From a Small Bait Shop
to a Regional Powerhouse
2015 - 2019: Humble Beginnings in Monroe, Michigan
Our journey began in 2015 as Paula’s Bait Shop, a modest 380-square-foot space on Front Street in Monroe, Michigan. With simple cement floors and a small selection of gear, we focused on supplying docks and providing fish cleaning for local anglers. The original team—owners Dan and Paula, a young
Clayton learning the ropes, and Ron the fish cleaner—laid the foundation for what we are today.
A few years later, Clayton took over the business, becoming known throughout the community for his exceptional customer service and lightning-fast fish cleaning.
2020: A Partnership & Pivot
2020 was a turning point in more ways than one. It was the year Michael joined the team after meeting Clayton; the two quickly became a duo both in life and in business. While the COVID-19 pandemic forced the physical shop to close due to low foot traffic, Clayton and Michael refused to let the dream go.
They moved to Toledo and rebranded as Glass City Bait & Tackle, a tribute to their new home. Reimagining the business as a wholesale operation run entirely out of their garage, they began supplying live bait and tackle to gas stations, marinas, campgrounds, and convenience stores across the region.
Early 2025: Expanding the Horizon
By 2025, our wholesale network had grown to over 22 partners across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. We saw another opportunity to grow and took a leap into the exotic animal world, supplying live feeder bugs to pet stores and vending at reptile shows on the weekends. This expansion added six pet store partners and a regular presence at six major regional reptile expos to our growing operations.
Summer 2025: The Dream Realized in Point Place
In June 2025, everything came full circle. A retail space became available in our own neighborhood of Point Place, located in Lighthouse Landing directly across from the famous Cullen Park Boat Launch.
Moving from our original 380-square-foot shop to a beautiful 3,000-square-foot facility was a massive milestone. With real floors, windows, and (the ultimate bait shop luxury) bathrooms, we knew the moment we walked in that this was our future. We signed the lease that day. After two weeks of long days building shelves and stocking walls, we opened our doors with a Grand Opening that featured thousands of dollars in prizes and 200 unique items for our local anglers!
Glass City Bait & Tackle Today: Quality & Accessibility
Today, Glass City Bait & Tackle carries nearly 2,500 unique items across the industry's top brands. We supply live fishing bait, tackle, and live feeder bugs to a combined total of 28 wholesale partners, which can be found using our store locator tool. We are proud to offer the largest selection of live fishing bait and feeder bugs within a 100-mile radius, ensuring that even the most niche fisherman or reptile enthusiast finds exactly what they need.
We remain committed to providing the highest quality at the lowest prices, making fishing and reptile ownership affordable and accessible to everyone. We are constantly growing, adding new wholesale routes, and meeting new friends at exotic shows. Whether you've been with us since the Front Street days or are just finding us at Lighthouse Landing, we look forward to serving you for many years to come.