The fishing department is a joke. The rod racks are half empty and the lure selection is a bare minimum. My Wife really likes the H2O CRULD crank baits but they just don't have any. I got on Academy's website and found them there. I then noticed that they have at least 5 colors online in the CRES model that I have never seen in stores. The only thing I see increasing with Academy's inventory is clothing and lots of shoes.

I also wish they would separate the reels and firearm bar like Gander Mountain or Bass Pro Shops. Every time I go there to try to get some help with fishing products, all of the help is stuck behind the pistol case.

happened to me the other day...stood there for a good 15 min before anybody acknowledged me. Had 2 shimano's in stock. used curado with line on it and a chronarch 50e

If you need tackle support your local tackle shops. If you need shoes go to academy.

I know what you mean, same problem with the store here in Tyler. Academy just hasn't been the same since the family sold it back in 2011

tacklewarehouse.com

I stopped going to Academy last year for fishing stuff. Gander mountain is even worse I feel like

This was predicable when Academy was sold to KKR back in 2011

http://www.chron.com/business/article/Buyout-deal-brings-new-era-for-Academy-1682468.php

Looked like they are slowly phasing out fishing gears. I used to go there and they'll have 5 to 6 isles full of fishing gears. Now half the shelves are emptied and they don't restock it anymore.

The simple answer is retail stores stock what sells. A LOT of fisherman have gone to online shopping for their fishing tackle. I'm sure there are a handful of people who still prefer the brick and mortar stores but not nearly enough for retails stores to keep the kind of inventory that they once did. So, they dedicate more space to things that aren't as easy to buy online like clothes and shoes.

Be thankful your only local source of gear isn't Target!

The one at College Station is still pretty good, but there is a Gander Mountain right next door. Lot of it has to do with competition. The other Academy's around Temple and Round Rock seem to be getting away from the hunting and fishing equipment. More clothes and sporting goods.

Academy in Austin has been solid, they actually just redid the whole fishing section at a store and its way better than before.

I see you live in dayton, tso where do we have a local tackle shop at.

I fish on Rayburn and Toledo so I usually stop at the Tackle Monkey, Needmore Tackle, or Ann's. They all have tackle that you can't get at academy, great selection.

+1

I talked with the store manager at the new garland location about selling LFT products. He told me to make a list of what i would like to see the shelves and he could possibly make a small order of it to see if it will sell. They'll stock a product if it sells. More and more people are buyimg online i.e Tacklewarehouse.