If I list things already mentioned, sorry. I was there 17 Nov. To my amazement, they had a very poor selection of most everything anent fishing. At first glance, I was impressed but when it came to find what I wanted to buy, they did not have the items in which I was interested. I did have a few things in my basket, but when I saw the line I'd have to stand in receive my free cap et cetera, I just left
I'll stick to the local stores.
The main thing that I found wrong with the place is, only one urinal in the men's room, stupid.
Never-the -less, I wish them every success.

Let's see......$3.13 a gallon for unleaded gas, drive time, find parking space, wait in line VS. think I'll just "surf" the net, from home...pay with Paypal or my "limit VISA card", have shipped right to my door.

Have shopped since the "old days", mid 60's with not only Cabelas, but Gander Mt. and "Herter's". Both Gander Mt. and Herter are long gone.

In the old days, 95% of the shopping at these stores was done thru catalog. Payment was by check, for the most part, and "snail mail" was what was used to sent check and receive goods.......NO THANKS for the "good old days"........will take "modern times" with computer, internet, paypal, EBAY, etc.

It really does amaze me, to go to SportCO, Sportsman's Warehouse, and probably Cabelas, that with today's technology...that they can be "out" of high demand items......hooks, line, reels, plugs, etc.....seems so simple to me....when less than a certain number..place an order for those...computers can be programmed to do all that.....

grrrrrrr to driving to "buy" and then see empty areas and be told "didn't know we were out........grrrrrrrrrr

Roger that. It's about as easy to expand your bass fishing demographic as it is to expand your Nascar demographic. Bass are easy, don't need special gear and they're everyplace. I doubt Cabelas made any mistakes in their rollout,

fb

im not so sure about bass being so easy...they are not always that...they are super tricky when you fish the tournys...maybe its too much pressure...

as far as the GPS goes...you guys are right...waypoints...thats a good start...but some of the lakes that we are are trying to learn have a good map on the GPS...instead of driving around looking for say a 20 foot flatspot with some rock piles, we can narrow where to begin...a lot of times i feel we are wasting time prefishing rivers or lakes because he just has a fish finder that shows actual fish symbols...i try to give him a hard time about it and have tried to show him the marks on my fishfinder, tried to show him GPS, but he has never thought he has needed it...till we started prefishing...we waste time banging the shore...there are hidden spots for bass out there that are not on the shore...he is starting to learn this...its just hard for anyone to accociate casting in the middle of nowhere...
anyway...dont want to hijack...still want to go to Cabelas....c

I do agree with you Erik. On Potholes, one can use a GPS. Since there most likely folks E Wa going there, some of them may purchase a GPS. I have always wanted to try Potholes. But to much fun fishin around here!

OK, so I finally broke down and went this morning.

Wow, that place is TINY!

Maybe 1/4 or 1/3 the size of the one in Pennsylvannia I went to. No alphanumeric parking grid, not lot shuttles, no RV hookups, one escalator...It was like a Cabela's Quickie Mart.

Didn't really see much I wanted...Saw a Semi-Auto 3 1/2" Magnum 10 gauge on the used rack that was pretty impressive in an "OMFG!" sense...found a few boxes of Sellier & Bellot FMJ 7.62x39 Soviet that to my knowlege hasn't been made for 5 years, and I scored a box of Blackpowder Colt .45 cartridges which seemed like they might be fun...picked up a K-14 Kwikfish.

To my pleasant suprise the only camo I saw worn there was worn by two GI's. The Standard mode of dress was the usual Baseball hat/hickory shirt/Carhartt's ensemble we see everyday here in Western Wa. Much better than what I experienced over in Appalachia. I saw one guy in a NASCAR jacket but he seemed kinda special...trying to form friendships with the door greeters. The dead & mounted Endangered Species were all in attendance from Elephants & Rhinos to Polar Bears and Sea-lions.

All in all I'd say I was a little disappointed. I don't think Lacey got the "tourist attraction" that was promised to them and It had none of the appalling stuff I saw back east like spotlights, deer bait stations, motion detectors, IR game cameras, etc.

As a matter of fact I'd say the Chehalis Yardbirds was larger, had more region-useful stuff, had more hillbillies to laugh at, darker, dirtier bathrooms with creepy old men, and the money spent there stayed in-state.

And on a final note, they didn't have anything not branded "Cabela's" that you couln't find somewhere else for prolly alot cheaper.

