Bass Pro Shops opening in Manteca!!!

[Larry Douglas]

Lead story in the Manteca Bullitin today. New 700,00 sq ft BPS opening just a couple of blocks from Fisherman's Warehouse, on the southeast corner of the Highway 120 Btpass and Union Road Interchange.

Store will be opening in the fall of 2007.

Annual sales projested at $160 mil.

Not sure whether I'm excited or feeling compassionate for the Warehouse and other smaller Mom and Pop fishing outlets.


Larry Douglas

[Guest]

http://www.mantecabulletin.com/articles ... /news1.txt

I feel the same way. Love to see them here, but Fisherman's warehouse is going to be affected. Hmm... maybe I can land a part time job there -- can you say employee discount! I wonder if they need any IT support? Hmm....

[86ranger]

I love the Fishermans Warehouse also and spend half my paycheck there. Maybe the increased competition may pressure Fishermans Warehouse to keep their shelves stocked rather than letting the popular baits and colors from running out for months. I know it is hard to keep the shelves stocked due to the demand but the Warehouse should always buy extra Watermelon/Red Senkos, California 420 sweet Beavers, and Delta Red Leeches. Unfortunatley Basss Pro doesnt carry any of those either.

[Fishin' Dave]

I've had it on the market for 2 weeks now. Someone asked where they could live cheap and be close to bass fishing, well fellas, buy my 3bed 2 bath house with bass boat parking for $365,000!! 25min from Ladds, 1hr from Pedro, McClure, Camanche, Tulloch, and walk to BPS!!! Come on come all

[Elmhurst bassman]

Fishermans warehouse. I don't know how many times I have been there to only find they are out of stock on the particular product I am looking for. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AT THE SACTO STORE. This doesn't seem to be the case at Waltons, Oroville outdoors, or extreme angler. I wish we had more options in Sacramento to purchase our tackle. Sac Pro Tackle is cool but it is really out of the way (and a little pricey.) Sorry about the rant but I just don't like doing business with the warehouse (but am forced to do so in many cases.) Hopefully they do the warehouse in , in manteca and then set their sights on Sacramento (cabela's too please!!)

[Mark Langner]

Hogans in Concord...they're pegs were always out of the basics and I'd continually get upset that I spent my time and gas to go there and come up short. Like they're really gonna have trouble selling watermelon red flake Senkos if they bought a bit too much...right. Fortunately Walton's Pond is exceptionally good at keeping the shelves full to the best of their ability, so they got the lions share of my business.

[Guest]

As a joke I called my girlfriend and told her that Graceland is coming to Manteca. We were talking a few weeks ago about the rumor that BPS would possibly end up in Fresno and the first thing out of her mouth was, "Really, Bass Pro Shops is going to be in Manteca? What's that going to do to Fisherman's Warehouse?"

Right then I started to tear up and she asked me when we're moving to Manteca.

My response was that we're going to sell everything except the bass boat, buy a Winnebago and park it in the Bass Pro parking lot! She got a pretty good laugh out of that one along with her coworkers.

[Joe Bruce]

If for no other reason Quin's smile at delta bait allways makes it worth the trip. they are allways out of the hot bait though. in the day of computer inventory tracking there is no reason

[RogerB]

It will be interesting to see what the impact will be on Fisherman's Warehouse. I've always received excellent, friendly service from the folks there. Sure, sometimes they didn't have the latest, hot baits, but my guess is that's because those baits flew off the shelves as quickly as they got them in. In many cases, the suppliers were having difficulty keeping up with the demand.
It will be fun to see the latest BPS store. I visited the original store in Springfield, MO, in the early 70's and even back then, it was quite an experience...they seemed to have everything a bass angler could want.

[Mark Langner]

I hit up the basspro cataloge pretty heavy. Occasionally I will still get something from them, but I've found the advice, council, and service at (in my case) Walton's (and he'll special order) so good I just shop there. He most always has anything I need. He's treated me great, discounting things, and I think in the long run I've paid no more but gotten fabulous service. I visited the BP shop in Vegas this year.....sure, it was fun....huge store....but the store is only partly fishing, it is much more than that (hunting, guns, knives, boats, etc). While they had a big fishing department, just like their catalog, they are missing allot of stuff. No way could they replace my local tackle shop (even if they were where I live in Concord). I suspect it will impact FW, but to what extent we'll have to see.

