Favorite tackle shop?

[Smirak]

I used to travel for work a good bit and I’d always find a lumber yard, wood store, etc to feed my woodworking hobby. Since I no longer work, I’ve added fishing to that list. We all know the BPS/Scheels/Academy/Dicks, etc big box stores. But, I thought it would be interesting to see what local/ mom and pop tackle stores you like in your area. Thought it might be kinda cool if someone is traveling and they want to go…

 

I’ll start

 

If you’re in N Alabama, or SE TN, or NW GA, you owe it to yourself to at least make a swing by Waterfront Grocery and Tackle at Lake Guntersville (think they have a Scottsboro address). Awesome selection of everything you want. Lots of small lure builders offerings as well as the big guys like Megabass. They have a huge selection of G Loomis rods, MB rods and Shimano/Diawa. Reels from every manufacturer you know. Every soft plastic imaginable, terminal tackle selection beats BPS/Cabelas any day. Live bait as well. Open early and the staff is very knowledgeable not only about what’s working on the lake, but what’s working on different parts of the lake. 
 

Another N Alabama (and funny enough, Middle MS) has a sporting goods store named Van’s. The one in N Alabama is real close to Smith Lake, one of the best stripper lakes around from what I’ve been told. Really good selection of fishing, firearms, clothing, etc. Good people, good selection. 
 

Chattanooga is home to a few good shops. Chickamaugua Lake  and NikaJack Lake “surround” Chattanooga. I can’t remember any names of them, but I’ve been in quite a few. Hog Farmer baits is like 15mins north of Chattanooga and even though they are a larger company”, it’s good to go get stuff directly from them. Better bulk prices in store. 
 

Kevin

[TOXIC]

One of the original members of our annual trip to St Clair owned a tackle store.  KD Outdoors.  Sadly he passed away and the store was liquidated.  He had a business model that was working.  Instead of trying to compete with the big box stores he specialized on baits that were working on St Clair and the surrounding inland waters.  He sold local makers products and in plastics, he sold a lot in bulk.  In the winter he switched over to ice fishing baits and live bait. He also did tm repair and carried some hunting gear.  It was tradition for us to stop by the store on our way into town and stock up on some great tackle before he joined us out on Harsens Island for our week long trip.  It didn’t help that his mother would cook up a huge southern meal for us and set it up in the store before we got there.  Fried Chicken, cornbread, greens, red beans and rice, cabbage, Mac and cheese, finished off with sweet tea and pecan pie.  Sadly most everything I need now is from makers I know or on line.  I miss the old hometown Tackle stores.  

[gim]

Thorne Brothers in Blaine, MN is pretty good.  They specialize in muskie and fly fishing but they have an assortment of tackle for walleye, bass, and panfish, plus a live bait shop.

 

That's all I got though.  The "local" tackle shops by me have hung it up.  I buy most of my tackle at Cabela's, Scheels, Fleet Farm, or DSG because they're all within 30 mins of me and there's nowhere else to buy.

 

Most local shops rely on the sales of live bait to supplement their business here.

[Pogues2300]

14 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Thorne Brothers in Blaine, MN is pretty good.  They specialize in muskie and fly fishing but they have an assortment of tackle for walleye, bass, and panfish, plus a live bait shop.

 

That's all I got though.  The "local" tackle shops by me have hung it up.  I buy most of my tackle at Cabela's, Scheels, Fleet Farm, or DSG because they're all within 30 mins of me and there's nowhere else to buy.

 

Most local shops rely on the sales of live bait to supplement their business here.

They gave me a pretty good deal on a rod and reel… wish it was closer though I need a rod repaired and I live in Bloomington! lol Thorne bros is a cool spot though. 

[Zcoker]

Down here in south Florida most of the tackle shops cater to saltwater fishing with limited freshwater supplies, Lott Brothers, Snook Nook, Juno Bait and Tackle, to name just few that I like. Other options include big outfits like Dick's Sporting Goods or BPS. Those places have a sizeable selection of freshwater fishing supplies. 

[JJP]

In my area pretty much all the tackle stores cater to saltwater with the exception of a couple and even then, most of the time they don’t have what I need. I try to support a local shop whenever I can because when I am in need of rod or reel repair they are there to do it where a big box store is not. 

[MN Fisher]

Our last 'mom & pop' store closed this past year - Wayzata Bait and Tackle.

 

We do have 'Waypoint' which opened last year - started by a local guy who won the 2014 High School Fishing Championship and went on to fish MLF's college circuit 2015-2018 and the Champions tour in 2021. Stock is mostly Japanese (Geecrack, DUO, Ichikawa, etc) baits and lures with St. Croix, 6th Sense and a few other names tossed in.

 

Myself - between Scheels and Fleet Farm I can get pretty much all my needs met...with reels ordered from Digitaka and rods from ALF.

[Bass Rutten]

The sportsman's warehouse in Tampa has one of the better selections I've seen in a while, as good as the local bps or any of the dsg's around here.

