Wal Mart with in store fly shop .

[mikel]

What's a fly shop that will not carry Sage, Rio, SA, and all the other major manufacturers of fly fishing equipment?

The question is, will the major players in the flyfishing marketplace go into agreement with WalMart?

Yep, they probably will. Maybe not Sage, but Rio and SA almost for sure. Bucks Bags has a deal with Costco, selling a $500 pontoon for $399, including shipping...

[windwalker]

It is a huge non sequitor to blame a proposition only valid IN CALIFORNIA for something that is happening IN UTAH!! You havent been drinking and posting?? Sorry but a little logic here would be nice. I am surprised that no one hs mentioned that regular wal mart stores sell Umpqua flies for $1 that fly shops sell for $2. I know a manufacturer (of American products) that used to have his products in walmart and they REALLY strong arm people into selling to them at a lower price over time. The made in the USA split shot they sell for $1 is lower than many distributors sell it to fly shops.

Actually, a large number of states have followed suit and adopted measures equivalent to California's prop 13 (albeit not sure about utah). The thread kind of seemed to turn to a discussion about local cal stores anyway. New to the board, and yes, drinking and posting does happen ocasionally........right now

[Hairstacker]

I see almost zero chance of a walmart fly shop selling Sage (although Sage sells through Cabellas), it would be kind of ironic if Sage did given that Fenwick was the 10 ton gorilla and was brought down by selling to non fly shops.

Hmmm, Sage at Wal Mart is not likely, although they do already sell their rods through Bass Pro Shops. I think the only thing that would stop them from selling through Wal Mart is the fact they don't have a model that retails for less than $100. (Wal Mart doesn't carry rods of any type that exceed that price range.) TFO or some other offshore brand/model would certainly be a better bet.

As far as Fenwick, although they started out as a fly rod company, they had already moved heavily into the conventional bass fishing scene by the late 1960s. Having made the strategic decision to capitalize on the predicted growth associated with competitive bass fishing by producing conventional rods, they had no choice but to sell their rods to non-fly shops in order to execute the (then) new strategy. I'm not sure selling at Wal Mart had anything to do with wherever they are today. Rods are still being produced and sold under that brand, although I don't know who owns them anymore. I think "Fenwick" changed hands at least a half dozen times in its lifetime?

[stevie steelhead]

After 8 long years of an anti-environmental president, and corporate greed, it is not surprising that a Big Box store like WalMart will be having a fly shop.
Yes, it is America, and this kind of thing can happen, but we can vote with our feet, and not buy fly fishing stuff at WalMart, and go to our local flyshops like Kiene's instead.
We liberal "socialists" can band together and start a movement!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

This is pretty weird because I read in several industry reports that Wal-Mart was going away from general fishing tackle sales because the performance in that area was not good for them? Fly fishing would be worse.

I just read a big industry report where it stated that 57% of all fly fishing tackle was sold by independent fly shops.

Box store sales performance of fly fishing tackle has not been very good.

8% of US anglers are fly fishers so why would any large company want to be in a market place that is that small?

The major problem in the fly fishing industry for the past 30 years is that there is not enough market ($$$) for all the manufacturers and retailers. The good thing is that retailers and manufacturers are going away at a rapid rate right now. Those who are left will have an easier time when the economy comes back.

It would be way easier to open a good "bait-n-tackle shop" and sell to the masses.

[RobK.]

The Wal Mart Fly shop in Idaho #1 Logan will have #2 .

Info

Idaho

http://boomtownusa.blogspot.com/2005...-in-idaho.html

Logan

http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/...2-04-13-09.txt

Quote

"

Additionally, this Wal-Mart will be one of two in the entire company to host a fly shop.

“It will be a separate area toward the front of the store and exclusive to fly fishing only,” Hall said. “It’ll be a great resource for fly fishermen.”

[RobK.]

When Fenwick starting selling their rods through Kmart , it seems like they started making junk . Still have my first fly rod a Fenwick 7.5 ft 6wt 1973 . I buy a lot from Cabela's and Wal Mart mostly hunting gear and Guns and food . I bought a 300.00 muzzle loader for 109.00 and a 250.00 one for 78.00 on close out for my boys . I could not afford them if i had to paid full price . A lot of hunting stuff they close out and get rid off after the season . So i don't look at Wal Mart as something evil they have saved me a ton of $$$ on things i could not have bought otherwise .

