Can anyone recommend a good tackle and bait shop in T.O.?

[007]

Hi everyone.

 

Can anyone recommend a good fishing tackle and bait shop in Toronto? Preferably close to downtown or accessible by TTC subway, streetcar etc.

 

I usually pick up lures and stuff at one of my local Canadian Tires downtown or do a massive shopping session at Basspro for tackle and bait when I rent a car to head out of town but was wondering if there are any decent local specialist fishing shops that I could go to for a change. Being able to get livebait (worms, maggots) close by would make a nice change.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

007

[snag]

I'm sure you know JB's Fishing Depot (401 and kipling)

or Lebarons (Dundas and 427-Dixie)

[Golfisher]

JB's Fishing Depot has great service; it comes highly recommended by many members here. Might be a bit out of your way, as it's near Kipling and 401 (24 Ronson Dr., to be exact).

 

Fish on Line might be closer to you, and this store does carry live bait. It's on Jane St., slightly north of Lawrence.

[007]

Thanks snag/snog - hadn't heard of JB's. Had seen lebarons mentioned before but didn't realise it was in Toronto. Are either accessible by TTC or do I need a car?

 

Thanks Golfisher - I will check the map for nearest public transit to Fish on Line.

 

Any others?

 

cheers

007

Edited March 20, 2007 by OO7

[BFSC Kevin]

well there is lucky fishing tackle at greenwood and gerrard which is very close to me.. but i don't think it's the best place.. very small and the lady is sometimes a bit mean. it used to be called lucky fishing tackle, i think it still is since selling.

 

there is one at midland and sheppard in scarborough

there is one at steeles and kennedy

 

if you want to pick up some maggots, there is a pet shop at parliment and carlton called menagerie pet shop, you can search up their website.

[BFSC Kevin]

oh, btw all mine listed are available by ttc.

[BFSC Kevin]

sorry, but just to add, lebaron i believe is not accessible by ttc, maybe the viva bus? but it is all the way at woodbine and hwy 7 or another one in Mississauga, close to sherway gardens

[dgr8t1]

there are 2 of them on jane just north of lawrence and there is al flahrety on dufferin north of rogers all ttc accessible cheers and great fishing

[007]

Thanks Kevin. I think I went to that Lucky fishing place last year. Was passing on a streetcar and got off to get some nightcrawlers. You're right - the lady didn't seem too friendly but she did give me some of her 'lucky' worms as she called them! They were lucky for me (but not so lucky for the worms LOL) as I caught some nice bass at the islands with them. Problem was the rest of the tackle and the prices there didn't seem great. Would prefer to try somewhere else. Will look up your other suggestions.

[BFSC Kevin]

here is the website for "angling specialties" the one at steeles and kennedy(15-25 mins bus from kennedy station) http://www.anglingspecialties.com/StoreInfo.html

 

 

here is the website for "menagerie pet shop" the one at parliment and carlton

http://www.menageriepetshop.com/index.php?...ct&Itemid=3

 

here is the info for the lucky fishing tackle at midland and sheppard

Lucky Fishing Tackle

4221 Sheppard Av E Scarborough ON

(416) 609-8838

 

 

here is the info for lucky fishing tackle at gerrard and greenwood

Lucky Fishing Tackle

1267 Gerrard E Toronto ON

(416) 466-3567

 

 

more info for lebaron, www.lebaron.ca

[urbanangler1990]

Al Flahertys at Rogers and Dufferin, they got all ur fishing needs

Edited March 20, 2007 by urbanangler1990

[007]

Thanks again Kevin. Will definitely check some of these places out.

 

Thanks Urban Angler and Ludovic too.

Edited March 20, 2007 by OO7

[BFSC Kevin]

btw, if you're just buying some worms.. just pick them up from your back yard at night for free or i think near harbourfront there is place that sells worms..let me find the site

[bbnotty]

Angling specialties - steeles and kennedy. very helpful, but i've known them for like 20 years.

