Tackle shops...

[Alan Whitty]

I took a run out to a tackle shop which Hugh recommended, a much further run than I imagined, Rib Valley Angling, on the grounds of the fishery, a well laid out shop and fishery, but I went there hoping to pick up some Dave Harrell floats, sticks and bolo floats and as is the case in many shops, they didn't have the full range so I couldn't get exactly what I needed, then I was quite shocked to find very few float rods on show, not that I was looking for one, but I like to see what is available these days, it's a shame that they either can't afford to hold stock, or can't get hold of it, because that is what forces customers online more often than not....

 

[steve2]

Like most shops they stock what they can sell. These days it is all types of carp based fishing.

 

[Mark Wintle]

I don't think thay sell many float/match rods at all nowadays. Purbeck Angling in Wareham shut a year ago and I recall they had the odd Acolyte rod that sold occasionally and an ABU Suveran match rod that must have gathered dust for 15 years or more.

 

[Alan Whitty]

I didn't know that shop had closed Mark, i take it that is the shop just up from the Quay?

 

[Mark Wintle]

I didn't know that shop had closed Mark, i take it that is the shop just up from the Quay?

That's the one. Davis Tackle is closing in a couple of months due to retirement.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Yes I'd heard that and wished them well, his wife had health issues I believe...

 

[RMNDIL]

Just a question of demand. Pellet or Carp waggler rods outsell 'traditional' float rods umpteen to one

 

[nottskev]

Just a question of demand. Pellet or Carp waggler rods outsell 'traditional' float rods umpteen to one

Indeed. The market gives some people what they want. The rest of us scour ebay, marketplace etc for proper float rods

 

[Alan Whitty]

I understand that Richard, but the tackle shops are missing a sale, they don't sell a hundred rods a week, you can't fish a 9ft deep peg very well with a 10-11ft rod, hey-ho, I've got mine, so they won't get my dosh...

 

[steve2]

I understand that Richard, but the tackle shops are missing a sale, they don't sell a hundred rods a week, you can't fish a 9ft deep peg very well with a 10-11ft rod, hey-ho, I've got mine, so they won't get my dosh...

But the fact is that now many anglers fish 3ft deep ponds that are 2ft deep in carp. Many now never put even put a float on the line.

 

[nottskev]

Yes, there's more demand for eg commercial-style gear, But there's more than that involved. In our times, we've all been in shops that stocked a lot of what people bought a lot of, but also stocked some of what sold relatively few. In today's market, it seem that only what sells a lot is stocked, and you find big supermarket-type ts's that haven't a single proper float rod in stock. The concentration of sales in ever-fewer shops with less and less variety on offer (aside from umpteen versions of the feeder rod, pellet waggler, carp rod etc) is telling us something about the market apart from who likes carp and commies. But what it is, I don't know and I can't be bothered to read up on it. It's not called the dismal science for nothing.

 

[RMNDIL]

I understand that Richard, but the tackle shops are missing a sale, they don't sell a hundred rods a week, you can't fish a 9ft deep peg very well with a 10-11ft rod, hey-ho, I've got mine, so they won't get my dosh...

And to get that sale how many 'extra' or 'other' rods would they have needed to stock, for how long and at what investment ? When they could stock the popular (to them) 10ft/11ft rods, suitable for shallower venues and 'easier' closer fishing, and sell and turn over that stock much more quickly.

I totally get why actual shops stock & offer what their customer base buys and how it's influenced by waters nearby.

Online 'shops' could be anywhere selling anything.

And, having said all of this, 15ft Acolytes in both guises (in fact every Acolyte 13ft - 15th rod) were VERY popular - and they're not going to commercial anglers. Likely because they had captured a very large chunk of that market.