MASSENA - Jeff D. McDonald and his wife, Michelle, love to fish, but in recent years have had difficulties finding exactly what they wanted for their own excursions.

“Around here you couldn’t really get what you wanted and a lot of places are closing up,” he said. “My wife and I both fish, and we wanted to be able to get what we wanted.”

It was with that in mind that they decided to convert the garage of their 239 East Hatfield St. home into a bait and tackle shop.

“We’ve been open now for about six months,” he said, explaining that they opened prior to the start of this year’s ice fishing season.

Any product found in the store has been used, either by Mr. McDonald and his wife or a customer.

“We want to give people the chance to purchase low-cost supplies that we know catch fish,” Mr. McDonald said. “Pretty much everything on the wall someone has caught fish with before.”

Mr. McDonald said he only sells products that he and his wife or other local anglers would recommend and if they don’t have what you’re looking fo, he said they’ll be more than happy to order whatever it is that you want or need.

“We’re pretty flexible. If anyone needs anything we don’t have, we can get it for them,” he said. “We get orders once a week.”

The store sells a variety of poles, lures, bait and tackle, at what Mr. McDonald called “very competitive prices.”

“We do compete with Walmart and our prices our cheaper,” he said. “We’re not out to make a lot of money. We just want to be able to find what we want for ourselves and make that available for others.”

The store, which is typically open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, does not accept debit or credit cards.

Mr. McDonald said the good thing about having the business at their home is the ability to be flexible with their hours.

“If we’re closed and there is something someone needs, we’ll get it for them,” he said, adding they were open until 8 p.m. this past weekend for the opening of walleye season.

To reach Massena Bait & Tackle, call 764-9567.

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