[acabtp]

Gear up at a local tackle shop instead of Dicks/Walmart
-free advice with your purchase
-the right gear for our area and what you're targeting
-support local businesses

Decent fishing gear all has "minimum advertised price" policies, so for the identical gear you pay pretty much the same price at a local tackle shop as Dick's/Walmart. The box stores do also have lots of cheaper crap, but it is just that: lower quality gear they had made to sell cheaper than the real stuff.