ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602270137
SECTION: BOAT SHOW PAGE: BS-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRUCE STANTON STAFF WRITER
Eighteen dollars for a fishing lure might sound ridiculous to some anglers. But that's not how John Zilenius sees it.
``The guy who spends $35,000 on a bass boat doesn't mind spending $18 on a lure if it enhances his bass fishing,'' said Zilenius, owner of Big Z Inc., a fishing tackle store in Radford. ``There's more and more people who want the best, and they don't mind paying for it.''
Zilenius should know. He carries lures, rods and reels that are top of the line in product and price, and anglers are buying them. His Team Daiwa line of lures is a hand-made brand of baits that he says are very lifelike and very effective.
At his display booth at the 1996 Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Zilenius will be showcasing the Team Daiwa lures and many other fishing lures that are unavailable anywhere else in this area, he said. He'll also have specials on several items, including Igloo coolers.
Zilenius is one of three tackle dealers who are participating in the boat show this year, as the show is placing a greater emphasis on boating accessories and fishing tackle.
``I've rented a whole room,'' Zilenius said. ``The boat show is a good opportunity for people outside the [Radford]) area to get to know us. It will be worthwhile for anyone who wants to see us.''
Another tackle dealer hoping to make a splash at the boat show is the Fishing Hole, located on Jamison Ave. in Roanoke. Co-owned by David Webb and Jack Jones, the Fishing Hole is striving to be a full-service outdoors store.
``We hope to offer a lot more services than other tackle stores do,'' said Webb, a longtime tackle dealer in the area at other stores, including the Crappie Hole. ``To compete with Wal-Mart and Kmart, you have to offer services, and they don't.''
Some of the services the Fishing Hole offers are rod and reel repair, hunting and fishing license sales, a full line of guide services from here to Canada and live bait sales, including minnows, mealy worms and hellgrammites.
Of course, Webb said his store has plenty of conventional tackle supplies and will offer a 20 percent discount on all Quantum and Zebco rods and reels at the store's boat show display.
``With the new products and advanced technology, it's good to bring [the boat show and tackle dealers] together,'' Webb said. ``Plus, all boaters are fishermen, and this will help us. The boat show will be a big plus for us.''
For Louis Thompson, owner of Thompson Rod and Reel in Christiansburg, the boat show will serve as an opportunity to pass out some business cards and display his rebuilt rods and reels. Thompson specializes in rebuilding rods and reels, so contact with the public is important for his business, and the boat show provides that.
``[The boat show] needs more stuff like this,'' he said. ``If people get to know [tackle dealers] are going to be there, it will make a bigger crowd.''
Thompson said he can rebuild or repair any brand of rod and reel and will have several for sale at the show.
As for future boat shows, Mike Fielder, the co-director of the show, said there will be more of an emphasis placed on tackle and to expect more dealers in shows to come.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB