Opening Soon! Gary’s Tackle Box in Gainesville
by Capt. Tommy Thompson on Apr.22, 2011, under Cedar Key, Chassahowitzka and Homosassa, Horseshoe Beach, Keaton Beach to Fenholloway, Ozello to Crystal River, Steinhatchee, Suwannee, Yankeetown and Waccasassa
Everyone was worried about what would happen when The Tackle Box in Gainesville closed. in early 2011, after over 50 years in business. Initially, everyone wondered what they were going to do to find fishing tackle locally without going to the ‘big box’ stores. And of course, everyone also worried about the future of Judy Clark, the owner, and longtime employee Gary Simpson. Right now, Judy’s taking it easy, but Gary’s entered into an arrangement with Wally Grant, owner of L&S Trim, that will bring another professional quality tackle shop to the area.
The front room at L&S is being transformed into a full-line tackle shop and with Gary’s knowledge and leadership, will certainly be welcomed by the fishing community in Gainesville. Gary is a professional fisherman and writes the weekly (on Fridays) fishing column for the Gainesville Sun. The shop will be stocking a full line of Lew’s products, as well as those from Shimano, Daiwa, St. Croix, and Abu Garcia. Gary’s Tackle Box will also be a Lew’s Service Center, offering warranty repairs on that line. A full service rod and reel repair shop is also a big part of the new Tackle Box.
Merchandise is arriving daily and Gary expects the shop to be fully stocked and operational by May 1, 2011. It’s located at 5721 NW 13th Street in Gainesville. That’s just up US441 from the 53rd Street intersection. The phone number is (352) 372-1791, the same as the ‘old’ Tackle Box. Stop by and visit any weekday from 9 ’til 5!
Leave a Reply
-
These books make great birthday, holiday or anytime gifts for that hard-to-please fisherman! There's fisherman-friendly information about Florida's Gulf coast from Homosassa to Pensacola in the "Big Bend and Emerald Coast" book and information from Homosassa to the Everglades in the "Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida" book. Both include 'how-to' and 'where-to' fish, marine facilities, lodging and food, and a listing of local professional fishing guides. And, as a bonus, there's lots of information about fish species (and how to catch them), tackle, rigging, hiring a guide, party boats, and a list of offshore reefs and wrecks (with GPS coordinates). Find the books at local tackle shops and book stores, and from Amazon.com
...and don't forget the guide project sponsors!
April 28th, 2011 on 11:35 am
Any chance, Tommy, that Gary will offer something for local fly fishing addicts? Regards, Dana
May 2nd, 2011 on 8:24 am
Dana…I don’t think he’ll be stocking any specific fly gear, but do think he’s interested in some consignments. Might mean that some good deals on fly gear show up from time-to-time.
May 20th, 2011 on 7:49 am
GREAT! You had all of us at Florida Bass “Bringers of Rain” worried! We are truly blessed to have Gary runny a shop locally that we can support. If there is anything we can do to help spread the word let us know and we are on it! Welcome back Gary! Good Luck! See you on the water,
Dean
August 13th, 2011 on 4:52 pm
Holy Smakeral – We will actualy have a LEW’s repair site right here in Gainesville. That’s something to make the big box stores quiver~
Thanks Gary!
>