The positives for fishing in Lockdown Three

January 6, 2021 Guest User

The break from the bank doesn't have to be all negative. As we witnessed in the first lockdown, it could bring many benefits to fishing as a sport…

Club boom

Mirfield AC in Yorkshire used the first lockdown to create 25 platforms on a stretch of canal.

“You wouldn’t believe how many club books we sold off the back of just doing that,” said club president Martyn Highe.
“We’re going to use this lockdown to create 50 platforms on the River Calder and permanently peg a new stretch of canal we’ve acquired at Knottingley.”

Day-ticket improvements

Tony Bridgefoot, owner of Bluebell Lakes, said:

“I’ve been in this position several times before with flooding and I always try to take the positives from a negative situation. This lockdown will give us time to create permanent stock fencing so we don’t lose any fish to floods, and create better drainage to control the flow of water. It’ll also give me time to think about how I implement restrictions on angler numbers across the site, because last spring we had every swim occupied 24/7 and I don’t think it helped the stock or the natural surroundings.”

Bluebell will be using the time to build stock fencing and plan management of returning anglers

Trade catch-up

Fishing surged in 2020, leaving some manufacturers and shops unable to keep up with demand. This hiatus could see a welcome replenishment of stock.

The Angling Trust’s Martin Salter said:

“If we are going to have a lockdown it’s probably the best time of year for it. My contacts in the trade aren’t anywhere near as distressed as they were last spring.”

This lockdown could well have come at the best time of year for tackle shops

“Buy it before it’s gone” warn retailers as angling’s surging popularity causes stock logjam

December 14, 2020 Guest User

From the big chain retailers to small independent tackle shops, the message to anglers is clear this Christmas – if you see it in stock, buy it now!

Angling’s booming popularity this year has led to a clamour for tackle, causing delays in the supply chain and the need for some adjustment of expectations from buyers and sellers alike.

There has been a surge in demand for fishing tackle

There have been more than 300,000 new anglers on the banks since the spring lockdown was lifted, and an astonishing 36,000 rod licences were sold in the traditionally quieter month of October alone. This has led to increased pressure on tackle manufacturers and retailers who are also battling the continued worldwide fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“My advice to people is if they see an item they want on the shelves then buy it now because you just don’t know when it will be back in stock,” said Dave Eve of independent shop Castaway Tackle in Oxfordshire.

His sentiments have been echoed by James Bigmore, director of large online retailer Total Fishing Tackle, who told us:

“If it’s in stock with your local retailer or with us, just buy it. If it’s a good-selling item and you know it’s had good reviews then pick it up, because there’s no guarantee when stuff will come back into stock at the moment.”

Lack of stock explained

When fishing was banned in March, few could have predicted the sport would rebound so positively from May.

The rush to buy tackle took retailers and manufacturers, who had been preparing for a bumpy year, largely by surprise. When the surge in demand came, the Chinese factories where the majority of tackle is produced were already playing catch-up after enforced closures earlier in the year. The ripple effect also meant shipping-container space became limited, and prices naturally rose.

“You’ve got to remember that this surge in angling popularity isn’t just in Britain,” said James.
“This boom has been worldwide. Everyone is fighting for shipping space, and companies are struggling to get stock.”

Flying hooks and long delays

One trade source told Angling Times that a large British tackle company had begun flying its hooks into the country to circumvent shipping bottlenecks during the initial lockdown, but air freight prices soon quadrupled as carriers saw the potential to cash in.

Dave Eve added:

“One tackle company has got a container of bedchairs and chairs coming in around now, but it’s all sold on back order and the next one isn’t coming until July.
“We’re seeing most orders coming back with 30 or 40 per cent of it out of stock, though that’s the fast-moving items like terminal tackle. Where before we might be ordering one trade pack of items, we’re now ordering two or three trade packs if we know it’s popular stuff that won’t perish. Talking to the sales reps, everyone is doing the same, so it’s creating even more demand.”

Changing buying habits

“What we’ve seen this year is that customers aren’t as brand loyal as they might once have been,” said James Bigmore.
“Because there’s not as much choice as before, where once they might have only been looking for a Trakker bivvy they may now be looking at the Fox alternative.”

He added:

“There aren’t quite as many deals around at the moment and prices will stay very stable. We’re quite a big clearance buyer because we’ve got the space and capacity to buy end-of-line stock, but there hasn’t been as much available this year.
“However, we’ve still bought clearance from firms like Nash, Daiwa and Shimano, and we will still have Black Friday and Christmas sales. It’s been a tough year for some people and I think customers expect those deals to still take place.”

Looking good for 2021

Despite the current logjams in the supply chain, the picture is improving. James continued:

“We’ve got stock arriving every day and it’s definitely been getting quicker in the last six to eight weeks.
“We’ve placed orders based on what we’ve seen this year and hopefully, by next spring and summer, supplies will be back to normal and it should be one of the best years in a long while for the fishing trade.”

Fishing Tackle and Bait Industry Booming Since Lockdown

August 7, 2020 Guest User

BRITAIN’S tackle industry is thriving like never before as shops and manufacturers continue to benefit from the boost in newcomers to the sport after lockdown.

Many companies and small shops feared the worst back in the spring when fishing, like other sports, was curtailed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, since restrictions were lifted in mid-May, a massive increase in demand for tackle and bait has helped companies more than make up the lost ground, with many experiencing unprecedented sales.

A few months ago we spoke to Dan Brydon of Norfolk’s Wensum Valley Angling and, at the time, he had serious concerns about the future of his business. But that’s all changed now, and he’s having to work 13-hour shifts just to keep up with orders.

“It’s been total carnage! Online orders have gone through the roof, and although we’re only doing ‘one in, one out’ in the shop, that’s also been very busy,” he tells us.
“A lot of people say that they’ve been clearing out the garage, found an old rod and want to get back into fishing, so lots of the stuff we’ve sold has been for beginners, but plenty of higher end tackle too.”

It’s a similar story with the sport’s manufacturers, as firms struggle to keep shelves stocked with the latest kit.

Daiwa’s UK marketing manager Stephen McCaveny says:

“The uptake in fishing took everybody by surprise, and our sales have been superb, with match feeder and carp tackle selling particularly well.”

The bait industry has also been booming, says Daryl Hodges, head of marketing for Dynamite Baits:

“We have had record week after record week and it shows no signs of slowing down. Sales are more than double for this time of year, and we’ve had to work around the clock for nine weeks to keep up.”

There has been a high demand for fishing tackle post lockdown

Tackle shops prepare to re-open

June 9, 2020 Guest User

FISHING’S gradual emergence from lockdown received another boost after tackle shops were given the thumbs-up to get back to business from June 15 – the day before the new river season begins!

Many outlets were facing an uncertain future after struggling to keep their tills ringing over the past two months, with only online sales or limited click-and-collect services to fall back on.

But following the latest announcement by Downing Street, shops will now be allowed to open fully in six days’ time, provided safety measures are implemented.

At Frames Tackle in London, which has been in business for 60 years, preparations for the restart are already underway.

“We’ve put lots of precautions in place to keep staff and customers safe, including the installation of hand sanitisers at the entrance, a one-way system for visitors to follow, and floor markers to maintain social distancing,” says boss David Frame.
“I’m expecting an extremely busy period, and the news is a massive boost that the industry needed.”

Similar precautions have been taken at Chiltern Tackle & Bait, Northants, where boss Andy Pell tells Angling Times:

“We began offering a click-and-collect service from the middle of May and sales went through the roof overnight. It’s going to go up another notch once we fully re-open!”