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I have developed a detailed business plan for an indoor fishing facility to be located in Shakopee, MN. I have worked out a lot over two years of research, but I need to know if anyone will show up if we build it.
Proposed building is 112ft x 140ft. 25ft ceiling. Almost entirely glass building, with exposed aggregate concrete floors and ponds. 2 ponds approx 60ft x 40ft, 0-8ft deep. Stocked with shiners, minnows, bluegill-sunfish hybrid, different largemouth breeds, smallmouth bass, a few walleye and even less channel catfish.
There is a lot more info if you want to ask, but I want to know where you live, if you would go, and what you would pay. Thanks for your time and please help a fisherman out.
I personally wouldn't go by myself but would be all over it for the kids. Part of the attraction for me in fishing is being outside. That being said I think it is a great idea for families, spouses who want to try fishing, group outings and teaching children how to fish. Particularly were you are, winters are very cold and not everyone ice fishes so I would also think that may be attractive to those anglers.
As far as what I would pay, I would suggest a single use price (day or even hourly), monthly prices and yearly prices. I can see some folks wanting to come regularly where others just want to try fishing out. As far as price, I think if you are competitively priced with other activities it could be attractive to many people. I assume you plan on having rental or loaner tackle? What about a catch and release price -vs- people who want to catch and cook their fish?
Generally speaking I think the idea is a winner, probably not so much for the hard core angler but good for the sport and fun for beginners, kids, and those just curious.
We have a group on linkedin called "Online Outdoors Professionals Group" that consists primarily of outdoor company marketing directors, executives, and business owners. I would recommend you drop by and join up, you will likely get a lot of feedback on your idea.
[url "http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=38469"]http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=38469[/url]
GREAT LUCK TO YOU, please keep us posted on how things go!!
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That would be a great family weekend trip.
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In MN? You should look into how "Trout Air" in Central Minnesota did in the 1990s and see if you can base your plan differently from that. If you don't know anything about trout air it was pretty much a game farm for fishing. I am from MN and I think it is a good idea, but Minnesota isnt necessarily the right place to do it. Fishing is very popular but the reason it is popular is because the number of lakes we have and the great fishing opportunities out there.
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Answers for above comments: I plan on having all equipment and tackle available for sale or rent. I intend for it to be catch and release only. In a smaller area like this (.1-.25 acre), we will have to circulate fish by keeping 4 times as many fish as will be in the ponds on site. After a fish is caught, an employee will come take the fish from the visitor and place the fish in quarantine with other recently caught fish.
I posted this topic for discussion also at [url "http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=2771569&discussionID=14027246&sik=1266331688710&trk=ug_qa_q&goback=%2Eana_2771569_1266331688710_3_1"]http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=2771569&discussionID=14027246&sik=1266331688710&trk=ug_qa_q&goback=%2Eana_2771569_1266331688710_3_1[/url]
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Hmmm, fishing is for me first of all contact to nature. I wonder whether this is possible in an indoor facility.
I am not living in MN but I can't think of using such a facility. Even though fishing is more difficult over here.
But I hope you make it a success.
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It seems that the only problem most fishermen would have with fishing indoors is that they dont see it as being in the outdoors. Well, its not, but it would be perfectly controlled environment with lucious plants and trees, a few birds(if we can keep them from smashing into the windows), a lot of different local fish, frogs, turtles, sun and experts on hand to help or stay out of your way if thats what you want. I love fishing outside. Thats why I had this idea. We can perfect the outdoor experience. EVERY TIME you come. I like the feedback people. thank you
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I cant see myself going fishing inside. Half of the fun is trying to find the fish and finding new places to fish. I think this would be hard to do in a small indoor pond. You said there would be a perfectly controlled environment. For me some of my best memories of fishing came when the weather had taken a turn for the worse. It is the whole experience that I enjoy I don't think If every thing was perfect every time It would be as enjoyable to me. I do think your idea would be great for people with a disability and have a hard time getting to a lot of places. Good luck I hope you can make it happen.
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I'd take the grandkids on a winter day to fish there. But as alot of folks have said, summer will find it slow in side.
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Sounds like a good idea to me, although to me it sounds like this kind of limits your customers. If your company does hit it big and becomes popular, your only going to be allowed so many people until those small ponds become full and cluttered which would almost put a negative image in your customers heads. It sounds like a good idea but I would almost want the ponds to be much much bigger, but overall sounds like a fun idea.
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Thank you very much for your opinions. They are helping me, hearing from real people who love to fish. Keep it coming.
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I heard about some "pay to fish" catfish ponds in Texas... I think there was a very small fee to fish... Where they got you was... all the fish you kept, you paid for by the pound.
In China there are thousands of pay to fish places. Ponds as small as a tennis court to small lakes.
The neat part is... when you catch the fish, they clean and cook it for you right there. Kind of like a resturant where you catch your own dinner.
Sounds like you could have lots of options.
Pay to catch and release...
Pay according to the weight of fish you keep and take home...
Pay to catch and have it cooked....
LOL
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another option if that doesnt work..the raising and selling off these farm raised fish to resturants and public..is a very profitable buisness just a thought
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I wish you all the best but I must honestly say I could never see myself going to such a place. Fishing gets me out of town away from others. I enjoy being outside in the fresh air, not in a building. But that's just me.
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I think if you play it right, it will work. So, it's pouring rain outside, or snowing, or the wife is cold natured. Another scenario, since I live in the hot south east, it's too hot outside. I hear that from my wife all the time. What do the kids do when the weather is crap? Video Games or something of the sort, of course. If you marketed this the right way, it would be the solution to the crappy weather day. Instead of playing a fishing game on the video console, or wishing you were fishing, while you watch the crap weather out of the window, you can still go.
Stocked ponds are definately lots of fun. What a better way to sell tackle and such, than to have something set up where an angler can rent a rod and reel combo and try it out, to see if they like it enough to buy it. Kind of like a gun range. How sweet would that be? I also think you should consider a catfish pond. It wouldn't have to be big, just deeper. Channel cats offer great sport on light tackle, and they grow to great sizes, and grow quickly. They are also stupid, so they are easy to catch in a stocked pond environment where they are fed. If I ever win the lottery or something along those lines, I'm going to dig a big ass pond around my house and stock it with channel cats. Talk about entertaining the guests.
Anyhow..... If there was an indoor catfish farm around here, close by, that I could take the kids to fish, i'd go two or three times a month.
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