Lincoln-Pico Sporting Goods

I cycled across town to visit this place: it was closed– no notice, nothing. This was at 11.00am on a Tuesday. An hour later– still nothing. I asked the guys in x nearby sop and they confirmed that it is closed most of the time as the owner goes fishing. Fair enough, but if you care that little about your potential customers either close or, I dunno, post some bloody accurate opening hours so people don’t ware their time. Avoid.

Old time tackle store that has been there since the 40s, I think. My parents bought their first fishing equipment from owner Paul’s dad when he owned and ran the store and we started going out on Santa Monica and Ocean Park boats to fish halibut with bamboo rods and, later, the first glass rods made by Harnell. When we started fishing yellowtail in San Diego, on the original Polaris, with Bill Poole in the 50s, we bought rods, reels, and terminal tackle at Lincoln-​Pico. If you want to learn and buy from a man who knows everything you need for saltwater fishing in SoCal, and has the stuff for long-​range, too, go to Lincoln-​Pico and see Paul. The store is a little messy but it’s all part of a history that doesn’t exist at the big box sporting retailers.

Went to this place to buy a combo fishing rod and reel plus baits, long story short: place looks abandoned and falling apart. I called it’s phone number but the number seems to be deactivated. Door sign says open on open hours and when I was about to risk opening the door a huge dog was guarding it. I looked through the glass and nobody was there. I’ve waited for 30 minutes and gave up on this shop. By the way I arrived there nearly 11am on a Thursday. Brought my business elsewhere.

Was very excited to go and support this small business that is right in my hood as I had a lot of things I wanted to purchase. However, upon visiting the store for my very first time, I will NEVER return nor spend 1c there! As I walked in, I was greeted by whom I assumed to be the owner… a frumpy busted looking old man… who did greet me and asked if he could help me. I told him I was a jewelry designer and what I was looking for and he started laughing at me. (Clearly bothered that what I wanted wasn’t intended to be used for fishing). I confronted him as to why my request was funny to which he just shook his head and had no response and walked away. At this point I felt very uncomfortable and looked around at his overpriced merchandise and began to question why I would even want to spend money in this establishment. I asked him another question a few minutes later to make sure I wasn’t being overly sensitive to his rude attitude and he blew me off again. I told him this was my first and last visit to his store and to look for his review on Unilocal and then left. I hope he see’s this and realizes he missed out on a huge sale. I also hope my fellow Unilocaler’s don’t support his business. No one, especially someone that NEEDS business, should ever speak to a customer that way. Condescending prick!

Been there 3 times before. 1^st time was 6 or 7 years ago and I believe it was a good experience. The 2^nd was about 4 months back and came there about an hour or 2 after they opened and it was locked up and it was a Thursday and looked into the front window and there was a couple lights on toward the back of the store and knocked on the front door and no answer. Then drove around to the back and knocked on the door and still no answer. And then waited for 5 to 10 minutes and knocked on both the front and the back doors again and still no answer. And there was barely no traffic so it won’t be an excuse. 3^rd time was the following Tuesday and was around 2pm to 3pm and the place was still locked up and repeated the same process as the previous visit knocked on both doors, waited, then knocked on both doors again and still no answer. And both times they DIDN’T even have out to lunch signs or sorry were closed signs due to whatever reason up. And called before and after 2^nd and third visits and also no answer. And also called twice on Wednesday the day before the second visit and once in the morning about 11 to noon and about 4/4:30 to see if we could trade-​in fishing poles for new ones and still no answer. After the 3^rd visit I went to Big 5 and bought a fishing pole. Wonder how much they lose on sales and lack of open days (even though they claim to be open almost every day). Last time I saw them open was probably 2 years ago or even longer ago. If I was you guys I would invest into out to lunch signs and if you guys leave early or can’t be open that day at least put big signs up so people can see from parking spaces in front and back and be open on the days and hours you guys mention on your signs. If it wasn’t for the last 2 times I would given this place 4 stars (more like 3.75 stars).

I used to go deep sea fishing as a kid, went again last summer. I’ve been wanting to do pier fishing cause it’s cheap and relaxing and my last big5 fishing reel broke pier fishing about 7 years ago so I decided to go to a real fishing store to get a quality pole and reel I could use for both pier and deep sea.
They guy here know’s what’s up, he was extremely helpful. I admit i’m pretty much a noob when it comes to fishing knowledge, he answered my questions and guaged what I needed and found me something in a price range I was comfortable with. He also taught me a better way of tying my hooks and weights and even threw in a free weight for my deep sea fishing after I bought all my other gear.

Hadn’t done any saltwater fishing until this past week. Walked in, asked a few questions, received some great advice, bought some tackle, and left feeling like I wish there were a lot more places in Santa Monca that were like Lincoln-​Pico Sporting Goods.

If you need anything fishing related this is the place. The owner will give you honest and knowledgeable help. Lincoln-​Pico Sporting Goods beats out the Big 5/​Walmart/​Internet hands down.
Not only do they sale fishing gear, you can get endless advice on fishing in the area. The owner has fished everywhere in the area.

This is the quintessential old-​school tackle shop. The owner is helpful and knows everything about fishing. The prices are more reasonable than any other ma-​and-​pa tackle shop I’ve been to, and right in line with the wal-​marts of the world. This place has been open for 50 plus years for good reason. Support this shop, it’s one of the last of its kind.

If you want to get into fishing you can get some good tackle here!
Recently was very pleasantly surprised to see a good selection of new reels in the cabinets and lots of new rods in the racks. Nice!
I had a rod repaired on the spot for a few bucks and am ready to go back to fishing. Hoot.
Let the owner know what you want to catch and then listen to his advice. He has some long history in the local fishery and may point out a new item you did not know to ask for.
Have to be patent with the owner/​operator but he knows his stuff. He takes care of one person at a time. Good if you’re the one. Long wait possibly if you are not.
TIP #1: there are two or three parking spots in the back if the meters in front are full.
Tip #2: if he has people in the store that he is helping walk down to the corner and get a drink. Then come back. You’ll be more relaxed, And cant get serviced faster anyhow.
Tip #3: if you plan on buying that reel online anyhow… This is not the store to walk in and handle the reel first. (rude to the owner) He will likely recall you and return the favor in some way.
If you want cheap hooks he has them. If you want big lures he has them. He has not dusted in years. But the guy knows fishing.

Has been there for years — got my first Truline rod there. Very old school — but so am I.