Changes at the bait shop
There’s really no such thing as a quick trip to a bait and tackle store.
That’s because there’s just so much to take in, even for anglers who’ve crossed a shop’s threshold thousands of times.
Aerators hum in the back, keeping minnows, shiners, chubs, crawfish, salamanders and frogs ready for the bait bucket.
Old refrigerators plastered with tackle stickers contain neatly stacked containers of nightcrawlers and leeches.
Peg boards display lures, hooks, weights and anything else that begs for space in your tackle box. New reels sit in glass display cases and rods sprout like house plants from 5-gallon buckets.
Part of a wall is almost always reserved for a few yellowed newspaper clippings of big fish alongside photos of grinning anglers holding big fish. Hang out a while and you’ll often hear sketchy stories from customers about even bigger fish that somehow eluded photographic documentation.
In the days before the Internet and outdoor forums, this is where a lot of fishing information was exchanged. It still is.
At the bait and tackle store, the guy or gal at the register can always tell you what’s biting. And without fail, they’ll sell you what they’re biting on.
Lincoln has a plethora of options when it comes to purchasing angling necessaries, from the big box discounters to the national hunting and fishing retailers. Yet a lot of anglers like to maintain a connection to the local independent tackle store.
The local tackle scene has undergone a few changes in recent months. What follows is a rundown on those changes.
Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com
Fish Tackle and Supply
Address: 201 N. 19th St.
Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 476-1710
When your last name is Fish, what else are you going to sell?
For a long time, O.J. “Jim” Fish made a living off his mechanical skills at a business he started in 1958. But he always loved to fish and in 1981, he and his son, Quintin, started selling tackle as a sideline.
Now Fish Tackle and Supply is strictly in the recreational fishing business.
But Quintin Fish isn’t sure for how much longer.
The store lies in the path of the Antelope Valley redevelopment project. Fish said his family’s attorney is currently in negotiations with the city, but he has been told the city wants possession of the land by early 2009.
Fish said his mother, Lillian, owns the property following the death of his father in 1997. They would like to find another location for the store.
“We’re looking for a replacement property and we’re trying to come out with a price we can live with,” he said.
Fish would like to stay near downtown, but so far, that prospect isn’t looking good. He’s not sure where he might end up, but he reiterated that he wants to relocate rather than go out of business.
Wolf Tackle Supply
Address: 6030 Havelock Ave.
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Phone: 464-4265
The Tackle Shop
Address: 5563 S. 48th St.
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 423-1303
Two longtime Lincoln tackle outlets are now being run by a partnership of two lifelong anglers.
Glenn Hartmann and Peter Rohman got to know each other while working for a Lincoln computer software company. Hartmann worked as a programmer; Rohman as an accountant.
They both enjoyed fishing and were intrigued by the prospect of owning a tackle store when when they learned Wolf Tackle Supply was for sale. The store had been a fixture on Havelock Avenue for more than 15 years.
In 2007, they bought the store. Hartmann quit his programmer job and managed the store while Rohman worked there part time.
Earlier this year, the partners bought The Tackle Shop in south Lincoln. Rohman is now working full-time to manage the south store.
They plan to change the names of both stores to Wolf Tackle Shops in the near future, although each will maintain its own character and identity.
The Havelock store has always specialized in largemouth bass, including some high-end lines. Hartmann, a native of Hooper who gained a passion for bass fishing while living in Texas, said the store will continue to be a bass headquarters, but he has broadened the inventory for anglers interested in targeting other species.
“Look out, Johnny Morris, better keep an eye over your shoulder,” Hartmann said in a joking reference to the founder of Bass Pro Shops.
Hartmann said the Havelock store also sells refrigerated and frozen bait, but doesn’t offer bait fish.
Rohman said the south store will continue to serve the casual multispecies angler with a full selection of live bait. The store may be compact, but it also offers a wide selection of tackle and lures.
Both Rohman and Hartmann said they want to offer excellent customer service and help anglers get the right equipment for what they’re trying to catch.
So far, there’s only one downside to the business, Rohman said.
“My fishing time has declined dramatically.”
Fishin Freddies
Address: Corner of 48th Street and Huntington Avenue
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Phone: 560-6800
Fishin Freddies and the nearby Honda Marine represents a partnership of four Lincoln men: Dave Guittar, Steve Guittar, Mike Hyde and Christopher Wear.
The shop opened earlier this spring, and Wear said they are gradually adding to their inventory of lures and tackle partly in response to customer requests.
The shop recently added equipment to sell live bait fish. It also sells nightcrawlers and frozen bait, and offers rod and reel repair, Wear said.
“One of our goals is to take care of the customers and listen to customer requests,” Wear said.
Other area tackle outlets:
Emerald Mini Mart
Address: 8401 W. O St.
Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
Phone: 474-4254
Located near Pawnee, Conestoga and Twin lakes, the store sells live and frozen bait, including bait fish and lures and tackle.
Scheels All Sports
Address: 27th Street and Pine Lake Road
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 420-9000
The Fargo, N.D.-based retail corporation owns 23 stores in seven Midwestern states. The Lincoln store features an extensive selection of tackle, lures, fishing equipment and live bait.
