Conference wahoo::fishing

    Jack,
    
    Zyla's is located in Merrimack,NH on rt 3(A?), not far from the
    the DEC Merrimack facility.  Gander Mt is a catalog/mail order house.
    
    I don't recall seeing the Mummingbird 4ID at Zyla's, but I will
    say that their prices, in general, are fairly competitive with many
    mail order houses, especially after you take into account the extra
    postage/insurance you tack on to your order.
    
    I saw the Hummingbird 4ID and I'm not at all impressed.  The red
    dots are VERY difficult to see, and in fact, I heard there was a
    recall on them not too long ago.  Hummingbird says that a red dot
    indicates a fish, the larger the red dots, the larger the fish.
    Recently, a tackle dealer told me that he received a memo from
    Hummingbird stating that this may not always be the case...red dots
    can appear on the screen and they're NOT fish!  For the money, I'd
    suggest you look at the Eagle products.  They offer much better
    resolution than Hummingbird (more dots per sq. in.).
    
    -Joe-

    	The 4ID from Gander Mtn. is $339.99 (item # 380 D 7283). The toll free
    number to order from Gander Mtn. is 1-800-558-9410. Standard shipping
    cost is $6 or you can Fed. Express it for $14.
    
    	For what it's worth I heard basically the same thing as Joe
    about the Hummingbird 4ID.

    
    
    I do not know if it is the 4id, but K-mart has some Hummingbird
    fishing device on sale this week.  I do not remember exactly, but
    the price was around $340.
    
    	Sorry for the vague info., but you can see what I am talking
    about in the K-mart flyer this week.
    
    Next point:
    
    	I grew up in Merrimack.  Zylas was always a great place
    for fishing equipment.  The phone number is (603) 424-3555.
    The address is rt 3 in merrimack.  To get there all you have to 
    do is take rt 3 north off of 128 or 495, toward NH.  Get off 
    the highway at the Thortons Ferry Toll Plaza (Merrimack/ the 
    first toll you will hit).  The off ramp makes a wide 180 degree
    turn to a T intersection.  Take a left at the intersection.  At
    this piont you will see a set of lights ahead of you.  The lights
    are at the intersection of rt 3.  Take a left.  (From the T intersection
    of the ramp to the lights is probably around 300 yards)  Next be
    patient and drive for about 10 minutes up rt 3.  Zylas is on the
    left.  Once you are in Merrimack ANY one you ask will be able to
    tell you how to get to Zylas.  After the Budweiser plant, Zylas is
    Merrimack's next claim to fame, but may people will argue on the
    second claim.  Do not be confussed by the "rt 3" used in two places.
    I could explain it, but it not worth the time.  Just follow the
    directions, its VERY easy.
    
    	If you take at right at the lights on the rt 3 intersection
    you will find Budweiser about 5 minutes down the road on the left.
    If you are going to go all the way up to Merrimack you may as well
    get the tour of the Bud. Plant.  And don't forget you free brew
    at the end of the tour.  :^)
    
    Peter
                                                    

    For what it's worth, I bought the Eagle Z6100 this year at Zyla's
    for something like $289 (portable one) and within 3-4 weeks Bass
    Pro had the same unit for $269. O well. Also, I ordered from BassPro
    Gander Mtn, and Cabela's earlier this year and BY FAR BassPro was
    the best to deal with, the fastest, the most complete. Cabela's
    was OK but no quick delivery...and Gander screwed up my order. I
    just got the missing part almost 2 months after I ordered, so don't
    forget the "convenience" factor of getting what you order from these
    places...I'll order from BassPro anytime even if their prices are
    a bit higher...
    
    To second Joe, we checked out the 4ID and the Red was barely visible...
    I think it was BAD visibility...the standard LCD is much more
    visible...(then there's the CRT units..wow).

    Although I haven't seen the 4ID in action, I did get a demo on shore
    and wasn't as unimpressed as the rest of y'all.  The old guy who
    demoed it for me had a pretty good day on the lake from the looks
    of his livewell.  It might take some getting used to.
    
    I'm leaning toward the Z6100 myself.  Gander Mtn currently lists
    it for $269 which is the normal Kmart price for a Z5000 ( on sale
    this week for $239 ?) but I think I've seen a place in Alabama that
    advertises lower prices than most.  How fast was BassPro delivery?
    I need 1 week turnaround at this point.
    
    Steve

    Joe_T ordered the Minnkota bowmount and "for a fee" had it delivered
    in three days, I think. BassPro can get FAST delivery. I think it
    cost $10 or so per order...which isn't bad...

    Even BassPro's normal service is pretty fast.  Normal orders placed
    Mon-Thu are usually shipped within 24 hours (says the catalog).
    If you call up and use plastic, you'll often get your stuff 3-5
    days later.  For $2 extra, they guarantee same day shipment.

