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As the ‘shop dog’, Ginger can almost alwaysbe found at Shore Tackle & Custom Rods in Grasonville, where owner Bill O’Brien builds custom rod and tackle packages for anglers through a select group of local craftsmen. The store carries a line of custom rigging, rods and tackle for saltwater, freshwater and offshore fishing, like the Bird Teaser shown, from C&K Tackle of Stevensville. |
Grasonville, MD – (September 20, 2007) – Bill O’Brien, owner of Shore Tackle & Custom Rods in Grasonville, is selective about the products he carries. That’s because his customers are just as selective when it comes to the rods and tackle they’re using to catch fish in and around the Chesapeake Bay and off the Atlantic Coast. To help meet these high standards of performance and durability, O’Brien relies on a hand-picked network of local entrepreneurs and hobbyists whose passion about fishing and craftsmanship rivals his own – fulfilling many anglers dreams with custom rod and tackle packages from O’Brien’s Shore Tackle & Custom Rods shop in Grasonville.
“Part of my business plan has always been to keep networked with other small businesses, with a focus on helping people,” says O’Brien. “Connecting customers with high quality products and giving these local operators a place to share their passions is very gratifying for me, and the success of my business.” O’Brien opened Shore Tackle & Custom Rods in 2006 and has been building custom rods through his business OB Custom Rods for more than seven years.
Noting his reputation as giving anglers the best tools for catching fish, not just going fishing, O’Brien explains that the accessibility of these local operations creates an opportunity for highly customized products that respond to the needs of the local angler. “Shore Tackle’s retail location is the perfect place for angler’s to share their wants and needs,” explains Richie Tillman of Queenstown, whose customized line of Tilly’s Tyes are carried at Shore Tackle. His line includes bucktails, parachutes, fly fishing flys and jigs. “If Bill finds an angler with a specific challenge, we’ll work together to make a better, more responsive bait.” As a result, Tillman’s signature bucktails are tied heavy – offering the durability angler’s want throughout the fishing season, and are made available in customized colors. Tillman finds O’Brien personable, and appreciates his dedication to his customers, noting that “if it’s not a high quality product, Bill isn’t going to put it in his shop.” To depend on the right suppliers for his business, O’Brien first takes the time to learn about the person or product through word of mouth and attendance at local fishing events. Next, he researches raw materials, durability and most importantly, performance. Only then does O’Brien move forward with the ‘in-line testing’ - with O’Brien and a few of his regular customers taking the products out on the water to check performance. O’Brien’s ‘regulars’ include several charter fishing captains who have completely outfitted their boats from Shore Tackle and Custom Rods – and range from the tournament fisherman to the young angler and new boat owner wanting to reach their limit of fish. The shop at Grasonville Station is where O’Brien creates his OB Custom Rods and provides a select line of saltwater, freshwater and offshore rigging, rods and tackle - along with some valuable, free advice.
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Richie Tillman with Tilly’s Tyes of Queenstown (left) regularly stops into Shore Tackle & Custom Rods in Grasonville, to meet with owner Bill O’Brien (right) to check on the saltwater flys and jigs he makes for the store. O’Brien opened Shore Tackle & Custom Rods in 2006 to connect anglers with high performance rods and tackle, and has been building custom rods through his business OB Custom Rods for more than seven years. |
Just retired and ready to relax, Captain Jack Abbott of Cambridge re-ignited his passion for making custom baits after voicing his disappointment in a mass retail outlet’s selection of tackle, revealing to his son that he tied bucktails ‘long before he was born.’ That was 2003, and Capt. Jack hasn’t stopped tying custom baits since. Skipjack Lures was soon created, and is one of the premier lines of lures available at Shore Tackle & Custom Rods and along the Bay. O’Brien met Capt. Jack at a regional outdoor expo and later started working together. The relationship works well for Capt. Jack, who still regards himself as a hobbyist, breaking from his 7 day/week production schedule only during the spring trophy season, to troll and spin cast for rockfish in the Bay. Ron Baker of RJC Industries in Greensboro, prefers to leave the retail side of business up to O’Brien, so that he can focus on making the customized softbaits and plastics that O’Brien carries in his shop. “Bill does his homework to keep the focus on the essentials that help bring the fish in the boat,” said Baker, who met Bill just after the shop opened and customizes his products right down to the color scheme preferences of the angler.
Through collaboration with local suppliers, Shore Tackle and Custom Rods is dedicated to providing anglers with the equipment they want, the knowledge they need, and the fishing experiences they desire that make them want to return to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay region time and again. In addition to OB Custom Rods, Shore Tackle and Custom Rods carries technique specific bass rods for the tournament fisherman, built by John Ballard of JB Custom Rods in North Carolina. O’Brien will be displaying his work at this year’s Waterfowl Festival in Easton, where angler’s can find Shore Tackle & Custom Rods at the Sportsman’s Pavilion on the Elks lawn. Stop by Shore Tackle & Custom Rods at 115 Pullman Crossing Road, Suite 104 in Grasonville, Maryland, visit on the web at www.shoretackleandcustomrods.com or call 410-827-7765 for more information.