Our History
THE HOBBIE HUT L.L.C opened its doors under the ownership of Don and Vince Smith in the spring of 1984, just a few months after the opening of the Clarence Cannon Dam and the Mark Twain Lake. THE HOBBIE HUT started selling miscellaneous crafts and souvenirs to hopeful tourists in the area to visit the new lake. After a few short months of every other customer requesting "minnows," we expanded into the fishing industry, adding a 135 gallon concrete fish vat and a limited selection of hooks, sinkers, and jig heads. Constant deliveries of minnows lead to more fish vats and stocking more and more products. During those four short years, several other businesses opened up around MARK TWAIN LAKE.
By the spring of 1988, business was booming. We had struggled to get enough minnows from Arkansas, that season THE HOBBIE HUT expanded by the purchase of one used truck and trailer and three homemade plywood tanks. We set sail on a journey south to find the source of the minnows that we had already been purchasing for the past four years. After some bargaining and attempts at several different fish farms, new minnows were hauled home. Upon return, pencils were sharpened and a quick realization was made that there was no way that one bait ship could make such a costly 18 hour trip and still make a profit. This led to the creation of NEMO BAIT CO.
Knowing that all surrounding bait shops were having the same struggle to get minnows that we were, we decided to expand and stated hauling fish to the lake and to surrounding businesses. One truck and a 30 mile route around the MARK TWAIN LAKE became two trucks, two became three and a 150 mile radius delivering everything from shiners and goldfish to rod and reel combos to game fish. More vats were built, ponds were dug, and more trucks were bought. Having our own bait and tackle shop and several government contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made us aware of what was need to make NEMO BAIT CO. what it is today.
By 2006, both businesses were doing well. THE HOBBIE HUT L.L.C and NEMO BAIT CO. had several full and part time employees. During the summer of 2006, Wayne Lucke of Lucky Lakes Fish Farm had asked us to take over his business so that he could retire. Hesitantly, we decided to give it a try.
NEMO BAIT CO. expanded to NEMO BAIT AND FISHERIES, getting new contracts with Orscheln, Farm and Home, Farm King Supply, and FISH DAYS, making NEMO Bait and Fisheries the largest customer based fish supplier in the midwest.
We now have eight trucks, a five state service area, and 22 full and part time employees. NEMO BAIT AND FISHERIES offers some of the best bait, tackle, and pond stocking fish. Selling over 20 different species of fish, worms, crickets, and everything in between, NEMO BAIT AND FISHERIES has grown to be a leader in the fishing industry.
CEO: Vince Smith
CFO: Zelda Smith
Operations: Cody Smith
Farm Manager: Owen Smith
Staff fisheries Biologist: Brandon Hanquist
Billing & Receiving : Taylor Arndt
By the spring of 1988, business was booming. We had struggled to get enough minnows from Arkansas, that season THE HOBBIE HUT expanded by the purchase of one used truck and trailer and three homemade plywood tanks. We set sail on a journey south to find the source of the minnows that we had already been purchasing for the past four years. After some bargaining and attempts at several different fish farms, new minnows were hauled home. Upon return, pencils were sharpened and a quick realization was made that there was no way that one bait ship could make such a costly 18 hour trip and still make a profit. This led to the creation of NEMO BAIT CO.
Knowing that all surrounding bait shops were having the same struggle to get minnows that we were, we decided to expand and stated hauling fish to the lake and to surrounding businesses. One truck and a 30 mile route around the MARK TWAIN LAKE became two trucks, two became three and a 150 mile radius delivering everything from shiners and goldfish to rod and reel combos to game fish. More vats were built, ponds were dug, and more trucks were bought. Having our own bait and tackle shop and several government contracts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made us aware of what was need to make NEMO BAIT CO. what it is today.
By 2006, both businesses were doing well. THE HOBBIE HUT L.L.C and NEMO BAIT CO. had several full and part time employees. During the summer of 2006, Wayne Lucke of Lucky Lakes Fish Farm had asked us to take over his business so that he could retire. Hesitantly, we decided to give it a try.
NEMO BAIT CO. expanded to NEMO BAIT AND FISHERIES, getting new contracts with Orscheln, Farm and Home, Farm King Supply, and FISH DAYS, making NEMO Bait and Fisheries the largest customer based fish supplier in the midwest.
We now have eight trucks, a five state service area, and 22 full and part time employees. NEMO BAIT AND FISHERIES offers some of the best bait, tackle, and pond stocking fish. Selling over 20 different species of fish, worms, crickets, and everything in between, NEMO BAIT AND FISHERIES has grown to be a leader in the fishing industry.
CEO: Vince Smith
CFO: Zelda Smith
Operations: Cody Smith
Farm Manager: Owen Smith
Staff fisheries Biologist: Brandon Hanquist
Billing & Receiving : Taylor Arndt
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