Mountain Empire Outdoorsmen Continue To Feed Fever Despite Slumping Economy.

ABINGDON, Va. – It’s a dreary Monday morning in Southwest Virginia.
The sky is gray, a cold rain is falling and folks are moaning about the lackluster economy.

Scott Castleberry offers an old-fashioned escape from the blues from his warm venue just minutes from South Holston Lake.

“You’re always going to have people involved in fishing and hunting at some level, no matter how bad the economy gets,” said Castleberry, manager of The Bass Shop.

While businesses of all varieties around the country have posted record-setting losses during the past year, Castleberry received a pleasant holiday gift.

“We weren’t sure what Christmas would bring, so we bought below what we normally order for our store,” Castleberry said.

The stock market might be reeling, but it appears fishing fever is still strong in the mountains.

“We had a tremendous Christmas season sales-wise, including our biggest Christmas Eve ever,” Castleberry said. “I was just amazed at the response.”

Castleberry said the hottest-selling item during the holidays was a custom designed, lightweight graphite rod dubbed named the e21.

“We got nine of those rods in before Christmas and sold them all in one day,” Castleberry said. “I think this area is rather blessed retail-wise compared to other parts of the country.” 

Just a short drive down Cummings Street from the Bass Shop, a steady flow of hunters were swapping stories and perusing the latest firearms at Mahoney’s outdoor store.

“I’ve heard a few customers talking about the economy, but our business has been pretty steady since the first of November,” Mahoney’s manager Mark Comer said.

The high cost of fuel in the spring and summer forced many outdoorsmen to cancel hunting and fishing trips.

“People weren’t in a buying mood back then,” Comer said. “Things picked up once archery and firearm season opened up. We sold firearms, muzzleloaders and bows to people all around Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.”

Outdoors stores, such as Mahoney’s, once served as gathering places and hot-stove leagues thanks to the game-checking stations.
While many hunters now report their harvest via the phone or Internet, Comer and company still hear plenty of stories. Deer season in Virginia ended Jan. 3.

“We saw a nice 12-pointer grossing around 150 pounds that was killed fairly local,” Comer said. “From what we’ve heard, people saw a lot of deer this season. I know that we had quite a few deer checked in.”

For folks who prefer the recreational side of the outdoors, there are new lines of mountain bikes and canoes offering stress relief from the economic woes.
Bob Cheers, co-owner of Mountain Sports, Ltd. on Commonwealth Avenue in Bristol, Va., said his sales were pretty even compared to a year ago.

“Based on reports I’ve heard in the media, all retail sales are down 5-10 percent nationally,” Cheers said. “We feel pretty fortunate here.”

Cheers survived and even thrived through the high gas prices last year.

“Instead of taking vacations, folks were buying bikes and canoes or going to area lakes,” Cheers said. “Some folks were even buying or fixing up older bikes to commute to work.
“Sports like hiking, biking and fly fishing are great stress relievers. Of course, the fishing in this area is fantastic.”

Castleberry said The Bass Shop enjoyed a big increase in busine ss last April when hundreds of anglers from throughout the Southeast converged on South Holston Lake for a Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League divisional tournament.

“I worked with the Bristol Chamber of Commerce on that event, and we’re looking forward to having another big tournament in 2009,” Castleberry said. “We could have 250 boats on South Holston.”

Fishing has been dubbed a recession-proof sport by some media types. And the assortment of bountiful lakes and streams in the Mountain Empire certainly helps.

“The lake level on South Holston is up six feet since the first of December, and you can see up to 45 vehicles on the (State Route) 421 boat ramp, said Castleberry, referring to a popular fishing locale on South Holston Lake. “That’s a real good indictor that people in this area are fishing.”

And Castleberry hopes to keep the good times coming.

“I heard a lot of doom and gloom on one of the buying trips I went to least year,” Castleberry said. “Some people said their sales were off 40 percent, but our business has been through the roof.”

According to an old angler credo, a day on the lake can cheer up about anyone.

“Folks have been fishing forever. Nothing is going to change that,” Castleberry said.

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