Tackle Store in Fremont area

[201Pro]

A couple of friends and I were lamenting recently that there's really no real good tackle store (not counting Walmart or Big5 type stores) that cater to Bass and Bay Area fishing needs. We often resort to mail order or having to take a long drive north or south ...

Sooo ... is this a business opportunity? We are considering opening up a store to serve this area and would appreciate some feedback on this.

First, we would like to know if the general populous has a desire/need for such a store. Secondly, if a store was located in that area (Fremont area), what types of products would folks like to see it stock.

So I am creating a poll to see if this type of store would be supported. Secondly, I would like some comments

on the types of tackle you the shopper would like to see it carry.

Question to the public: Is there a need for a Tackle store to serve this community?

If there was a tackle store in that area, what kind of tackle should it carry?

* Rods & Reels (what brand you like to see)
* Plastic baits (name a few ... Berkley, Yamamoto, Roboworms, etc)
* Hard baits (Storm, Norman, ... cranks, ripbaits, ???)
* Swimbaits (Black Dog, Huddleston, ???)
* others?

[Chaozu]

Yes Please! I love Coyote Bait & Tackle, the staff is awesome as well, but I hate driving out there. We need a store in Fremont for sure, as long as you guys promise to carry Hudds and 3:16 baits. Dobyns, Powell, Setyr, and Loomis rods area must.

[Sean Graf]

PM Sent

[Dan McKenzie]

Chris,
Since I travel that area frequently on business I know first hand since Tri-Valley Sorting goods closed there isn't anything between San Jose and the Tri-Valley and beyond until you reach Manteca to the east or Oakley to the North, there is Walton's Pond but that adds a lot of mileage to get back to Livermore and with gas the way it is....
In short the idea is great, but will this economy support it? Job losses, a reccession, mounting foreclosures, boat sales and car sales off. Good market research (get an expert involved) should answer many of your questions, spend a little now, save yourself a big headache down the road.
good luck whatever you decide.

[stevey]

the last real bass shop in fremont was Jay Liu's trolling motor service.
the business was so good, that he closed the fremont shop and moved to oroville to open shop there. that i know of, no one offered to buy his fremont shop. but jay's main business was trolling motor service with bass tackle as a side business. and he was doing the trolling motor service part-time.

big 5 doesn't count as a bass shop. they have more shoes than fishing gear.
sport authority (sportmart) is a close call to a bass shop, it all depends on which store you go to, milpitas or union city.
walmart at least has to support the FLW, so it has a lot of FLW sponsored products, like strike king, berkeley, bomber, rattletrap, rapala, etc...

one of the many things i like about walton's pond, coyote bait, and fisherman's warehouse (besides the customer service: fish talk) they have the latest tackle (a lot of it; i.e., swimbaits, plastics, rods & reels). they not only carry tackle, rods, and reels; they sponsor our local fishing clubs and hold local tournaments and seminars.

i don't think tri-valley sporting goods ever sponsored a local tournament or club.

i like the idea of having a discount tackle shop. discount bin is good. they cycle through old product at a discount. but hosting a tournament and providing a discount on new tackle is even better.

jon and denise have always been generous, by donating tackle and rods to our club raffles. coyote bait and tackle has one of the best raffles after their sponsored anderson tournaments (March 29th)

having a big tackle shop is good, but you need a reason for bass fishermen to buy your tackle. if you host fishing tournaments, it gives them a reason/justification to buy more tackle.

it's like the scuba & bike shops that have come and gone in Fremont. they didn't have enough club involvement. or these shops didn't host enough events or seminars.

i'm not sure what is going to happen when BassPro Shop opens in manteca. walmart already sucks a lot of profit from the local tackle shops as it is. BassPro shops big attraction is one stop shopping. have you been to the shop in vegas? it's almost like going to a casino. you'll spend the whole day there... thus spend money.

sure it would be convenient to have a tackle shop in fremont. but would it be successful? meaning could it last the test of time. i think a bass shop in fremont would need to provide something in addition to tackle; maybe like a shop that provides taxidermy or replica fish or boat repair. fremont needs a bass boat service shop. i use to take my boat to jay liu's, & the boat dock, but lately i've been visiting boatmasters.

my .02 cents

[Guyle]

Walton's Pond in San Leandro is not that far from Fremont. He has everything you need.

[Stratos278]

Walton's Pond in San Leandro is not that far from Fremont. He has everything you need.

Or you could drive a little further North to Outdoor Pro Shop in Oakland. If they don't have what you need there they can probably have it sent down from their other store in Rohnert Park. They move a lot of inventory between the two stores.

[Chaozu]

I live in san jose, im between coyote and waltons pond. I would love to have a bass shop in fremont.

Why would anyone vote no???????????????????????

[Smile_n_Jax]

I'm quite sure a lot of you guys in the east and south bay area would like to see a shop in Fremont, but I'm not so sure it would be a viable project at this time. As Dan pointed out earlier the economy just doesn't support it. Money is tight, and the first place fishermen cut back is in tackle and equipment. Sure, there is a certain amount of tackle that has to be replaced, but buying new tackle and equipment is out of reach for many. I would like to get some new stuff, but I just don't have the money.

Next, you have to consider your customer base. Just how many bass fishermen are there in the area? You mentioned bay fishermen. I may be wrong, but I think they would be mostly hook, line and sinker guys who would not be buying Huddleston swimbaits or custom rods. And, if you catered to them, you would also have to make live bait available which can be cost intensive.

Not trying to throw rain on your parade. Just giving my thoughts about your idea.

[rickd]

Sorry Mike, I meant If there was a tackle shop in Fremont I would drive PAST it to get to Johnny's place, he's the man.

He's a great resource and a plain old good dude.

When he sees me walking through the door he goes "CHING"

[MIKE TREMONT]

Why?

Walton's Pond is one of the best Bass tackle shops around. I don't get in there anymore since I moved to Sacramento, but Jon Walton is by far one of the best tackle shop owners and worth the drive through Fremont to get there, in my opinion.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I have only been to Waltons once and I have to say that is one exceptional shop..I can say the same for Coyote Bait and Tackle and Mel Cottons in San Jose..If you can't find what you need in these shops, chances are you aren't going to find it anywhere..I make it a practice to support the local shops and those that support the fishermen/women..It is a rare event if I walk out of a shop without spending money..I think it has happened twice in the last five years..A store in Fremont might be convienient for a lot of people, so it could possibly be worth the effort..As with any new business opening up, make sire you have enough funds to live on for at least two years, it can take that long to become established..

mac

[FIVEtenthz]

I been goin to Waltons Pond since I was 12, hell John Walton showed me how to use a baitcaster. Anyway make the 15-20 min drive to San Leandro its well worth it. My girlfriend and I are moving to Pleasanton (where I work) at the end of the year and I'll still be making runs to Waltons after work when I have to and even when I don't! That will always be my local shop.

[201Pro]

Thanks all to who responded ... all information is appreciated.