Tell em why your there

[Muskiefool]

When you go to a lake to fish this summer buy your Gas snacks and garbage locally, I know it costs a coupla extra bucks, but if you use the local store and ask if the "Muskies are biting" not that you want to know but that you want them to know why your there, every Walleye jockey in 10 county's asks where the fish are biting every time they bump into someone, the local people and business owners have a tremendous amount of pull in their citys and Muskie fishermen are sometimes looked down upon for many reasons, so do Muskies a favor and when you go to eat lunch or dinner or get gas, just do some name dropping for the sake of the fish and the future of Muskie fishing, sooner or later they'll say those Muskie Freaks ain't so bad after all

[shae1986]

Great post, i try to buy all my bait locally, now in Detroit Lakes i have a guy i go too but when im on the road its alway the small local shops that get my business bc they need the help. If i have to pay an extra 50 cents per dozen or an extra 75 cents for a pack of trebles i will for that. I've never had a station owner get mad at me when i ask if the fish are biting.

A. Shae

[guideman]

I can tell you from personal experience, that we had a tough time selling Muskies to all the local businesses around Vermilion. It took them a long time to see that Muskie fishermen spent just as much, if not more money than Walleye fishermen.

Until just recently, it was almost impossible to find decent muskie baits or tackle, anywhere near the lake. Now finally the resorts and other local business people are coming around and catering to the needs of Muskie anglers and their families.

"Ace"

[barnyard]

I agree that it is a good idea. Keep in mind though, some people will give you an earful about how terrible muskies are. Be prepared to either let it go, or respond in a kind diplomatic way.

I hate to admit it, but I quit saying what I was fishing for in Alexandria back when I fished there. There were a couple of bait store employees that could be downright rude if they knew you were fishing for muskies.

Tom B

[eyehead]

Quote:

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I agree that it is a good idea. Keep in mind though, some people will give you an earful about how terrible muskies are. Be prepared to either let it go, or respond in a kind diplomatic way.

I hate to admit it, but I quit saying what I was fishing for in Alexandria back when I fished there. There were a couple of bait store employees that could be downright rude if they knew you were fishing for muskies.

Tom B

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I hear ya barnyard, I fish the Alexandria area alot. When you get a guy fishing walleye to come over and ask how you did. You tell him you are fishing for musky and they start preaching about how the musky's are destroying there walleye fishing. I just listen with a big old smile on my face It's actually kinda funny listening to the old guys whine about it.

[barnyard]

Ya, a person comes to expect it at boat landings and stuff, but I was hearing it at baitshops. I was asked to sign a no more muskies petition at one of the baitshops. I won't say where, because a couple of years later, the owner apologized for it and said that that employee no longer worked for him.

Anyways, I always found the Alexandria area a depressing area to fish. The residents were so opposed that even if you had a great day, you couldn't really tell anyone.

I still think it is a great idea. I don't fish muskies as much as I used to, but alot of the public relations lessons that I learned from the world of muskies are just as applicable to dirt bikes (that's what I do most in the summer now.)

Tom B