Another “Thank-you-Dean-Marshall” post? Well…yes, of course, but also no. Let me back up a bit. On Friday, I made the trip down to Skeeter Boat Center, looking to talk shop with Dean on a whole variety of topics….hoping to get a peek at some color options for the MX’s in-person. I left that afternoon a happy man, a couple new rods to my name, with a very different idea of what SBC was and how it operated.
Like many of us here, our first experience with Dean was on the river, where he ran one of the most successful businesses in that area; particularly in regards to fishing rod and tackle sales. Back then I was impressed with his uncanny ability to “know” the product lines he sold in stunning detail, just like now. Not just, “St. Croix also offers a Medium in a similar length,” like most retail outlets, but “That 6’8″ extreme is your mono rod – if you pitch plastics and don’t have a good mono rod, you’re missing fish.” He listens to what you’re after, and plainly and simply picks the best rod for the job, based on the specs you give him.
More impressively, he’s not there to push the rod/reel with the right margin for him like most of the retail places I’ve bought from in the past. He’ll sell you a rod of any shape, size, cost, etc. provided one very large detail: that it’s the right tool for the job. Loomis, Shimano, St. Croix, whatever. Want a Sealine 27 on a Shimano rod, no problem. It’s a business strategy I think all of us that fish at least somewhat seriously can truly appreciate. Give folks what they want, and they’ll be happy. Sell them stuff that works, they’ll be happier yet. Thank you SBC and Dean for doing both!
Joel
….Thats why i had to do all the prefishing. 
……rrr
