Salty Spotlight: Johnny’s Sport Shop in Pasadena

Johnny's: an old school tackle shop - click the pic for more info

The Salty Spotlight is a new feature where I will highlight different things I think salties ought to know about.  It could be people doing cool things related to our sport, events, or businesses that cater to us.

Today the Salty Spotlight is on Johnny’s tackle shop in Pasadena.  When I went on the the Dan Hernandez Baja Rockfish trip a few weeks back, Dan asked me where I bought my tackle.  I told him that I usually hit the Turner’s Outdoor shop on Arroyo Parkway here in Pasadena.  Dan told me I should check out Johnny’s.

Before going in, I knew I’d like it.  I had the same feeling I had when John A. introduced me to Squidco in San Diego.  There’s nothing wrong with Turner’s or even Walmart for that matter to buy fishing tackle.  I go to both.  The thing I like though about shops like Johnny’s is that they have a knowledgeable staff, and they carry a broader selection of items catering to people like me that may be looking for something they don’t necessarily carry at those other outlets.  Usually, when you go to a smaller shop like this, you’re going to pay a bit more than you would at one of the stores I mentioned.  I’m fine with that because while I’m shopping, I’m also asking questions and gaining knowledge.  These old school shops like Johnny’s have people that not only stocked the shelf, but actually probably use the products and know firsthand.  They also have the aggregate knowledge of the other shoppers that they talk to also, so they are a wealth of information about what works, what doesn’t and what’s good now.

The other thing that going to a shop like this will do for you is help prevent you from buying something you don’t need which is ultimately far more expensive than paying a few more cents for a pack of hooks.  I went there during my lunch today and solved 3 fishing related problems, while spending less than $10 on some tackle box replenishing.  One of those problems was how to attach a Newell G-220 to the the custom wrapped G Loomis pole I recently got.  This is going to be my go to bass/sculpin rig.  Rather than buy anything, they told me that their dad, Johnny (who’s no longer fishing with us), used a similar setup.  He liked having a trigger handle also, but couldn’t fit his Newellie on it.  What he did was shave down the handle.  Saved me buying a different reel seat that wouldn’t work, or paying to re-wrap the rod.  Thanks!

Do you have an old school tackle shop that you really like?  Please share with me and the other salties by leaving a comment or emailing me at socalsalty@gmail.com.