Cabelas is lame for being out of ice fishing gear alrady.

[bobber_down_1979]

I guess Fleet gets our business the rest of the season.

[joneshat11]

+1 on this and also all other big box stores. You can't get what you want or need nowadays let alone before the season. They wait way to long before putting out ice gear on the shelves. That's why really the only great store in the cities is Thorne Bros. but even still I'm left to mail order stuff nowadays.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I guess it depends on how you look at it. I can understand why they do it.. They order in quantity. To order large shipments now would be silly, they would have to sit on it.

I was out shoe shopping this weekend. I would have been much better off sandal shopping. Lots of sizes of shoes out, but could have got any sandal I wanted. Same thing.

[CaptainMusky]

The Fleet Farm here doesnt have much supply left either. Gander NEVER had much selection here in STC so I didnt buy much there.

Scheels has the best selection in STC and even that is really picked over.

These places dont want to store it all summer long so they buy enough to sell out. It makes perfect sense.

A little planning and you would have everything you need early in the season.

[Big Tom]

A little planning and you would have everything you need early in the season.

Yep. I've made the mistake myself. Now you're looking at Mom and Pop tackle shops and the corresponding markup if it's a must have item.

[IL Res]

I guess Fleet gets our business the rest of the season.

I agree. Fleet is #1 for price and selection [ Brainerd store ], although I haven't been to many other Fleet's. I like that they get it on the floor before Thanksgiving. Gander Mtn would be distant #2 IMO.

I cross through Walker twice a year and always stop @ Reed's. Awesome tackle and gun depts. They stock many accessory items from Vexilar, Humminbird, Strikemaster, etc. Large clothing and footwear selection as well. It takes me atleast an hour to check out the place.

[Ed Carlson]

You can expect thew retail set flip to spring fishing set to start early, and for most of the players about now.

[DTro]

Yeah, FF seems to be the only store is which I'm rarely disappointed with item availability. Even if they don't have exactly what I'm looking for, there is a good chance there is a decent substitute.

I can't tell you how many times I've walked out empty handed or shocked at the sticker price at Gander and drove across the street to FF.

I'm sure it's tough for retailers with the small profit margin they work with. Trying to keep current season happy yet trying to make some $ on the future season without having a ton of overhead/carryover.

The ideal store would have all 4 seasons covered and never pull their inventory or let it run out.

[gonehunting]

I feel we are very fortunate in the Fargo/Moorhead area. In my opinion Gander MT, Scheels, and Fleetfarm all carry a good selection of ice fishing tackle, augers, shelters, etc. Makes for good competition. Have to throw out a hats off to Ed. Very knowledeable when it comes to his store. The local angling community appreciates it.

[leech~~]

I guess Fleet gets our business the rest of the season.

All retail stores start pushing their next season stuff ahead of time as soon as one is done or half way over. But look at the bright side, you can go get your bikin on sale now!

[mrklean]

i really dont buy anything at gander anymore seems there price goes up every year, the FF in maple grove/osseo usually had a great selection of fishing stuff hunting stuff not so much. I only wish scheels was closer love that store

[thatoneguy]

This is why I'm so thankful to have Reeds just a few miles away.

[reinhard1]

i'm heading to fleet farm today. they have plenty left. i rarely go to cabelas anyway. the new fleet farm in blaine has a nice outdoor area and selection. good luck.

[bikeoutback]

Better pick up your sandals and swim suites now while they have any cause by March they will be starting to set Halloween up.

[Sonicrunch]

lol. It's true, the big box stores do it because that is how they operate with efficiency and keeps costs low.

Thank your lucky stars for our local bait shops that carry everything we need all year long. Huzzah!!

[Getanet]

I always send my friends to Fleet. Either in Osseo/Maple Grove or Lakeville. I've never been to the one in Forest lake, but I would imagine it's decent too. Better prices and large variety - especially for ice fishing supplies.

The absolute worst in "Richard's." Looking at most of their fishing supplies I don't anyone that works there has ever whetted a line.

[CJH]

Was at Cabellas in Rogers yesterday and there was a guy having a minor hissy fit over the lack of selection. The employee told him they had been trying to get more stuff in for weeks to no avail. Of course this dingbat was trying to buy the whole kit and kaboodle (poles and everything).

Never wait until half way through the season to buy seasonal gear, that's your bad, not the stores.

[Northlander]

The older I get the less I buy at gander or Cabelas. Im more than happy paying a little more at my Locals like Marine General, Chalstroms, Fishermans Corner or the Bait Box. If they dont have what I need they will get it for me.

[Ufatz]

Well fellas, you are all correct that the major retailers start the spring swing a bit early some times, but you might want to look further at the situation with Cabela's.

There is a strong sense that Cabela's is having trouble. There are many items where they are no longer competitive price-wise. Have you noticed that the staffing in the stores is about one-third what it used to be?

Have you checked to see items that used to be in stock all the time are not even carried any more?

Could be that a lot of this is just today's temporary slump in the economy. Or it could be that the new corporate owners of the Cabela boys company tried to get ALL their investment back in a short time.

Examples: Tom Tom GPS......Cabela price $195. Bought it for $115 easily couple other places. Some bedding items....waaayyy cheaper other places. My last two orders screwed up and information totally confusing and wrong in two other instances. Recent visits to TWO stores showed abysmal staffing and what staffing was there was pretty much clueless.

Ask around. Talk to others. Go see for yourself. As a forty-plus year customer of the Cabela boys what I have been witnessing has not been pretty.

[TruthWalleyes]

I do like that the big ice fishing sales are during the middle of ice season tho

But come feb/march i do get a little upset when i can't find a fishing rod, or that jig i just lost!

[blackdog1101]

Cabelas and Gander are little more than glorified clothing stores any longer. The selection of sporting gear shrinks and shrinks.

[AsianSensation89]

For sure. I love Scheels also. Too bad there's not one in the cities.

[reinhard1]

i've always and only stop at charlstroms for bait when i'm up there and have been for many years. nice people. good luck.

[leech~~]

Was at Cabellas in Rogers yesterday and there was a guy having a minor hissy fit over the lack of selection.

Hey, maybe it was "bobber_down"

[Farley]

Havnt bought anything from Cabelas for a long time, i do browse their HSOforum from time to time if I want to know how much something in particular will cost, I usually find it elsewhere for less $$. They lost me when they screwed over Herters and stopped selling the foam duck decoys. IMO the best decoy for the $$ out there and now you cant get them anywhere because Cabelas owns the distribution rights for herters decoys. They did it so they can push their own brand over the ones hunters actually want to buy.

If I had to get something and I was going to go to a big store to get it, Fleet Farm is my first and usually only stop. I feel like Cabelas is getting more and more out of touch with their consumers every year. I dont need a catalog every week of the same stuff that is in the hardcover edition I get twice a year. I remember 20 years ago when we'd get a cabelas catalog in the mail and I would study it like a book, now they just get thrown in the burn barrel on the way from the mailbox to the house. At least back then you didnt have to page through 15 pages of Cabelas brand stuff to get to the real fishing gear.