Joe Wheeler

[Dan]

Down here in Alabama after coming down to watch GVSU in the Natioal Championship. My brother-in-law has shown me a gas station/bait shop on M72 just east of Joe Wheeler State Park. A lot of bass tournaments go out of Joe Wheeler. Anyway this place he calls West End has an aisle of Lucky Craft baits that is thirty feet long. He must have every Lucky Craft bait made. He must have a deal with the company because I can't imagine he can afford to sit on that kind of inventory. He also sells GLoomis rods and has a ton of them as well. Some local baits which I plan to buy a few of and see if they will fool some Michigan bass. Always hope for a couple of these baits to work because I know not too many of the guys I fish with will have access to them. If they work, I just have to put a call in to the brother-in-law. Couldn't help myself and bought tow Lucky Craft. $$$$$ They weren't priced and when I got to the register they were $18 and $17. Two crank baits that I hope are worth the bucks that I want to try on Cadillac and Mitchell this spring. Cadillac early seems to have fish that like red and in that stained water early I hope these little cranks might work. Told myself that this year I am going to get back to throwing some crankbaits early and again late some early fall. Use to throw a ton of them, but have gotten away from it. Had to buy me a GLoomis hat. Can't afford a rod. Lost a Loomis with a Curado on it on Duck the last Tear Drop tournament of the season. Now that I'm retired that's a lot of cans to pick up in order to replace it.
Can't get a ride on the river down here, ( a ride I did have is out of commision right now) and have been too busy to really pursue it. Can't believe I can be too busy to try and do a little December bass fishing, but I plan to come down and do a little fishing later this winter. I still can't believe this place has as many Lucky Crafts on the wall as they do. Unbelievable and it's just a local bait shop/gas station.

[joshimoto son]

I'm sure them pike on Cadillac/Mitchell will love them crank baits.

Was there two years ago... can't remember the name of the place right there between the two lakes. The cottages were red.

While I was checking in... I complimented the lady on there selection of baits, and that they even sold Lucky Crafts.

She asked me if I like those baits because she had a bunch of them in the back that were out of the box and was going to put them on clearance.

I told her to bring em out!

Long story short... I bought 12 L.C's for $2.88 a piece.

I took all the good ones... man was the rest of my club mad when they found that out.

joshimoto son

[fiker]

I thought you told me it was Pilgrim's Village.
Is that right?

[Dan]

Yep, it's Pilgrim's Village. They are a sponsor of our Tear Drop events. For a small bait shop they have the best bass baits selection outside of Jays in the north. They go out of their way to carry a nice inventory of bass lures that are top of the line. Good people there and they will go out of their way to help you out. Don't forget to go across the street to Mr. Fosie's Pasties. Man the bake goods and the pasties are really good. Any forum members looking for a place to hang their hat for the night in that neck of the woods should give me a holler. I have a cabin 40 min. west with a bunkhouse that sleeps 4. Got electric hook up as well. If I am up there which I usually am your welcome to stay.

[bshaner]

I could of sworn I heard you say pasties....

B

[gothooked]

Oh well the cats out the bag, yes I and a few of my partners know Joe and his family in Guntersville Alabama for about ten years now. That's one of our stops every year in the spring. It's called Waterfront Grocery and it's a Citgo gas station right across from the launch. Bass pro shops cain't touch him for bass tackle. He sells everything a bass angler can want, I think the first year I went there I spent $350.00 and that was ten or eleven years ago. If you are ever down that way stop and check'em out.