WOW Just saw where Northland tackle bought Bagley Tackle!

[Muskygary]

Northland will move Bagley tackle to Minnesota.

[Muskygary]

Bagley bait company will move to Bemidji Minnesota. Also Jarmo Rapala will stay with Bagley and also now part of Northland Tackle.

[ctom]

Bemidji is a nice town. Has a lake in town and tons of water around it. Upper and Lower Red Lakes are not far away. Northland offers some interesting tackle, much of it related to ice fishing but then Minnesota is the ice fishing capital of the country. Northland also offers a mess of tackle related to walleyes, pike, muskie and panfish too. I have good friends that live in Bemidji.

[Do-It Corp.]

Another interesting note is Greg Wollner is now the CEO of Northland.  Greg ran Rapala for North America for almost 15 years and is tremendous leader in our industry.  Northland seemed to have lost its way since John Peterson sold the business several years ago.  It certainly will be interesting to watch.

[ctom]

Northland seemed to have lost its way since John Peterson sold the business several years ago. 

I've never been too much of a Northland fan and its interesting that you mention Northland seeming to falter a while ago. It was apparent in the cold water tackle lines that they were struggling. Maybe the new leadership will get them back on track. It always seemed to me that Northland was always a year behind and what they offered was a knock off of something hot the year prior that one of their competitors offered.

I don't ice fish so what is happening in that market can get past me pretty quick, but I recall several years where Lindy would offer something new and it was hot then the next marketing year Northland offered a near identical bait. Maybe it was just my perception. Northland has offered some interesting panfish tackle over the years but I can't honestly say I ever used any.

[Muskygary]

I have a good small walleye lake in Bemidji I used to fish (only one resort on the lake). One day it was raining all day; so we took a ride over to northland tackle thinking we might get a tour of the place. However they wouldn't let us in, also no retail store on all their products. Told us to "go away". Was down on Northland for a long time.

[ctom]

When Dr. Roland Herr was a major shareholder in Lindy tackle I got to know him thru my work with Thill floats, the Mini Stealth floats in specific. He and I had some really interesting conversations and when Lindy was coming out with new lures I always go a nice package from him, long before the public even knew anything was being offered.  His wife battled with cancer for a couple years and he finally sold his major share of Lindy to spend more time with her in the end. Super nice people he and his wife were. He apologized to me when I asked about a company tour saying that the business was pretty tight so I don't see Northland as being any different. It wasn't you Gary, just the politics of doing business. I did get to meet them once. They stopped by the cabin on one of their jaunties. The north shore was her favorite places to visit. Dr. Herr was a dentist with an office in St. Cloud and another in the Twin Cities on top of his ownership in Lindy. I miss kibitzing with him. I still have some of the Lindy tackle he sent and I actually have two of the Mini-Stealth floats  from the first batch he sent. They floats in their packages hang on a hook in my shop where I am constantly reminded of his friendship....much like that of the Do-It crew.

[Johnny Bass]

Bemidji is a nice place...Been to Turtle Lake out there.  Really cool chill area.