Bait & Tackle Shops between College Park and St. Mary's?

[UnkleRob2020]

I believe I am going to give St. Mary's Lake a try tomorrow. I would very much like to pick up some nightrawlers and minnows on the way. Are there any good bait and tackle shops on the route between College Park and St. Mary's lake? Also, are minnows allowed in St. Mary's?

I apologize for all of the postings in which I am asking questions. There is a lot of knowledge on this board, but I do not want to take advantage of the good nature of the people on Snaggedline. I am so eager for fishing news, stories, reports, etc. that I check this board multiple times daily and find myself asking a lot of questions. I look forward to when the fishing, and the posting on this board, pick up later in the year.

Thanks everyone,

UnkleRob

[thedutchtouch]

No help here, but keep asking! I am wondering about many of the same things. I will likely join you down there tomorrow. And have the same struggles with hydrilla. Artemesia becomes almost unfishable when it warms up...

[Redfish12]

Rob, the use of this forum has unfortunately diminished over the years, however there are a lot of folks that still check it and are willing to contribute information. Nightcrawlers can be obtained at many gas stations along your path, just keep an eye out for live bait. As for minnows I'd stop at the tackle box (22035 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653) in Lexington Park on your way down. We used to get them there when flounder and croaker were more abundant in Cornfield Harbor.

Good luck!

[nhunter344]

Just here to echo what Redfish12 said.... many of the 7-11's in the area have a small little bait cooler in the store (they also usually stock mealworms and a few other varieties of live bait). Just be sure to open the container and make sure theyre alive before purchasing. Ive been in a rush a couple times where I havent checked only to get to my fishing spot and realize I have a container full of dead mushy worms.

[Big Mike]

Tackle Box has a wide variety of baits and they open early. A little bit out of the way for going to the lake coming from up north, but maybe only adds 4-5 miles. Minnows are allowed at St Mary’s.. Based on my experience this past week you really don’t need bait to have a very successful day there, but everyone has their preferred methods.

There is a $3 entrance fee, credit or debit card required at the unmanned kiosk.

[UnkleRob2020]

To Dutchtouch and anyone else that may be at St. Mary's tomorrow, I will be in an old green sit-in kayak and likely fishing with a buddy in a much nicer blue Brooklyn sit-on-top kayak. Please feel free to say hi...my name is Rob. Ever since my buddy got that kayak last year, I have had kayak envy. My legs cramp up in my kayak after a few hours and I often have to pull ashore and walk around a bit. I almost pulled the trigger on a Hobie Compass this week, but found some restraint....that would be a large purchase for me.

To everyone else: thank you for the help and support :---) Good luck fishing....

[thedutchtouch]

i wont be able to know for sure until later tonight if i'm going to be able to head down there but i've got a camo outback that i cartop on a brown civic. I'll be sure to say hi if i see you, but wishing you tight lines either way.

[thedutchtouch]

https://fishtalkmag.com/blog/st-mary...hwater-fishing

[dsaavedra]

And have the same struggles with hydrilla. Artemesia becomes almost unfishable when it warms up...

That sounds like frog and swimbait heaven! Frogs if the weeds mat on the surface, swimbaits if they stay below the surface.

[whenican]

Of course there’s always Sport Fair on Bladensburg Rd just down from the Public Playhouse
but you would have to deal w/Kenilworth Avenue’s Purple Line traffic. Mr Lee is a great guy.

[mepps3]

Fred's sports in Waldorf is also an option.

[UnkleRob2020]

Thank you, I will give Fred's a try. I have been very pleased with The Tackle Box in Lexington Park. The staff has been very helpful...even helping me pick out and teaching me how to rig certain items. When I go to Bass Pro Shops, I feel almost like I do when I am at Home Depot. There is a ton of stuff, a lot of people, and not enough staff members to help rookies like me.

What other tackle shops in the area are well stocked and have helpful staff?

Thank you,

[dsaavedra]

Thank you, I will give Fred's a try. I have been very pleased with The Tackle Box in Lexington Park. The staff has been very helpful...even helping me pick out and teaching me how to rig certain items. When I go to Bass Pro Shops, I feel almost like I do when I am at Home Depot. There is a ton of stuff, a lot of people, and not enough staff members to help rookies like me.

What other tackle shops in the area are well stocked and have helpful staff?

Thank you,

Not quite between College Park and St. Mary's, but if you ever find yourself around Annapolis I have had nothing but great experiences at Anglers on Rt. 50. The staff there are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help. I asked one staff member about snakehead fishing as I was having trouble locating them on the Western Shore and he didn't know much about snakeheads, so instead of bullshitting me he went and got another staff member (Alex) who was knowledgeable about snakeheads, and Alex proceeded to talk one-on-one with me for 15 minutes about snakehead fishing - going over lures, tactics, locations, time of year, he even pulled up a map on his phone with waypoints of areas where he's caught snakeheads on multiple rivers. Mike, another employee, helped me find some specific tackle I was looking for but couldn't find. They also have a YouTube channel where they post some helpful videos from time to time.

[UnkleRob2020]

That is awesome. I will have to check out their youtube channel. Angler's has always been a go-to stop for live bait if I was traveling to Annapolis or over the Bay Bridge. I never really paid much attention to their lures because I was a worms and live bait guy. People on this board have helped me get over my total dependence on live bait.