That's my final 2 cents on Cabela's.

That Yardbirds was awesome.

I'm sure you all know lots about setting up aquariums and how easy it is to do so... so it should be no surprise to you that three weeks after the store had its intial opening... not the grand opening that its aquarium was not fully stocked yet. Espicially since Washington has such "strict" laws on what can and cannot be transferred into an aquarium without specific permits. But I'm sure we all know that since were all such experts right?!

uh oh...

You got that right, I have an aquarium in my house that has, a chinook, a sturgeon, a 10# largemouth and a sea monster. It also has 4 mermaids, and 15 pufferfish. I just filled out the "Exotic Aquarium Form" down at the county and got it approved in like 25 minutes. I got a book called "Aquariums for Dummies" and really it laid everything out I needed to do for a 15000 gallon, multi-species aquarium project. You would think that a multi-million dollar outfit like Cabela's could have tried a lot harder, I will loan them a pufferfish and mermaid if they need it.

Who let that guy in?

Just did my first price comparrison last night. A box of Hornady 390 grain .54 cal ML bullets costs $6.99 at Sportman's Warehouse. The same exact box it $11.99 at Cabelas. That was a shocker.

The folks at Cabelas helped fit me for a bow last night, and the service was great. Gonna make me shop around, and I just realized I forgot to go to the bargain cave.

BTW, weeknights at 7:30pm is the time to go. Front and center parking, no crowds in the store.

Rocket Red's always been here. He's on retainer.

Hello Everyone, My name is Rod, I am the Fishing/Fly Fishing/Marine Sales Manager for the Lacey Cabelas. I want to thank you for all your imput. I have lived here for over 7 years as a salesmanager/guide for a fishing lodge in Alaska. I was gone for 10 months back to Wisconsin where I got into the company. I know alot of what we need to get in since I have fished all over this state for the various species that we have.

We are working to get more regionalized, and we have more items coming. Thank you again for allowing us to earn your business and we look forward to more imput from my fellow Northwest Anglers. I will keep reviewing your information and let you know that myself and others are hearing your words.

Thank you!

Rod

Memo to Hangtime: Dick Nites, please. Thanks!

I have met hangtime at the store, He is one of those guys that have been there done it all. So if he is in charge i would not be surprised to see nothing change. I for one will not be shopping there, I am going do my business with the small shops that have been here serving us for Years.

More regionalized would be good. Corkies @ .20/ea? Doubt those will sell very fast.

Welcome Hangtime (Rod)!

Advice for here.

#1. Bring a thick skin.
#2. Representing a company, do what you say you will, and all will go well.
#3. Ignore Cowlitzkiller, he is one of those guys that have been there done it all.
#4. Become a sponsor of next years SRC. A boat would make a fine prize.
#5. Bring a sense of humor.

Advice for the store.

#1. Price items realistically. A $5.00 difference in Hornady muzzle loader bullets is outrageous. $6.99 at Sportsmans, $11.99 at your store? This is just one example of many I found. You guys can do better.
#2. Stock more steelhead and salmon gear, including rods.
#3. Hold a clinic or two there every season. Get local entertainers, I mean experts, like Vedder, Herzog, Blades, and Fish Hunter 07 to come in and talk about various methods used in upcoming seasons.
#4. Donate HEAVILY to local sportsman events like CCA banquets, DU banquets, RMEF banquets, kid fishing events, and the like. These folks and their membership support your business, you need to reciprocate.
#5. Get rid of the illegal gear. Lots of muzzle loaders and projectles you sell cannot be used in Washington State during the regular ML season. Sure, it can be used during Modern Rifle in firearms restriction zones, but that is a limited segment. Also, most of the broadheads you sell are not legal here in Washington. This is an extension of meeting the regional needs of your customer base.
#6. Stock more NW style boats. You might sell a few bass boats, but odd are that you'll sell more sleds, DB's and salt boats.

Your store had a lot given to you, in the form of tax breaks, land, etc., so it would be a great to see you respond to the needs of the organzations that support the activities that drive your business.

Remember rule #1.

Look forward to meeting you! I'll make it a point to look out for you the next time I'm in the store.

Andy

how much an hour with your mermaid?

HT,

Get rid of most all steelhead rods currently in stock and replace them with about 100 of each Fish Eagle 2's and XML's in 9' and 10' lengths... Really.