New… Bait Shops

I love to see new bait shops open up!

Not only because I buy and sell tackle, but because they are the life’s blood to our fishing industry! It is vital to have these small “mom and pop” tackle shops out there selling the products that are not in the mass-merchant stores.

Everts Resort in Hager City, WI (715.792.2333) for example. They have many items you will not find elsewhere. Lots of colors in “ringies” and do’s, jig-heads, and the new Weedless Do’s Heads.

It is great to go into a small shop and find hard to locate items talked about here on EFN…like cranks from Jig-a-Whopper / Selmo USA, drop shot & trolling rigs from H2O On The Go, and other items we’ve not seen in our local Wal-Marts.

There is a new shop that just opened in Kasson, Mn called “Sneaky Bait” 301 W Main St. (507.634.3000) that will be having a grand-opening soon. I think they’ll have the new Jig-a-Whopper rods & reels (which most all of you have not seen… but should see… great new reels that are very well built and at lower cost at retail that competitave reels…. and a line of rods that are totally unique in their “fast-tip” action… that make fishing even more fun…again, with very a low retail price) & hard to find Selmo USA cranks , the B-Fish-N Tackle – Ringworms and Super Do’s Kits, also some of Northland Fishing Tackle’s terminal tackle / jigs and rigs. Cool stuff… and for instance… this is a place where can you find ultra-light stainless 7 strand wire “quick-snap” crankbait 12″ leaders… these are like finding hen’s teeth round here (save you from loosing your walleye cranks to pesky northerns!).

While I am at it, I want to mention Rivertown Sports in Redwing, MN. They just opened lately also and have a great location…1529 Old West Main St. (651.388.7999). And too, have begun to stock lots many of these same kinds of hard to find items. It is so nice to get a local “river-shop” that has lots of colors and styles of rubber Ring-worms and Super Do’s.

Not a new shop, but re-opening… and certainly in a well established location, is Four Seasons at 2311 W. Main St / Redwing (651.385.8614). Ralph is an old hand and very hep to carring new products also. They just got in a big assortment of plastics also.

Please consider what it would be like if we did not patronize these guys and they folded! And the only places to get our tackle was then the mass merchant stores… places where after the rush of spring, you can not find a single crank in the size or color you want… and all the tackle items dissapear off the racks… to make room for hunting season! No minnows at these places either!

Bless you guys… here is to you getting to stay in biz forever. You are greatly appreciated!

Hawger

Thanks for the post. I will be in Redwing next week and was looking for a MN liscense. Now I know where to get one.

SKPIKE

Thanks for the kind words Hawger. I really appreciate it! And thanks to this site for the business it is generating…. for all the bait shops you mentioned! Keep on sending the tackle this way! Cya

Holy cats!! you are a marketing machine!! yes we are blessed to have some good “local shops” around…. it will be interesting to see how each of them do the next couple years…. three shops close together….. great for the consumer… I wish all of you the best of luck and remember the way you treat the customer ( attitude, your demeanor, bieng personable) is what makes the difference…. not if you have wringworms or superdoo’s (although it might help)

Yes, have been just at everts, but that is the way. just like mavzer said. that is how you get it done and keep getting it better.

just wanted to say amen to your post Hawger. I would imagine it’s a tough business but thank goodness people still try and serve the customer, especially fickle and unpredictable customers like we anglers. And a tip of the hat to the shop in Hastings (sorry I think it was called Hastings Bait and Tackle) just wanted to say how nice and helpful they were, and good luck on their business.

I spoke with the owner of Hastings Bait and Tackle recently and must agree how they seem to be real friendly folks… and that is important to me when I go shopping….

I visited with Chuck at “Sneaky Bait & Tackle” in Kasson, MN this AM and he says their Grand-Opening celebraition is set for this weekend on the 12 and 13th. Hot dogs and the whole bit….Fun! He has a small boat in his store filled with odds & ends, where I found a great buy on packaged circle hooks!

Hawger