Going to the U.S.

[Guy Durham]

I've got a trip the mighty U.S of A coming up. I'm going to Vegas, New York, New Orleans and LA.

I'd be eternally grateful if anyone can share knowledge about good tackle / fishing paraphernalia stores I should be planning go see (and offload some dollars).

Cheers.

[Nick Bowles]

Hi Guy,

I do a couple of trips to the US every year for the iCast show and also to fish for Bluefin. I normally go to Saltywater Tackle as I now Sami and Paul very well but they have a huge range of popping and jigging equipment. If you do go to their shop be sure to have the Armenian Pastry from the bakery next door really awesome! That alone is worth the trip..........

I did Vegas a couple of times for the iCast show and went to the Bass Pro shop there, it was alright but not much in the way of popping or jigging but a lot of really cheap clothes and bags. I picked up a Bass Pro Canvas Deck Bag for USD5.99. We still use it on our charter boats today for taking tackle.

Hope this helps! Cheers,
Nick

[Lee Margrave]

I've got a trip the mighty U.S of A coming up. I'm going to Vegas, New York, New Orleans and LA.

I'd be eternally grateful if anyone can share knowledge about good tackle / fishing paraphernalia stores I should be planning go see (and offload some dollars).

Cheers.

I haven't been to Saltywater's in New York, but have been to a bunch of great tackle shops in southern California. Search out the Longfin tackle shops. L.A. is really big depending on where you are in L.A. will determine how close to good shops you will be. Usually south of L.A. and closer to the coast is where the more common shops will appear. GT fishing isn't as popular in the US as is tuna,etc.... I have no idea about New Orleans but Vegas will be more than happy to help you offload any money you might have. Sounds like you are taking a great sight seeing trip . Hope you have a great trip

[Doug Terry]

Sorry to hijack this thread but in the same vane I have a stopover at lax on the way from Aitutaki to London.  Can someone tell me of a tackle shop near the airport.

[Guy Durham]

Thanks for the starting points guys. I'll follow them up and see where else that takes me.

My real challenge will be slotting these in the itinerary without getting too much slack from the handbrake

And Nick, you read me like a book... Fishing AND food. Case closed! I'm there!

[Vinh Nguyen]

If you're in LA, go see Renee and Randy @ JDMTackle, very nice people and (as most already know) they're shop specializes in popping & jigging.  The shop is a hop skip away from Disneyland.

[Luke Wyrsta]

Saltywater if you are on the EAST, and pretty much the whole country! LA is the wrong state to go to 

[Nick Bowles]

Hi Guy, I think we must tick on the same clock! Fishing and food, if these are good then everything is good! Also if you are lucky enough sometimes one of Saltywater good friends and clients Jimmy brings in homemade fish pate and crackers!! Out of this World and worth the trip! Give Paul or Sami a shout on +12127290785 if you going to go and I would suggest taking at least half a day, to much to look at and talk a bit of fishing.

If you are staying near times square I found an excellent hotel called Ameritania. Rooms are small but I think I paid USD105 and it was Presidents weekend. Most hotels were wanting to charge USD250+. It is a couple blocks up from Times Square on 52nd if I remember correctly. I also went to Sylvias in Harlem for fried chicken and ribs awesome, something out of the movies!!


Hotel Ameritania

Sylvias is a must!

Hope you have a great trip and find some nice toyz! Don't be like me and loose most of my tackle money in Vegas!!

Cheers,
Nick

[Guy Durham]

Accommodation in NYC is on times square, at the intercontinental. A pricey option, but the other half was keen so we went for it.

Re: Sylvia's, I'm on it. Have seen it on tv and done a bit of homework on it. I'm salivating just thinking about it!

Vegas will be the trap. It's the first stop of the trip, and it's a 7 night stay...

[Andrew Susani]

You'll enjoy Vegas - we were there a few years back and had a great time.  You have to gamble, but you don't have to gamble big    Just the size of the casinos is incredible - some of the rooms there are as big as the biggest casino here    I loved the freedom of Vegas too - walk around the strip with drinks, in and out of casinos with your yard glass margarita that you bought from a street vendor!

The Bass Pro shop on the outside of town is actually attached to a casino as well    not a huge range of high quality stuff - I reckon BCF has better quality gear - but lots of cheap lures to look at.  Good US brands for half or 1/4 the price of them here.  I don't remember seeing much ocean tackle there, as you would expect...

Make sure you go to the retail outlet stores just out of town - one of the main buses goes there - you'll get good quality clothing for ridiculous prices.  Levi jeans - $20, Adidas pants - $12... crazy cheap, all authentic.  We got some good Nautica wet weather gear there too, 1/3 the price of here.