CLEARLAKE – Lakeshore Bait and Tackle in Clearlake opens as early as 6 a.m. Inside, at the front of the store, lures, rods and fish hooks hang from the walls beside a freezer full of bait. Most customers are surprised when the see the inventory of firearms that are also available.

Owner Bob Rider moved to Lake County in 2002. He opened the store in 2005 when an injury forced him to retire from law enforcement. Rider is proud of the fact that his store is veteran-owned and operated.

He has always been interested in fishing and has 20 years of firearms handling experience from his military service and police careers. His wife Brianna and sons – ages 15, 5 and 2 – also are interested in fishing and firearms.

Rider and his staff know where the best fishing spots are on the lake. Someone from the shop is on the water nearly every day of the week.

He started writing a weekly fishing report, dubbed the “Rider Report,” a few years ago. It has now grown to over 20 media outlets picking up the report from as far away as Oregon. Locally you can catch the report every week on www.lakeconews.com. And you can always see it new on the shop’s own Web site at www.994FISH.com.

Lakeshore Bait and Tackle also organizes events and training classes around fishing and hunting.

 

When I asked Rider what was his goal in starting a business in Clearlake, he replied, “Our goal is to help customers have fun. If we have happy customers, the money will follow. Therefore, we work on making customers happy.”

With that statement, I know the Rider family and Lakeshore Bait and Tackle will be here for a long time.

Lakeshore Bait and Tackle is located at 14913-D Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, telephone 707-994-FISH (3474).

Lori Peters is executive director of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, www.clearlakechamber.com.

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