm {angels singing}:

Even if I spend $20 at Fleet Farm {angels singing}, on fishing stuff, I'm going to save at least that amount on other products that are much more expensive other places, so my purchase is justified.

The real paradox is that if I go to Fleet Farm {angels singing} solely to buy fishing lures. If I spend $20 there, I've got to save the $20 that those lures would have cost me at the big C or Gander. Therefore, I have to buy $40 to make up for the $20 savings, but then I have to spend another $20 to catch up to that $40, making it $60, which means I have to find some way to save that much . . .

Maybe I should just buy dog food.