 

bb

[007]

I wish I did have a free source of worms but unfortunately no worms in my back 'yard' - I live 16 floors up in a condo with only a small concrete balcony overlooking downtown

 

I would certainly be interested to know if there was somewhere down at the harbourfront that sells worms - never seen anything before.

 

I did read in a brochure about the Toronto Islands that they sell bait along with licences down at the boathouse in summer, but I've lived here 2 years now and never seen it open so guess it doesn't anymore.

 

Thanks for all your help

[BFSC Kevin]

oohhh.. i think it was the boathouse!

umm.. how about berkley gulp? i think those work great.. should keep some of that...

 

well... there might be some more on the west end.. that's about that i know. hope

 

best of luck!

[urbanangler1990]

yup the boathouse did carry worms in vending machines but closed em down becus ppl were stealing the cans of worms, man were they every convenient...

[Fishnfiend]

I used to deal alot with the Angling Specialties in MIssissauga. Top notch gear in those places and some good advise if you ask the right questions. If there is one accesble by public transit, then that is where I suggest you go for anything you need (more than just bait).

[Fishnfiend]

I forgot to mention that the people that I used to deal with in A.S. would order anything that i wanted - even if they didn't sell the product.

 

No, I don't work for them or have any shares in the company.

[motv8tr]

007, let me know what one you want to try and I'll give you the best way to get there from your starting point. I would say the one on Jane would be the easiest. Just take the subway to Jane stn. and if you don't have a metro or weekly pass you'll need a transfer to get on the bus there. Take the Jane ( I think it's the 35, been a couple of years since I drove that one) bus north to Church st. (near Black Creek), the tackle shop is on the S/W corner if I'm not mistaken.

 

If you want to go anywhere else, let me know and I'm sure I can give you the easiest way.

 

Maureen

[007]

Thanks Maureen. Excellent TTC advice as usual. No.35 along Jane it is.

 

007

[charlesn]

Not sure about the TTC thing, but there's a little place off the 400 called Bass Pro Shops...

 

Would be worth the extra effort to get there if you have a couple hours to kill.

 

I can sit at the fish tank mesmerized. They do night feedings around 7 PM. I think they have a schedule posted. It's crazy to see the trout go psycho while the other fish all cower near the bottom and eat what is left over. Really a must-see fr anyone that hasn't seen it.

 

Charles

[lew]

There's also Rearies (sp) out in Scarboro. He's on the south side of Kingston Rd, east of Morningside, but at least he would be accessible by TTC for you.

 

It's a fairly large store with a big selection of baits and he covers most of the species, and I'm also pretty sure he carries live bait, but you'd have to check on that one.

 

I've always found him to be quite expensive though, at least on musky baits, but it's another option for you to think about.

[Headhunter]

The shop on Gerrard street, near Greenwood is called Pro Fishing Tackle. The lady in there is not mean, she is just cautious with her stuff! If you would like to see her smile, just tell her you are spending CASH! The price will drop and the service will go up!

As Lew mentioned, Rerries is located on Kingston Road, near West Hill. The dude running the place is very weird, actually follows you around the store as you browse. His product line seems to be mainly old tackle, bought up from other shops that have closed their doors. Factory 2nds can also be found there. Be careful on this point, as there's a reason they are 2nds! His prices are higher on average than other shops, but you can barter with him and as mentioned earlier, the price will drop if you are paying cash! It's actually a decent shop to find rare or no longer available stock.

Hope this helps!

HH

[BFSC Kevin]

yeah..

007, i'd recommend you just rent a car to head up to bass pro. if you want, ever heard of www.zipcar.com or i think the another company is called autoshare? just rent them by the hour, something like $7/hr, includes gas and insurance. take it for 4hrs, $28 plus tax and you got yourself a trip to vaughn mills. there are plenty of them around downtown. but then again, thats $28+ more then a $2 ttc token.