That’s because there’s just so much to take in, even for anglers who’ve crossed a shop’s threshold thousands of times.
Aerators hum in the back, keeping minnows, shiners, chubs, crawfish, salamanders and frogs ready for the bait bucket.
Old refrigerators plastered with tackle stickers contain neatly stacked containers of nightcrawlers and leeches.
Peg boards display lures, hooks, weights and anything else that begs for space in your tackle box. New reels sit in glass display cases and rods sprout like house plants from 5-gallon buckets.
Part of a wall is almost always reserved for a few yellowed newspaper clippings of big fish alongside photos of grinning anglers holding big fish. Hang out a while and you’ll often hear sketchy stories from customers about even bigger fish that somehow eluded photographic documentation.
In the days before the Internet and outdoor forums, this is where a lot of fishing information was exchanged. It still is.
At the bait and tackle store, the guy or gal at the register can always tell you what’s biting. And without fail, they’ll sell you what they’re biting on.
Lincoln has a plethora of options when it comes to purchasing angling necessaries, from the big box discounters to the national hunting and fishing retailers. Yet a lot of anglers like to maintain a connection to the local independent tackle store.
The local tackle scene has undergone a few changes in recent months. What follows is a rundown on those changes.
Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com
Fish Tackle and Supply
Address: 201 N. 19th St.
Hours: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 476-1710
When your last name is Fish, what else are you going to sell?
For a long time, O.J. “Jim” Fish made a living off his mechanical skills at a business he started in 1958. But he always loved to fish and in 1981, he and his son, Quintin, started selling tackle as a sideline.
Now Fish Tackle and Supply is strictly in the recreational fishing business.
But Quintin Fish isn’t sure for how much longer.
The store lies in the path of the Antelope Valley redevelopment project. Fish said his family’s attorney is currently in negotiations with the city, but he has been told the city wants possession of the land by early 2009.
Fish said his mother, Lillian, owns the property following the death of his father in 1997. They would like to find another location for the store.
“We’re looking for a replacement property and we’re trying to come out with a price we can live with,” he said.
Fish would like to stay near downtown, but so far, that prospect isn’t looking good. He’s not sure where he might end up, but he reiterated that he wants to relocate rather than go out of business.
Wolf Tackle Supply
Address: 6030 Havelock Ave.
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday
Phone: 464-4265
The Tackle Shop
Address: 5563 S. 48th St.
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 423-1303
Two longtime Lincoln tackle outlets are now being run by a partnership of two lifelong anglers.
Glenn Hartmann and Peter Rohman got to know each other while working for a Lincoln computer software company. Hartmann worked as a programmer; Rohman as an accountant.
They both enjoyed fishing and were intrigued by the prospect of owning a tackle store when when they learned Wolf Tackle Supply was for sale. The store had been a fixture on Havelock Avenue for more than 15 years.
In 2007, they bought the store. Hartmann quit his programmer job and managed the store while Rohman worked there part time.
Earlier this year, the partners bought The Tackle Shop in south Lincoln. Rohman is now working full-time to manage the south store.
They plan to change the names of both stores to Wolf Tackle Shops in the near future, although each will maintain its own character and identity.
The Havelock store has always specialized in largemouth bass, including some high-end lines. Hartmann, a native of Hooper who gained a passion for bass fishing while living in Texas, said the store will continue to be a bass headquarters, but he has broadened the inventory for anglers interested in targeting other species.
“Look out, Johnny Morris, better keep an eye over your shoulder,” Hartmann said in a joking reference to the founder of Bass Pro Shops.
Hartmann said the Havelock store also sells refrigerated and frozen bait, but doesn’t offer bait fish.
Rohman said the south store will continue to serve the casual multispecies angler with a full selection of live bait. The store may be compact, but it also offers a wide selection of tackle and lures.
Both Rohman and Hartmann said they want to offer excellent customer service and help anglers get the right equipment for what they’re trying to catch.
So far, there’s only one downside to the business, Rohman said.
“My fishing time has declined dramatically.”
Fishin Freddies
Address: Corner of 48th Street and Huntington Avenue
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily
Phone: 560-6800
Fishin Freddies and the nearby Honda Marine represents a partnership of four Lincoln men: Dave Guittar, Steve Guittar, Mike Hyde and Christopher Wear.
The shop opened earlier this spring, and Wear said they are gradually adding to their inventory of lures and tackle partly in response to customer requests.
The shop recently added equipment to sell live bait fish. It also sells nightcrawlers and frozen bait, and offers rod and reel repair, Wear said.
“One of our goals is to take care of the customers and listen to customer requests,” Wear said.
Other area tackle outlets:
Emerald Mini Mart
Address: 8401 W. O St.
Hours: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily
Phone: 474-4254
Located near Pawnee, Conestoga and Twin lakes, the store sells live and frozen bait, including bait fish and lures and tackle.
Scheels All Sports
Address: 27th Street and Pine Lake Road
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Phone: 420-9000
The Fargo, N.D.-based retail corporation owns 23 stores in seven Midwestern states. The Lincoln store features an extensive selection of tackle, lures, fishing equipment and live bait.
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