[Zman]

I stopped at the Eleven Mile Marina on Saturday and dealt with two different individuals (one whose name I didnt get and the owner Larry Falk)...I was very pleasantly surprised...the customer service was as good as any I have had in the state of Colorado and believe it is what all customer oriented shops should aspire to...they had fresh bait, they fish the lake regularily...they even had ice fishing products I have been looking for in Denver that no one has (the Bait Puck an insulated mealworm/waxworm holder that wont crush that fits in your pocket)...I saw it in the new product section of this years In Fisherman Ice Annual Magazine...stunned I was that Larry had them in the middle of no where...he said he tries to stay on the cutting edge and have a few new products every year...he said if you are thinking of coming up to call him and get a report...that he will tell you straight and try and put you on fish...this guy has the customer end of it figured out and will do well...(I think of the early days of Chapparel Park when it was tough to get a fishing report out of them...or an un-named store with fishing stuff in Red Feather that due to lack of smiling and no fishing reports we nicknamed the Grumpy Mart - they have new ownership)...so if you are headed to Eleven Mile...check our forum...if you dont find what you need...give Larry a call at 719-748-0317...he sounds like he would be glad to help you with an up to date of where to go and what to use at the Mile...

 

[epic]

I dont drink coffee but Larry always has "Free" coffee available, so its usually good to head in grab a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze about hotspots and what they are hitting on before you head out to the lake.

 

[RichW]

The Falk's have always taken real good care of us whever we've been up there. Have rented and also done many group guided trips with Larry and Alex on the ice over the years. They've always helped put us where the fish were and getting the latest 'hot lure' etc.

 

[Methiolate Man]

Sounds like someone is sponsored the Falks or something. LOL

 

[hellfish]

I always get mixed reviews from people on the marina shop. I have started going to the chapparal general store on my way in, more consistant on customer service, gotten the cold shoulder too many times at 11 mile- jmo

 

[wraithR1]

I'm not so sure of the intentions of the "tips" provided by the folks at the 11 Mile store. The ones we have received haven't been "helpful" and we usually ignore them. I seriously think that they try to lead people away from the good fishing.

 

[_colorado]

This is my eyewitness account. 8)

Last March the ice just came off 11 Mile. I was there just after first light to go fish the Dream Stream so I decided to stop in and chat a bit and see how the spawning bows were lining up. It was a day when winter decided to do one last hurrah and the temp was around 10 degrees with the typical South Park winds blowing along with some snow flurries. A couple of poor guys came into the store. They were having problems getting their boat started and asked the guy if he had any tools they could borrow. Besides not believing that these people were trying to launch their boat in those freezing conditions I was further aghast when the guy produced a tool set and asked them for something like $5 for 15 minutes!! I mean, c'mon! I can understand paying for a toolset if you drop it in the drink or break it somehow but to charge money for use is crazy. These are your customers, aren't they? Wouldn't most people want to build goodwill and rapport with them? Apparently $5 was worth more to him. I've not returned to the store since witnessing that sad event.

Now I'm sure some of you will say imagine how often he'll be bothered if he lent tools to everyone for free. Or how much he could potentially lose. But a set of cheap Chinese tools from Harbor Freight won't set you back $10. He's lost much more than that in my business alone. And if he loaned you tools wouldn't you feel obliged to patronize the store at some level, maybe even just buying a candy bar? ???

As for me and my money, I now shop exclusively at the General Store. While his prices are high and the info is served up without the hype, I can honestly say that I have not witnessed behavior of that sort.

 

[john]

That reminds me of a time my brother and I broke an alternator belt at the Miracle Mile. I had another belt with me but no tools. My brother talked someone into driving him to the Miracle Mile Ranch to borrow some tools. The guy at the ranch would only loan out a crescent wrench - and that was with a deposit of $100. No, that is not a typo!! We were definately had by the short hairs! I did replace the belt using that wrench. John

 

[Bronco]

That store provides that guy his living. No one can be surprised if you get anything other than they are bitting report. What would any of us do, say the fishing stinks and lose potential sales. As far as asking $5 to use some tools is pretty chicen sh&t. Maybe the guy had a bad feeling about the guys asking to borrow tools, if so why only ask for $5. If they make alot of there income from guiding then why would they give out the hot spots. They need those areas to produce for clients to get referrals.

 

[ice fisher]

I have had years of experience with Larry. Let me go on record to say that I have absolutely nothing negative to say, only praise. I can't count the times that I've called him the day before heading up and he has always been extremely helpful and his time and advice were very appreciated. This is also the guy who takes time every week to post a fishing report on his website, that takes a lot of time to do, Thanks Larry!!
I will continue to support him, as he always gives his best to support all of us.

 

[_colorado]

Hey Ken, who's Larry? I told a story about "the guy".

 

[Guest]

I met Larry this weekend when I went up to meet some of you guys at 11 mile. Our day started sour with the auger not starting. We stopped in to the store and Larry immediatley had me a hot cup of Joe and was starting to help us get the motor going. He warmed it up and I went to give it a yank and...you guessed it I jerked the chord out of the motor. S--t. Larry said bummer, I replied, have any agers left for rent? NO. uuggghhh.

Larry chimes in, I have an old one in the back i might be able to get running...long/short we rented that and had a great time...fishing was Sllllllooooowww but the kids and us had a ball.

We went back to return the auger and purchased a few Christmas presents from Larry, grabbed another cup of Joe and hit the road.

Two thumbs up.

 

[abomb]

My wife and I go to 11-mile all the time because thats where my dad keeps his boat that he never uses, but we sure do lol. With Larry it all depends on the mood he is in that day or hour. I have seen both sides and he can be down right rude, and other days very pleasent. Kind of like that lake haha.

 

[jeremycallahan]

Ive only been to the mile twice and both times we stopped in at his store. His wife was working the register with a fairly hostile and rude customer and i thought she handled it well. She was shook it off and treated us great. Same with Larry, my experience was positive.