Big Fish Outfitters
Big Fish Outfitters in Lenoir City, Tennessee is one of the more impressive freshwater fishing tackle shops in the country. It is not huge, but not small. It is a super well merchandised operation. We, at In The Spread productions, have spent a lot of time fishing the waters around Melton Hill Dam and downstream, where Big Fish Outfitters in situated. When the person who owns the place has spent hundreds and hundreds of days fishing the waters of eastern Tennessee, you know you are in good hands.
At first, it was just a rendezvous place where we meet up with Cory Allen, the Tennessee Valley muskie authority, to get last minute musky tackle. When I first saw the shop, a couple of years ago, I thought it was a nice looking place right off the bat, but nothing really jumped out at me. I get to see a lot of tackle shops for both saltwater and freshwater fishing, so I tend to be a tad jaded. After several visits and deeper examination, this place is really kickass. Super clean and well organized. The selection of bass and striper tackle is impressive. After all, the striper fishery at the dam is world class. Oh, and this is big bass country, as well. Why wouldn't Big Fish be well appointed for stripers and bass? It goes deeper than that. This is not just some shop that buys whatever the sales reps are pushing. They know the game and are loaded.
For me though, the difference makes is immense selection of bait that is in house. These guys are excellent with their live bait and dead bait rigging. You can tell from their rigging station that there is no BS here. Step out back though and damn. The live bait options are on point. Huge tanks side by side boggle the eyes. From gizzard shad, threadfin, skipjack and trout of all sizes for days. Man. This is an exciting place. What better to live bait muskie with than a 10 inch trout. And, if you need a bait tank, go no further. What an outstanding place.
If you are in the area, you should go check out Big Fish Outfitters. It won't disappoint.
