Thursday, March 3, 2011

Fishin' Around Garage Sales



The first place to look for huge savings on fishing gear is garage sales. There are many people looking to clean up the garage and get rid of their extra gear. From fishing poles to lures to tackle boxes.  Usually, if you spend a weekend finding garage sales you will find some great bargains on fishing gear. Check your local newspaper for listings of garage sales. Craigs list is also a great place to look for garage sales.

How about those garage sales?  Bargains?  Someone else's relic...Now your treasure?




   How about this gas grill lighter?  Everyone needs one of these.      


                                   How true is this sign???


You could get lucky and find something worthwhile...

Example:  My friend's mom was doing her weekly prowl of local garage sales, when she spotted a trout fly rod that appeared to be quite old.  She gave it a good close look and found it very interesting so she asked the owner what the price was. He said it was his grandfather's rod and it was very old but he knew nothing more about it. He believed it to be a real antique so he wanted $20 for it. She pursed her lips and offered him $10. He said, "Look, I will throw in the reel that went with it if you give me $15."  She took a look at the reel and it looked old and quite interesting so she handed over $15 to him and hoped that she had made a good buy.

She tossed it in the car beside the other items that she found that day. A couple of hours later when she arrived home, she handed it over to her husband, who was an avid fly fisherman.  He saw a faint inscription on the metal cap below the rod handle. A good rub with his thumb removed the dirt and he saw a name--Hardy Bros, Alnwick England. He took a look at the grey metal reel which had a bone handle and made out the Hardy Bros mark on there also. In addition it said "Model Perfect".   You tell me...did she overpay or get a really great buy ????  You never know...






Posted by THE RIVER DAMSEL at 9:59 PM

14 comments:

  1. cofisherMarch 3, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    My luck doesn't run that way. I tend to visit the crap shop. Ask your friend if her mother will take $100 for the rod and reel.

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  2. MarkMarch 4, 2011 at 5:32 AM

    I'll go $105, got $105 here..... I wouldn't know how to value that exactly but that is most likely an amazing deal considering the cost of modern Hardy rods and reels. A tremendous deal...

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  3. BrookfieldAnglerMarch 4, 2011 at 9:03 AM

    I have never really been a big garage sale guy. You definitely have peeked my interest a bit though.

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  4. THE RIVER DAMSELMarch 4, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Truth be told, I am not one to rummage through someone's throw aways. But, after hearing this story, I think that I will drive by a little more slowly when I do see a yard sale! Especially estate sales, which might have more valuable fishing gear!

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  5. UnknownMarch 4, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    In my youth, my maternal grandma used to drag me to garage sales...all day affairs. To this day, I hate garage sales. However, bargains can be found, but never by me. Dustin and I are in need of a ton more gear, so perhaps I need a lesson in patience so I can find some goodies on the neighbor's drive.

    -stephanie

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  6. OwlMarch 4, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Throw-aways!? Them's not throw-aways! The throw-aways are what's left on Sunday afternoon when you finally give up! :) We don't shop garage sales but we have one every few years. Except down here they're called "yard sales." I can't figure out if that's because not everyone has a garage, or we just have so much stuff to pass around between everyone that it won't all fit in a garage and has to be thrown around all over the yard. :)

    I'll give her $40 for the combo!? :)

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  7. THE RIVER DAMSELMarch 4, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    Steph ~ I hear ya! But, if you could find gently used fishing gear...hey, why not?
    Owl ~ "Them's" aren't?...When is the best time to have a yard sale? When junk takes over your house! (or need cash) Ok...I'll backtrack. There are valuables like furniture that can still be used...and Hardy poles and reels!

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  8. cofisherMarch 5, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    Another fun thing is thrift stores. My buddy Tim bought a fine fishing thingy to hang on the wall for $1.00 yesterday.

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  9. AnonymousMarch 5, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    I think I am with Stephanie on this one. I visit a few yard sales every year and don't seem to hit the jackpot. I sell more fishing goodies than I ever buy at yard sales/garage sales. The fun of it all is, "Ya' never know".

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  10. THE RIVER DAMSELMarch 5, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Cofisher ~ As long as it is more "fishy" than "thingy"... :)

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  11. WolfyMarch 5, 2011 at 7:50 PM

    I love yard / garage sales, but don't get to very many of them. BUT - my best yard sale find was an original Pfleuger Globe muskie lure in the original box. Paid $20 for it, and promptly turned around and sold it on eBay for $90

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  12. THE RIVER DAMSELMarch 6, 2011 at 1:41 AM

    Wolfy ~ That's the way!!

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  13. AnonymousMarch 9, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    I, like Wolfy, love yard/garage sales. Though I haven't been lucky enough to ever find hunting or fishing gear I could use at one.

    My best score to date was a little "whimsical" painting I picked up for $25 only to find out it was by some semi-famous folk artist and it was worth $250! My mum is now the proud owner.

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  14. THE RIVER DAMSELMarch 9, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    KMurray ~ You have an "eye" for valuable pieces...the gear is out there...good luck!

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