Ultimate bait shop

[dogs]

I wholesaled minnows for 15 years, the most profitable bait shops were the ones that are convenient, and no frills. People love the idea of having the local shop staffed with knowledgable people and great assortments, so you educate them, they buy their stuff at fleet farm, then come in to the shop and want you to tell them how to use it. Don't make it to comfortable, I know from experience; all you get is the people with nothing to do hanging around bothering people going fishing and take up counter space playing cribbage. Work long hours, but close up during slow seasons and regroup. Money is in crappie minnows and treats and trinckets. close up October and Nov. and hunt.

[FinsandFeathers]

Dogs, closed in oct and nov, thats when the fishing is HOT and the lakes are ours. If a bait shop is closed that time of year they would not be around for long IMHO...

Fins

[fishersofmen]

Correction, you can smoke in a cigar bar. That is the one exception. My wifes dad ownes one.

[kwiggy]

Awesome post... this is fun to read and dream.

Okay... what would be a good name? And Ultimate Bait Shop can't be used (that's just my rule) LOL

[DTro]

This is how I see it.

We as fisherman want to fish, not sit around a bait shop. Good friendly service is a must, and I want to be efficient, so a one stop shop will get my business.

Gas/Food/Bait

[mrfish1991]

a 20# propane exchange in the winter would be handy, as well as having 1# as well

[Mr.Seaguar]

Walters bait and tackle.

[Marbleye'd]

FM's Bait and B.S

(boating supplys)

(breakfast sandwich)

(bottle shop)

ect

[Crappie Kutch]

Huge lit sign that says MINNOWS thats the name minnows. All the sign says is MINNOWS!

[fishersofmen]

The problem is according to alot of people that use this site, they don't use minnows anymore.

[Sandmannd]

One with daycare would be awesome!!!

[Bottle Fish]

One with daycare would be awesome!!!

Can't agree more Sandmannd.

[Carl Bjorgen]

Call the place "Eat and Get Worms"....

[jigginjim]

One with daycare would be awesome!!!

There goes your extra line. Have a minnow bucket for the kids to play in, just add minnows and a small sunnies, your have a built-in day care.

[erickol]

I love that my local shop, Moore's is open very early, 6am. His friendly and helpful nature are also huge in customer loyalty. I know of two shops I rarely go to because of past experiences with a-hole staff.

maybe one could have a vending machine for crawlers and waxies, maybe even preserved minnows by the dozen (self serve live minnows would be great, but difficult to pull off)........ for those late night road trips and early drive times.

I have liked the idea some of the flyshops have used. Monthly seminars, trip slide shows, tying classes and casting clinics. A small local bait shop could maybe have a few locally relevant technique seminars. It would have more of a feeling of a few guys drinking coffee and BSing, rather than the classroom feel to it.