I think FW has an excellent opportunity here. If they were to concentrate on stock levels, focus on important baits that BP doesn't carry, stay on top of the new baits and things well all "gotta have", they could continue to thrive....

[Mike]

We've already got one! Its called The Hook Line & Sinker. Pick anything out of the catolog and they will order it "if they dont already have it" and give it to you at the same price as the catolog! I dont know anyone else that dose that. I wouldn't get too excited about the rumors anyway. I've heard they were comming to Antioch, Fresno, San Deigo etc.............I see it when I believe it.

[MPOLLARD]

You guys forgot about Escalon Bait and Tackle...Always full of the right color senkos and robo worms...If not Randy Reece can get it for you in a day.Plus a bonus,Randy will tell you whats hot for bass,salmon,and stripers...Lets see if BPS will give you guys local fishing info.......

[Larry Douglas]

Dang! You're right Bud!

Quinn's grin is worth the trip to the Warehouse!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Larry Douglas

[Tm Customs]

I would think fisherman's will close or move? What do you guy's think? Anyhow I am gonna get a job at the new BPS I hope!

[Dom]

This is really nothing new Corporate America shutting down the little guys. (Alan Jackson has a song, listen to it)I think it will have a huge effect at first on the local shops in the bay area that's an excellent location they will draw customers from as far as Sac. to the Bay Area on a regular basis for alittle while heck its only 15-20 min from my house I-5 to 120 short 99 to 120 and I'm there!

Granted I dont have one particular shop that I shop at I am more of a support all of em kind of guy. For me its about " EASY " If I am at home in Tracy you can bet I am going To Dave's Bass Shack Dave is a great guy and always give me great customer service and an occassional hard time(grins) I was working making my run to Santa Rosa I stopped in at Outdoor Pro Shop. I found the service was not all that great but they were on the way. (EASY)
but will wait till I get to Tracy and hit Daves

When I use to make runs to Brentwood I would stop in at Anglers Cove at least once a week Gary(now owns Extreme Angler) is another great guy down to earth and very helpful always willing to go the extra mile. AND THE BOY CAN FISH!! so you know he gives good info for fishing the Delta Point is sure I will make the extra effort to go check it out. I have never been to a BPS but after that its about ease just like most and for the little guys who can stick it out. And heres some advice customer service goes along way If a guy comes in and politely waits for the guy working to stop BSing and then ask where the swimbaits are dont tell him over there with no direction as to where there is and then continue to BS. Not naming names just saying "IF" (grins).

Tight Lines Dom

PS I hit up Walton's Pond also and John is another fine example of a great guy he always makes ya feel like family. And we can not forget about Gene at the hook he has always come thru when I needed a trolling motor part or the hot bait classy guy! I say all of yall partner up and open yalls own NORTHERN CALIFORINA BASS SHOP open one up in every town so it will still be "EASY" ,yea now theres wishful thinking LOL

[Joe Bruce]

didnt mean to be down on delta bait in my post. they are the biggest around and I shop there a bunch. Everyone there is really cool and allways helpful. Iv ordered dozens of special orders and allways been happy with them. It dose sometimes suck when there out of something but Randy allways has that covered plus a bunch of cool new stuff.

Bummer my shops are gona be effected the most.

Us local tourney guys auta stay with the shops that support us.

[Larry Douglas]

in its' present location. BPS will (is) be located less than a quarter mile from Fishermans Warehouse. The shadow from the BPS store will cast shade on the FW.

There might be a possibility of keeping the doors open, but my thoughts are that it will be on a much smaller scale. If FW can weather the first couple of years of BPS presence (after the hoopla subsides) there might be a chance of survival. I, for one, will continue to support FW as long as they have what I want or need. I've always appreciated the personal touch I've found there.