    I requested my Minn Kota bow mount to be shipped via 2 day service
    (UPS) from BassPro.  Despite weighing somewhere around 50+ pounds,
    BassPro only charged me $12 extra for that service.  Later, I looked
    at another mail order firms UPS rate charts (I forget who it was),
    they indicated that 50 pounds would cost about $64 extra for 2-day
    delivery!  Apparently, BassPro has an arrangement with UPS based
    on dollar value and not weight.  Yes - I got it in 2 days, and if
    it's something you need in a hurry...it's worth it.  The telephone
    operator will tell you exactly what the extra shipping charges are.
    Regular orders are normally shipped within 2 working days and generally
    received within 5-7 working days...usually closer to 5.
    
    -Joe-

    i need good direction to spag's from manchester n.h.. i get to spend
    a day of shopping at spag's for fathers day. any help would be appreciated.

    
    re: .9
    
    The most straighforward way (though perhaps not the shortest) is
    to take 3 South to 495 South to 9 West.  Spags is in Shrewsbury(?).
    It will be on the right side of the road.  You will probably want
    to turn into the lot just AFTER the front of the building.
    
    If you go by the White City Plaza (on your left) then cross a bridge
    and go past UMASS Medical Center (on your right) you have missed
    it.  It is a couple hundred yards before you get to the bridge.
    The store front isn't that big and is crowded between two other
    small buildings so watch for the sign.
    
    From Manchester, I would figure around two hours (maybe a little
    less). Also, unless they have rearranged in the past couple of years,
    the sporting goods are in the end of the building closest Route 9.
    
    Happy bargain hunting,
    Rich

    re: .9
    
    If that shopping day is to buy fishin stuff, let me suggest the
    FAIR on rt 20 Worcester/Auburn line.  I find it to be a better
    selectionand CHEAPER
    
    TBDW
    
    OH yeh,   495 S to rt 9 W Almost to lake Quinsigamund It's on the
    right.  follow the traffic.
    
    have fun
    
    

    
    
    	How can I get a BassPro Catalog?
    
    
    	Thanks,
    
    	Peter
    
    

    
    
    
    call 1-800-basspro
    
    

    re: Spags and the Fair. First the easiest way to them from Merrimack
    is to to take the 290 cutoff from 495. Get off on the 140 SOUTH
    exit and then to the center of Shewsbury. At the light there go
    right and then at the next light (1 block) go left. follow this
    down (about 3 miles) to the next set of lights. This is route 9.
    take a left onto 9 and Spags is 4 blocks down the street.
    
    Use the same metod to get to the Fair with the following changes.
    Go through the center of Shewsbury and drive about 4 miles down
    to the junction with route 20. Go WEST on 20 and the Fair will be
    about 6 miles down the road on your right. You can't miss the sign.
    
    Last comment....I agree, the Fair is cheaper and has a much better selection
    for fishing gear...if that's what you are looking for.
    
    Tight lines, Ron

       Also, I believe Spag's is closed on Sundays. Correct me if I'm
    wrong guys.
                                                  Denny

    O.K.
    
    I've had enough....
    
    all through these notes, all through the Do-It-Yourself notes.....
    
    WHAT THE H**L IS SPAGS?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!
    
    (and are they planning to expand to Jersey?)
    

>    WHAT THE H**L IS SPAGS?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

I have lived in the vicinity of SPAG's for most of my 38 years and I still
ask myself the same question every time I go near the place.

Spag's is a warehouse type retail store that generally has the best non-sale
prices in central Ma.  The rub here is that this guy Anthony Borgatti (SPAG)
only takes cash, there is virtually no sales assistance, he has little or no
room to move between the floor to ceiling (20' up) stacks of various merchandise
from food to shoes to wood stoves to plumbing supplies to fishing gear.  As
often as not the stock clerk is also the department manager.  You can tell the
employees because they generally are the scruffy looking ones digging is one
of the boxes.

It takes a certain sense of masochism to enter the store unless you know exactly
what you want and where to find it in the store (there are rumors that people
have gotten lost in SPAG's and have never found their way out).  Christmas is 
the worst.

Personally I'll go to the garden shop on occaision (it's outside the main store)
but it takes desperation to get me inside that cavernous room full of junk
(Excuse me merchandise).  SPAG's is closed on Sunday, takes only cash, refuses
open another store, and generally does a great business.

If you ever get up this way, a trip to SPAG's will be more memorable than a
visit to Bunker Hill. 

    Sort of like the infamous Building 19 ?/?. But much more organized.
                                                          Denny

    
    	SPAG's - I  spoke to a GARCIA rep at the Springfield Hunting
    and Fishing EXPO and he said SPAG's sells 50x the volume of fishing
    gear than any other retail store in New England. Personally I find
    the Fair Stores to have comparable prices. They call Mr. Borgatti
    "SPAG" due to the amount of SPAGETTI he could put down as a young
    man. Another interesting fact about SPAGS was in the paper once.
    It seems that the MASS PIKE information centers throughout the state
    are asked for directions to SPAG's more than any other single attraction
    in MASS. AMAZING. I DO NOT go to SPAGS unless I know exactly what
    I want. I do not go at Christmas time. I do not go on Sat. As a
    matter of fact I hate to go to Spags......
    
    							Steve