What shops I'm using to buy Japanese lures in the U.S.
What shops I'm using to buy Japanese lures in the U.S.
Hello! This is Angler Waki. I'm a Japanese based in the U.S. I love fishing. I love fishing tackles. Many anglers would be just like me. Loving not just catching fish, but also collecting cool fishing tackles!
Since I'm a Japanese angler, I love fishing tackles from Japan. When I was a kid, just seeing the fishing tackle catalogs was all I could do. So many cool fishing rods, reels, and lures were on the paper catalogs from Daiwa, Shimano, and other big fishing retail stores. But they were too pricy for kids.
But now, I’m a grown-up. I can afford to buy such fishing tackles. Although, high-end tackles are still too much. I have kids who cost money :p
Anyway, here, I have one problem that the young Angler Waki had never expected. Yes. for some reason, when Angler Waki became a grown-up, he moved to the U.S.
To be honest, till I came to North America, I had not known the fact that it's such hard to find Japanese fishing products in Canada and the U.S.
What big surprise to me was even global brands like Daiwa and Shimano handle regional products only.
It's understandable since the fishing culture is totally different among countries. But it was a big bummer to me I can't buy my loving Japanese fishing tackles.
Then, how I've been purchasing fishing gear in the U.S.? What sellers I've been using? I've found a couple of great online stores. Let me tell you about them.
Tackle Warehouse
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/
A very popular online fishing store. A mega online fishing tackle shop for beginners to expert anglers. They're mainly handling freshwater Bass fishing gear from U.S. brands. But they also have a great selection of Japanese items.
They're based in San Luis Obispo, California. There, they have a big warehouse with a small retail shop. I once have been there during my family road trip.
Tackle Warehouse Holiday shopping.
Since they have plenty of American fishing lures, anglers in Japan also use them. They handle international shipping. Like in the U.S., it's not easy to find American fishing goods in Japan. Tackle Warehouse has both state-wide American brands and very local fishing brands on the shelves. That's great.
The Hook Up Tackle
https://thehookuptackle.com/
Another great shop is The Hook Up Tackle. They're based in Arizona. It looks like they're specialized in JDM tackles. So many Japanese fishing lure brands we can find there. It's.... IMPRESSIVE!
I occasionally even could find items, which is too popular and running out of stock in Japan.
They do have popular Japanese fishing brands. They also have very local Japanese fishing brands, too. I think some of the items, only The Hook Up Tackles has in the U.S.
When to buy?
JDM in the U.S. It's not cheap. But fortunately, both stores have big seasonal sales like Memorial day sales, Labor day sales, and Black Friday sales. Many items would have a 15% to 20% off. Great deals! Every year, I get many items on those sales.
