Bait shops.

[outdoorsman69]

I know this topic has been brought up before but I just had an experience that blew my mind. We went up to Tawas bay yesterday went into the bait shop and asked how the fish were biting. The man there said he dont work there but on the weekend so he didnt know. OK. We still needed minnows so we got 2 dozen perch and a dozen walley minnows. While the clerk was getting the minnows we got some sodas and chips just to come back to find the clerk COUNTING out minnows. I was a little irked about this so I brought it up to him and he said that the boss wants him to count out minnows because hes taking a hit on bait. ????? You run a freaking bait shop for crying out loud!!
Needless to say our sodas and chips went back on the shelf and the minnows back in the tank. If your going to gear your business toward fishermen #1 GET A FISHING REPORT! # 2 NEVER EVER COUNT MINNOWS! Anybody else want to vent on this? DCG

[Snoman]

I have been fortunate with only having a "counting" experience once. My biggest complaint is when a bait shop gives you their floaters as a bonus. Many times they use these as their BAKER'S DOZEN quota. Nothing like getting to the lake and reaching your hand in for a shiner or sucker, and "POOF", your already down 3-4 minnows.

What did the clerk say when you put everything back, and told him to keep the bait?

[CHAMP]

WAY TO GO!!!!!
The money spent in tackle shops is outragous, so why not give a few extra minnows(that cost only pennies). The customer is always right!!! Way to stand up for sportsman everywhere.

[bloo_gilz]

Great,honest, and, truly real post !!! I too have experienced this cheap-ass behavior ! What really bugs me is the fact that I'm heading to Tawas this wknd. Really wish I knew where NOT to go !!(hint).Hey after all better businesses should be given better business. Hope you caught perch on the minnows-O-plenty bucket ! Never scale back !!! BG

[Mtnman198]

I hear ya,You spend $15-$20 on odds and ends every time you go in and they give you a bucket full of dead minnows.The worst part is if you are pike fishing and they have three prices listed for the size of minnow you want.The only one that should cost alittle more is a spearing decoy.I swear they treat you like they are half anti!What happend to the old guy behind the counter that would look at your supplies and dish out two net fulls of bait and say "looks like about $5 dollars worth.

[The Whale]

My brother-in-law and I must have hit that same store when we were there two weeks ago. (East side of the road, just south of the road out to the point ?) They counted out our minnows too, took them cause we did not know where else to go. Will not go back there and we told them that as we left their store. Ridiculous !!! The amount of money they charge for the minnows includes a few "extras" for a kicker !!!

[Dutchman]

I work at a bait shop. I will admit that My boss is a little cheap. I would like to say something about the different prices on the minnows. We get our bait in three bags one is small suckers one is large suckers and one is decoys. We pay a different price for each. why shouldn't the public. You guys don't complain when you pay 99 cents for a king size candy bar or when you have to pay per pound on some meat. Why should your bait be any different. Just in case you guy's don't like this post don't get mad at Dutchman I am his son and I don't have my own handle yet.

[GreatLakesOutfitters]

I haven't counted one yet! I would rather give them to you than flush-em.
Of course you have to count the chubs, they are expensive.
My minnow tank has all the minnows mixed together so I have to separate them if you want big or little, but I always give way more than you would expect. Same with the wigglers, they stink.

[The Whale]

Heh Great Lakes Outfitters, this is not worth getting mad about, its only minnows. But, I'll gladly pay the amount posted, but if you start counting out every individual minnow, I won't be back. If you need to put an extra .10 cents on a dozen to cover the cost of an extra few minnows to a bucket for the guys, fine. I suppose you only make a couple cents on the pop, candy, smokes, lures, beer, munchies, etc ? Hardly. Everyone knows that that stuff is higher there at the bait shop than any other store. CHEAP kills !!!

[Rubber1]

The last time I caught a bait shop clerk counting perch minnows, I told her that I would be needing 10 dozen instead of the three dozen I originally ordered. When she got done counting, we simply said nevermind and left!!! Don't waste a fisherman's time. One scoop = One dozen!!!

[mikefde]

that is funny..... bait shops beware

[GreatLakesOutfitters]

Yo Whale, I wasn't getting mad. Just trying to tell you how I do it. I sell minnows by the scoop not by the dozen. I don't have enough time to count minnows, I can't keep my head on straight in the first place.
One thing about this business is that no matter how much you do, you can always do more. I'm a one man show. Hell I forget more each day I'm here.
Anybody want a summer job?????????
Have you ever had so much to do that you don't know where to start?
Good thing I'm only 20something or I might just go Orenthal ERRRRRRR! NUTS
So any time you see me counting minnows it means I've got all my ***** done
That will be the same time a Detroit sports team wins a championship!!!!!!!!!!

[phoggcutter]

What do you guys do with the left over minnows? When it's cold outside I can keep them in the garage for about 10 days as long as it dosen't get to cold.I heard most of the minnows come from Minnesota,and there is a possibility they could transfer parasites if you dump them in our waters! Has anyone else heard of this,I imagine it is possible.And as far as counting them that is the most pitiful thing I have ever heard of.

[swoop]

Had one bad incident with a local bait shop this year so far. It was kind of funny Ithought i would relay it. First ice I went to get some bait and a young kid was working the bait counter. He started counting my minnows and i asked him if he was sure he was getting the right count (in a disgusted manner). Well the owner was stocking a shelf behind me and overheard me, He immediatley went behind the counter added an extra scoop of minnows and apoligized for any misconvenience. So they all aren't bad it is just the help they hire. Try not to discriminate against them all!

[gman]

Phoggcutter,If I'm not going fishing again soon,I try to make it a practice to either give away the extras or dump them in the garbage can. It's hard to tell what we might introduce into the ecosystem if the bait is dumped into the hole. Tight lines all.

------------------


[This message has been edited by gman (edited 01-18-2001).]