[Hairstacker]

My local walmart sells Water Gremlin 60 count bb split shot for $.99. What does Kiene's sell them for? In this economy, when you can buy 5 packs and get them for 1/2 the price, a lot of people will shop their. I know you are probably a wealthy businessman who can light his Cuban cigars with $100 bills, but for the rest of us we will take the $1 savings on something that costs almost twice a much at Kienes.

Sorry to offend anyone, when I becom rich enough to light my Cuban Cigars with $100 bills I will *GLADLY* shop at kienes and pay $1000 for a korean made hardy 2 handed rod and $800 for a korean made Hardy reel. In fact I will buy 10 of each,and maybe even give some away to strangers.
What Hardy rod and reel made by a Korean making 10 cents a hour would you like Bill, for when if I ever become a billionaire?

I'm not aware of any Korean-made Hardy that goes for $800 -- I think the most expensive one is around $500, with most in the $200 - $350 range?

I also don't think you're going to find any Hardy's made by Koreans making 10 cents an hour. Granted South Korean labor is cheaper but 10 cents an hour? I don't think so. Do you realize the average annual household income in South Korea is over $40,000 per year? What is it in Sacramento -- around $70,000?

[Ed Wahl]

My local walmart sells Water Gremlin 60 count bb split shot for $.99. What does Kiene's sell them for? In this economy, when you can buy 5 packs and get them for 1/2 the price, a lot of people will shop their. I know you are probably a wealthy businessman who can light his Cuban cigars with $100 bills, but for the rest of us we will take the $1 savings on something that costs almost twice a much at Kienes.

Sorry to offend anyone, when I becom rich enough to light my Cuban Cigars with $100 bills I will *GLADLY* shop at kienes and pay $1000 for a korean made hardy 2 handed rod and $800 for a korean made Hardy reel. In fact I will buy 10 of each,and maybe even give some away to strangers.
What Hardy rod and reel made by a Korean making 10 cents a hour would you like Bill, for when if I ever become a billionaire?

Jeez Halibut, have you ever been in to Kienes?

Maybe before you start denegrating the fly shop that sponsers this board you should become a little more familiar with it.

That 1$ savings that you tout doesn't come anywhere near the value gained from the advice you get for free from Bill and his staff.

While I'm still a little shy of being the Monopoly Guy, lighting my cigar with 100$ bills, I have learned many times over the value of talking to fly shop owners and workers. They actually fish. Why don't you ask the recent high school graduate working in Wal-Mart what type of fly pattern, technique, line, rod size, type of cast, or even location for whatever kind of fish you're looking to catch and see what you get?

Maybe it's just me, but I get the distinct impression that you're insulting fly shops in general and with your last sentence you're insulting Bill Kiene personally.

That's not cool on this board or on any other board I've looked at.

Ed Wahl

[RobK.]

My local walmart sells Water Gremlin 60 count bb split shot for $.99. What does Kiene's sell them for? In this economy, when you can buy 5 packs and get them for 1/2 the price, a lot of people will shop their. I know you are probably a wealthy businessman who can light his Cuban cigars with $100 bills, but for the rest of us we will take the $1 savings on something that costs almost twice a much at Kienes.

Sorry to offend anyone, when I becom rich enough to light my Cuban Cigars with $100 bills I will *GLADLY* shop at kienes and pay $1000 for a korean made hardy 2 handed rod and $800 for a korean made Hardy reel. In fact I will buy 10 of each,and maybe even give some away to strangers.
What Hardy rod and reel made by a Korean making 10 cents a hour would you like Bill, for when if I ever become a billionaire?

Don't need to be rich to shop there . I KNOW, i never made over 40,000 a year in my life and that was working 60hr weeks and i bought many things for my two boys and i from Kiene's . Kiene's has Rods ands reels from entry level on up and at some very good prices . So if your a truck driver( like me ) or Doctor they have something within you budget !! Plus you will never get the service( ANYWHERE ) that you do at kiene's and i mean ''anywhere''',not another shop that i have seen .