Since I've never been to a BPS store, I'll be among the hordes waiting to see what they offer, but I've always preferred the "backwoods baitshop".

As an aside, anyone remember the bait shop in Knight's Landing? You walk in the door....a drunk sitting at the counter.....you can smell the bait tanks....nasty looking grill behind the counter...proprietor looked like he hadn't shaved or bathed in 2 weeks...limited lure selection and dust everywhere. DANG! I loved that place!

Larry Douglas

[RougeBass]

I wasn't going to reply to this but I just can't resist. I have to admit I'm very excited about Bass Pro coming to California. I spend thousands od dollars every year just like the rest of you do in local tackle shops all up and down the state. I don't think anyone in any of the shops I shop in know my name or even care to know my name. And everytime I walk into a shop I feel like I have to beg for help. And then of course they are out of stock. Not saying that Bass Pro would have any better customer service but at least it may be a one stop shopping. I hate to down our local takle shops, but when you walk in to buy a new Loomis Flippin Stick and nobody will give you the time of day you don't get too excited about going back.

[Johnny C]

It will all come down to this...As in previous posts I have to agree that it is HORABLE at some locations..If you are a regular should they remember you and great you warmly..YOU BET..this is salesmanship...Is BPS big business ..YOU BET..2007 gives the smaller shops lots of time to improve or they will suffer...I have watched this happen in Sonora as big business as moved in and frankly for some the demise was there own doing..

With gas costs and nothing close I am going to miss the tax advantage we are going to lose...Everything is far to shop for me...You should all check out Tackle Warehouse..great service...

[rickd]

I'm not sure but I think that we'll have to start paying tax when we buy stuff from them on-line?

[Gator]

Once they open for business, we will have to pay sales tax on any catalog orders.

[OREGON SMALLIES]

I grew up about a quarter mile from BPS in Springfield and was there when Johnny Morris started. My uncle paved their first parking lot and my buddie did the early catalog pics, remember the Uncle Buck calendars! I always tried to tag along on those photo shoots some cute local gals dressed like Daisy Duke. He started by selling lures popular on the early tour not available to the average guy. This was all done in his dads small local liquor stores in the beginning. Got to ride in the first trackers and listen to Morris and his buddies talk about what fishermen would need and enjoy. They weren't a bunch of corporate guys then, just fishing buddies, anybody know Charlie Campbell or met any of the other guys will know what I'm saying. Don't hate an american dream sucess story like his he's one of the good guys. All his outlets are first class, the people working there reflect the community they live in and probably won't be as layed back as those in Missouri. I still go to the mom and pops for stuff too, but strolling thru BPS on a rainy winter day can be a great family trip and if you can resist its free!

[Rick G]

in So. Missouri, Fin-n-Feather is about 1 mile from the BPS Springfield store. It has all the true "local' stuff you need for the Ozark lakes. The local stores in Cal. will do just fine when they come to town, as they do not carry what really works, just alot of everything. Rick G.

[troutnut]

I don't think it will effect the"little guy" in the way we all think it will. The little guys will step up and compete or go out of business. The one thing a local shop can provide that BPS can't and won't is service. I know I can call Hook, Line and Sinker /Extreme Angler/ dave's Bass Shack/outdoor Pro Shop... and get most anything I want, with compareable prices, in stock and they will explain how to use it and where to use it.

Most sportsman are willing to pay a little extra for service.

I drive past several WalMarts and Sportmarts to shop at a "PRO SHOP".

I think it will effect the clothing retailers more. I bet i buy 30 shirts a year from Cabelas or BPS. Local retailers refuse to sell decent casualwear, or camo for hunting. The few stores that do, don't carry tall sizes, and they retail the same shirt I buy at Cabelas for $15- $20, they sell for $50+.

.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

I don't think it is going to hurt the little guy as far as strictly fishing related items are concerned..The exceptions are those items not normally carried by our smaller local shops..This is especially true when it comes to clothing and those items that are produced for and sold exclusively by BPS..

mac