I guess I've been buying most of my gear at Sportco in Fife. This is partly because I work only about a quarter of a mile from them and their prices are pretty good. However, lately I've been wondering about the huge decline in the bait and tackle shops that once thrived on the rivers and in the bays and harbors where I fish. I've decided that saving a few cents on a corkie isn't as important as keeping these last few on the water proprieters in business. Whenever possible, I try to buy my fresh bait, snacks and some gear from these shops. Another bonus of these shops is that they usually have a huge amount of current information on their water and what the hot location and combination has been. If you're willing to spend a few minutes talking and a few dollars on merchandise they're usually more than willing to share their knowledge.