Tackle Shop Reviews

Here are some of my favorite tackle shops in Connecticut, and my reviews of them.

Connecticut Outfitters: Located at 512 Silas Dean Highway in Wethersfield, CT.  This shop is primarily tailored to Striped Bass, Northern Pike, Small mouth bass, and anything that has to do with Ice fishing.  Everyone in the shop is very nice and all are excellent fishermen with good knowledge of the best places to fish at all times of the year.  The shop is one of the best for fresh live bait for sure carrying anything you could want to use, from eels for stripers in the summer months to big live suckers for Pike through the ice in the winter.  Capt. Blaine Anderson is primarily a Striped Bass and Northern Pike guide with an expertise on the CT river fishery for these fish.  He holds several seminars a year in their shop teaching attendees about everything you need to maximize your chances at catching fish in the river.  The seminars provide information on  tackle recommendations such as rod and reel, lines and leaders, knots, terminal tackle, lures and bait, to where the fish hold and what structure they relate to, boat position, productive areas including aerial photography and charts, areas of access, and question and answers from the audience to the guide himself.  I highly recommend these seminars to both the advanced angler and the novice, and they always give a discount immediately following the seminar.  I also highly recommend this shop for anything to do with ice fishing, they have it all.
http://www.ct-outfitters.com/

Hillyer's Tackle Shop: 374 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT.  As soon as you walk through the front door, you know this place is serious.  If you want to buy a rod, reel, or have your current rod, reel fixed or serviced, look no further because this is the place you want to go.  The inventory they have is incredible, and these guys know how to pair the fishing you do to the correct equipment.  They have serviced my reels and made several repairs to my rods and you get nothing less than quality service.  They are a factory warrantee repair shop for penn reels, and carry a large selection of live and frozen bait.  Even if you do not fish, this place is worth a stop because it is well organized and you can actually see their team working on rods and reels.  They also have a display case with antique reels which is quite impressive to see the progression of technology in fishing equipment.
http://www.hillyerstackle.com/

Coop's Bait and Tackle: 174 West Tisbury Road, Martha's Vineyard, MA.  If you are planning a trip to fish Martha's Vineyard, this should be your first stop when you get there.  Owner Cooper Gilkes or anyone in the shop will lend their advice on where to go and what to use, and all you have to do is ask.  In my experience, I have learned where to go, what tide to fish, what lures to bring and have not been disappointed.  Or if I tell them I'm fishing such and such a beach, they will let me know how they have produced on that beach.  This shop carries anything you could want or need from the surf for casting or for the fly rodder, and carries live and frozen bait.  They also offer a guide service as well.  http://coopsbaitandtackle.com/

Blue Line Sports: 81 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY.  This shop is not specifically a tackle shop, it is an outdoor shop with a good selection of fishing, hunting, and outdoor/field gear.  If you hunt, hike, fish, camp, canoe, kayak, etc. this is a great store.  The owners are awesome people and are active in the local community, I know because as a Paul Smith's college alumni I asked for a simple donation for our Surveying and Mapping club and received much more!!  They also have a strong commitment to conservation and education.  If you are visiting the area and are unsure about where to go, this is a great place to stop and ask.  I also caught my largest Northern Pike using one of their own top-water buzz baits, 13lb. 37" monster on the saranac river about a mile out of downtown S.L.
http://www.bluelinesportsllc.com/index.html

North Cove Outfitters: 75 Main Street, Old Saybrook, CT.  This shop specializes in the outdoors, from canoes and kayaks to hiking gear and anything to do with fly fishing and everything inbetween this place has it.  If you are seriously looking to buy a canoe or kayak, look no further.  This shop holds a number of product demo days, where you can test out kayaks with the guidance and support of the people who make and sell them.  Whether it is a touring kayak, or one for fishing this shop can outfit to your needs.  As for fishing tackle, this is my favorite shop to go to for fly tying materials.  They have a large selection of materials from natural feathers to synthetics, that you can produce both fresh and salt water flys from.  Check out their website for a variety of product demos and seminars. 
http://www.northcove.com/
I will add to this list later on.