[crypt]

I have a BPS about 10 minutes away and I will drive over an hour to got to Bitters in Longwood. Best tackle shop I know of. 

[king fisher]

If you are ever on vacation in Puerta Vallarta, stop in at Vallarta fishing center.  They are very limited in bass fishing gear, but have a great selection of saltwater tackle, and excellent customer service.  They will give you the straight scoop on the local fishing, what charters to use, and where and if the fishing from shore is any good.  If the manager recommends a certain location or time it is truthful information. He gave me the location of a secret bass lake, where I have landed multiple DD bass.  His wife landed a 12 pound bass there, on one of her first days bass fishing ever.  I asked him where she caught it, and the next thing I know he is telling me how to get to the lake.  I am eternally in his debt.  I highly recommend going there if you ever get a chance.  

[looking45]

If you’re coming to San Francisco, give yourself time to check out HI’s Tackle Box. It’s real close the the airport. They have everything from trout to deep sea fishing. You can also order online

 

https://histacklebox.com/

 

 

 

[nso123]

In the Chattanooga area it’s hard to beat Jack’s and Talkin’ Tackle. Jack’s has a lot of live bait and a good selection of other tackle. Talkin’ Tackle has a ton of knowledge about the local lakes and river, and a great selection of tackle that works in the area. They also guide on local water and boat a ton of fish. 

[Columbia Craw]

Unfortunately the best tackle shop is the internet. Fortunately there are some great venders on line.  I’m a big supporter of Sieberts Outdoor for what Mike specializes in. I’m a shopper for sure.

[Munkin]

Jake's Bait and Tackle in Winchester, VA and Tri-State Baits in Waynesboro, PA are the two local to me. Gander Moutain and Dick's are close with crazy high prices.

 

Allen

[Smirak]

5 minutes ago, Munkin said:

Jake's Bait and Tackle in Winchester, VA and Tri-State Baits in Waynesboro, PA are the two local to me. Gander Moutain and Dick's are close with crazy high prices.

 

Allen

There’s still a gander mtn around?

[Munkin]

2 minutes ago, Smirak said:

There’s still a gander mtn around?

It maybe called Gander Outdoors now? 

 

Allen

[rgasr63]

C&B outfitters in Lugoff S.C. is the mom and pops place to go In northeast Columbia side of town. Palmetto State Armory is on the other side of town IMHO they are the best around for tackle and etc.

[flatcreek]

Hammonds in Cumming Ga.(Lanier)

Pair of Jacks in Appling Ga.(Clark Hill)

Sugar Creek Marina Buckhead Ga.(Oconee)

[HOV02]

For tackle i have to say j&h in oakdale they have everything you need there for bait i like burnetts in bayshore he has some nice fresh baits there

[Eric 26]

I’ve mentioned this place before but my favorite local to me shop is The Anglers Outlet in Tinley Park Illinois with my second favorite being Fishing Connection also in Tinley Park Illinois. The Anglers Outlet carries a wide variety of lure choices from panfish to musky lures and a great variety of rods and reels to fit most any budget with a friendly staff and a sandwich board with the latest area fishing reports greeting you outside the door. Fishing Connection on the other hand is in my opinion a little smaller in size and a sizable portion of the store is geared towards musky or at least was when I was in there a few years back so the selection is not as varied but they still have what you need and again a staff that is more than knowledgeable and willing to help you catch fish locally. Lastly Fishing Connection has been operated by by the same owner since 1995 in the same location which for me shows his love of the sport and although I shop at BPS and Wal Mart I try to make as many purchases from these 2 establishments as I can as I really don’t want to see either go away any time soon.

[Alex from GA]

Hammonds in Cumming, GA

44 Tackle in Inverness, FL

[dave]

https://www.tochtermansfishingtackle.com/

Celebrating 108 years.

[FishTank]

Here in Indy there isn't a Mom and Pop shop that is totally geared towards bass fishing but there is a great shop here called Fly Masters. They are more geared towards fly fishing but they do carry a selection of Shimano rods and reels and G. Loomis rods. The staff is great and they generally have a dog or two to greet you when you come in.  

[r83srock]

We have Butches archery. They have a nice selection of tackle also and is by far the best shop close by me. 
 

Eagle River, Minoqua, Tomahawk all have nice shops that I stop at when I’m up that way. Sturgeon Bay has a particular gas station that is loaded good with hot tackle specific to the bay. 
 

Bobs bait and tackle was always good, out of LaCrosse, used to have a shop in Green Bay but closed years ago.

 

The Reel Shot may be the best small shop in our state right now. They have a strong selection, and high end also.  They are in Appleton and Oshkosh. 
 

The shops I’ve been to down south are on a different level. Even lake guntersville areas Walmarts fishing section next level.

[bottom_dollar]

Lake Hartwell Fishing and Marine in Anderson, SC.