Interesting rumor

[Micheal Kyle]

As the owner of a fly shop here in Springfield I was worried about buying the fly shop from Jack because of BP just down the road. I get phone calls from the people that work there to see if we have something in stock and they actually send customers over if we do. The people that work there come over and do business with me because BP does not have what they want. I promise that the BP in BL will only make the mom and pops store money. I wish everyone with business down there good luck.

Michael

[loo10]

Contrary to belief,

I am a huge supporter of the free enterprise system.

Capitalism is our way of life.

If you can do something to make money,

and people will pay it....GOOD FOR YOU!

I have no problems with that.

Bass Pro will fill a nitch at BL,

just as they do in Springfield.

But I buy at Backcountry Outfitters in Springfield,

or Tim's Fly Shop at RR, or Anglers & Archery near the dam

in Branson whenever I can.

Because supporting the smaller fly shops

keeps them in business;

Being a fly tyer, if the fly shops closed,

I wouldn't be able to buy 90% of what I use.

And the advice and smiles they offer on a daily basis

are priceless.

[Bill Babler]

I have been very fortunate to guide and fish from Missouri to Alaska, and have found that 99% of local tackle, fly shops and small resorts due their level best to price their products at a resonable margin to enhable them to carry a varity of items that work well in their balliwicks.

They cannot and will never be able to sell their items at prices that walmart does. If you are staying at one of these lake side resorts and go the walleyworld to save 50 cents on a bottle of powerbait, shame on you. the resort has gone out on a limb just to have every bottle they can afford setting on the shelves for your usage and convience.

I don't think Phil will be retiring on his tackle shop revenues in the next couple of years, and he has one of the best resort tackle shops I have seen.

Find a walley world or a bp with custom signature spinning rods that are designed just for trout or any of the products that Michael or Phil or any of our small shop guys have.

Have a fly or jig custom designed just for you at bp or wworld, it won't happen, Have a special order and see how far you get.

I love our locals and will spend every dime of my tackle money that I can with them.

[DOC HILL]

Before I moved here to work for BP my wife and I have stayed at Phil's at least twice a year. We where never happy to have to leave there and go back home because the people at Lilley's where great to everyone.Bp will not hurt business in Branson,it will help most in ways they won"t believe.When asked where to stay I'll always tell them Lilley's from personaly staying there.

[gonefishin]

Unless it is just a 'there is no where else to get it at the time case' I don't buy fishing supplies from Wal-Mart and very little from Bass Pro. I know I could save a few bucks if I did but realistically if I take the difference in cost between a jug of power bait purchased at Wal-Mart versus a local bait shop and divided the price difference between the number of times I could bait from the jug the cost difference would be very minimal.

Besides gas is expensive and in my case when I am on the way to the fishing hole it is out of my way to go to Wallyworld or Bass Pro so I would actually lose money doing my buying there.

It is hard for me to understand people would go to Lillys (or any resort) fishing and then go to to the local Wal-Mart to purchase bait.

People are the strangest creatures.

[Phil Lilley]

balliwicks

???????

If I go into ANY ma & pop tackle shop whether it's in Missouri or New Mexico and ask the golden question, "What are they biting on??" even if they say "purple scuds" and I have a box full of purple scuds, I buy a few purple scuds and then a few pink ones... whatever. It's like paying for the advice I asked for.

I'm also NOT one of these yahoos who stop at a convienent store or McDonalds and use the facilities and not buy a water or soft drink. But some of my friends do say I'm alittle "touched".

[MOBass]

I am feelin' a lot better. I thought I was the only one that picked up a candy bar and soda at the gas station when I had to make a "pit stop". If I end up in a tackle shop I always seem to walk out with something. I have a great respect for people that make their living by fishing and selling tackle. You have to love it because you probably won't get terribly rich doing it.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Neither BP nor the Branson chamber can likely give you 1/10th of the information that Phil and Bill offer.

The bottom line is that BP is here because the chamber wanted them here for the name. The Lilley's and Babler's don't draw enough people in the eye's of the powers that be to be a large enough benefit. This isn't to say they aren't because we know their value, only that those promoting Branson and the area aren't smart enough to see it.

[rainbow]

I am feelin' a lot better. I thought I was the only one that picked up a candy bar and soda at the gas station when I had to make a "pit stop". If I end up in a tackle shop I always seem to walk out with something. I have a great respect for people that make their living by fishing and selling tackle. You have to love it because you probably won't get terribly rich doing it.

Johnny Morris sure did.

[vacation]

It sounds to me like some are in favor and accepting the Landing as a whole. Didnt we have this talk about a month ago, and many got heated about the subject even being brought up. I have talked to a majority of the downtown businesses who were originally worried that their sales would decrease b/c people would shop only at the landing. The general concensus down there now is an overwhelming excitement and ringing cash registers. The sales are up, up, up.