Corpusfishing.com

[FB PHIL]

I somehow attached this to the wrong thread yesterday by mistake.

All I'm saying is if the guy with the $200 rod doesn't present the lure properly to the fish like the guy with the $20 rod, who's going to be catching the fish. In the winter is usually the only time when the strike of various saltwater fish is going to be subtle. If you have alot of money that's burning a hole in your pocket, buy the best there is. but that won't necessarily make you a better fisherman.

[CBAXTER]

Lots of box stores try to reduce the amount of cost on their products so manufactorers replace and substite certian parts for cheaper ones. This allows the big box stores to sell the same looking products for alot less than the smaller retailers. I run a kayak shop in Houston and I have experienced this first hand. Also alot of their rods and reels are rejects thats why they sell for half the price as other retailers.


I fish alot of tourneys and fish roughly 6 days a week in different bodies of water, not only is sensitivity better on more expensive rods but the weight and balance tends to better allowing for cast and more precise casting all day without feeling it like you would a $20 tournament choice from Academy. I have gone to using nothing but custom rods in the last 6 months and I will probably not buy a mass produced rod for a long time. I agree that the fisherman has alot to do with it but if you can't cast to the same spot as me then I have a better chance of catching.


Chris

[greenhornet]

I find it a little difficult to believe that all these companies have enough "rejects or seconds" to stock in these large "box stores". I think it's obvious that manufacturers produce certain items exclusively for certain chains. Take academy's ok speck kayak, I'll be the first in line to pay significantly less at academy for their speck when it is the same as another ok model (drifter or prowler can't remember which). As far as customer service, I have had some very bad experiences at Roy's ranging from being accused of lying about a product I bought and losing out on the money spent on an empty spool of line (it was boxed and i didn't notice at the time) all the way to getting completely incorrect information from some self-proclaimed know-it-all. I avoid Roy's if at all possible and would be thrilled if an academy was built in Roys more convenient location. Unfortunately I don't know of any other good places for reel repair, anyone have some other options on reel repair?

[shawn]

actually the speck is a copy of the original ocean kayak scrambler but they don't use anywhere near as much plastic so the hulls not as thick as the scrambler. as long as you don't go crazy over the oysters it's a fine boat but it can't take the punishment that the scrambler can and does

[Gib]

I have never been much on the expensive stuff because of price and the time or two I did spend extra for "good" stuff it broke down before the "cheap" stuff.

I still have a $6.00 rod I purchased on sale at Academy that has never broke, lost an eye, or anything else. It is slightly stiffer than I prefer, but for the price and durability, I will gladly take it.

My concerns with Academy are the continous events of not having product because sold out or discontinuing products that I find work for me.

[FB PHIL]

Let me start with the fact that I love Academy being in CC. One gripe I have with them is their inability to carry enough products that are seasonal in usage and refuse to change their stocking/ordering procedures. For instance, the inability to buy Mannolures or Gotcha plugs during the summer fishing months because they can't or won't order more than 10-15 at a time. You have to just happen to be at the store the day they stock or your not getting any. They could sell a 100 in a week during the summer and none during the winter. The idiot staff quit carrying Gotcha plugs completely this past winter because they told me "nobody is buying them so we quit carrying them" After griping to a mgr, I think they are starting to get them again. I personally, have learned to buy them all winter and stock up for the summer. At the same time I see other lures and jig heads that seem to stay on the shelves yr after yr with noone buying them, but there they are taking up space. It is almost impossible to find #4 gold VMC treble hooks anymore, but tons of other brands other than VMC (I think the best).

[THE NINJA]

I've said once and I'll say it again. Academy's business is driven by team sports, apparel, and footwear. Hunting and fishing only gets about 15% of dollars spent at Academy. Academy is the fastest growing sports retailer in the nation. I look forward to them carrying a better selection in the furture. As far as quality of the products that they sell. I haven't seen any difference between them and anyone else. I know that Academy carries many items that are exclusive to their stores. Most large retail chains do the same. It's all about trying to keep the customer from going elsewhere. I think that the fisherman makes the difference in most cases. I can put on an authentic Spurs jersey but that doesn't make me a better basketball player. Most of my business goes to Academy, unless I need something that they don't carry.
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Romans 1:16

[ironmanstan]

first of all ido do get treated nice at academy and they have a good customer service policy.i tend to spend about two hundred on my bay rigs.i buy my reels at academy and my rods at roys.if you fish all the time you want as good as one can afford, same with hunting you want a good rifle and scope.if i had the bucks to spend i have a shimano stella and a rod to match it and i would have a big bad boat to carry it in ...somebody wake me up please.
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I LIKE MINE FRIED.

[captainsling]

Guys- I work at Academy, in the coorporate office. I am in direct communication with the buyers everyday. I can assure you Academy does not buy "seconds" on there rods. When you have a 100 stores and sell 10,000 rods for a vendor, You are going to get a price break. The savings is then passed on to the consumer. It is true that sometimes manufacturers just put their name on a rod and let us use there name. What a lot of you do not know is, that most manufacturers do not sell "seconds". I know for a fact Castaway and Allstar destroy any blank that does not meet their specs. Several years ago Allstar had a bad batch of Graphite, They sold these rods anyway. This almost cost them the business.This is just my two cents. Hope this helps clear anything up.

[Bayslammer]

I have an American Rodsmith Genesis 6'6 that I bought from Academy for $50. It is my favorite wading rod by far. I have used a Billystix, All-Star, Castaway, and many other more expensive rods. I have started using braid and with this rod the sensitivity is awesome. If you want to buy a custom rod to help you catch more fish you may be dissapointed. I can assure you most $50 graphite Academy rods will work just as good.
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Grind

[Tyler]

[the troutman]

It is what it was designed to be, a store with great selction and affordable prices. If you want a 300.00 G-Loomis rod, this is not the place. Of course, how many people really need that type of equipment?? I have always had good luck with Academy for both fishing and hunting. If I want specialty stuff, I'll go to a specialty place but for the majority of items, Academy is great.
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Later,

The Troutman

Love em and leave em, otherwise known as Catch and Release!

[FlatsAssassin]

[MJW]

Academy rods,reels, and everything else has always treated me right. Cant recall any problems and the prices are more than decent
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Work hard to play harder!!!
MeetMikeandLori.com

[captainsling]

FlatsAssassin, My name is Brian ,and I work in Katy, at the Coorporate headquarters.i grew up in Corpus and moved here about four years ago. I have been with the company about 17 years.