Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
Long before Highway 231 redirected traffic away from downtown Wetumpka, fishermen traveling through town passed directly by Stoddard’s Bait & Tackle on their way to the Coosa River.
Established in 1943, the small Company Street bait shop has remained part of Wetumpka’s river culture for more than 80 years, surviving changing traffic patterns, big box retailers, online shopping and even a sinkhole that once threatened the building itself.
Owner Therese Carter said the shop’s history is closely tied to Wetumpka’s past as a river town and travel route before the modern highway system changed how people moved through the area.
“It used to be the thoroughfare,” Carter said. “This was the main thoroughfare through town before 231 was built.”
That steady flow of fishermen helped turn Stoddard’s into a longtime local fixture.
“I think that it’s because it’s one of the very few bait shops that has live bait,” Carter said. “Minnows, crickets and worms. We’re the only one in Wetumpka that’s an actual bait shop that has live bait.”
Over its 80-year history, Stoddard’s has had only three owners. The shop was originally owned by Ernest Stoddard and Pauline Stoddard before later being owned by Teresa Hammer. Chris Carter and Therese Carter purchased the shop in 2007.
Inside, the store still feels much the way longtime customers remember it. Minnow tanks bubble beneath walls lined with old fishing photos, mounted fish, antique motors and decades of memorabilia. A couple of loving cats wander through the shop while shelves hold everything from crappie jigs and artificial lures to snacks, shirts and fishing supplies.
Old albums filled with Polaroid photos preserve catches dating back decades, and customers still stop to search for pictures of themselves, family members and friends from years past.
“One guy came in looking for a picture of himself before he lost his leg,” Carter said. “People come in and say, ‘I remember coming here with my granddad.’”
For Carter, those moments are part of what keeps the shop going.
“The bait shop is my passion,” Carter said. “I love hearing the words, ‘I remember coming here with my grandfather when I was a kid.’ Growing up in a large city we did not have many spots like that to bring back those fond memories.”
She said the shop has become more than just a place to buy bait, evolving into what many visitors describe as part museum, part pet haven and part gathering place.
“Being part museum, part pet haven and part bait shop, the kids and adults like to see all the shop pets when they come to shop,” Carter said. “Stoddard’s is one of the few old school bait shops in existence.”
In 2007, large portions of the building needed structural repairs. One corner of the shop had sunk nearly 18 inches, and sections of the front had to be rebuilt while preserving the original appearance.
Carter said the building was originally constructed using reclaimed beams from a burned church years ago. During renovations, the family reused old wood and rebuilt sections around the original concrete minnow tanks, which are still in use today.
The building later survived a sinkhole that Carter said nearly resulted in the city purchasing and demolishing the structure.
“They said there’s no way they’ll be able to repair it without the building falling down,” Carter said. “But we fought to keep it up.”
Though the business briefly operated under the name “Big Fish” for a short period years ago, locals never stopped referring to it as Stoddard’s. After purchasing the store, Carter contacted the Stoddard family to ask permission to restore the original name.
“Everybody always knew it as Stoddard’s anyways,” Carter said. “It didn’t matter what the sign said.”
Over the years, the shop has attracted everyone from local fishermen to a notable traveler, Hank Williams, who once stopped by the store while traveling through the area.
While fishing culture on the Coosa River has evolved over the decades, Carter said live bait remains the backbone of the business. Artificial lures and specialty tackle may change with trends, but fishermen still come through the doors looking for minnows, worms and crickets they cannot order online.
“It’s our bread and butter,” Carter said. “You can’t get that online.”
Carter said much of the store’s continued success comes from the employees who help keep the longtime business running day to day.
Breanna Hicks and her 2-year-old son, Walker, have worked at the shop since January.
“She is a huge asset bringing both veterinary and management skills,” Carter said. “I can rely on her to make sure everything is stocked, cleaned and organized. No matter what I need done she is there with a smile and a positive attitude.”
Damien Ledbetter joined the shop in March at age 15. Carter said his involvement with the Wetumpka Robotics Team has made him especially helpful with repairs around the store.
“He has proven to be reliable and a quick learner,” Carter said.
James Sharpe recently joined the business part time while also working at Lowe’s.
“With a love for fishing he brings knowledge to help the new-to-the-area fishermen,” Carter said.
Carter said all three employees shared her passion for preserving the atmosphere that has made the shop special for generations.
“All three employees have great customer service skills and share my love for the shop,” Carter said. “I owe any success to them as they allow me to spend time on my other commitments without worrying about what’s going on at the shop.”
For Carter, the store’s value has never been entirely about profit. During the interview, she paused after learning one of her longtime regular customers had just passed away the night before. She described him as someone who would stop by for minnows, sit near the tanks with the cats in his lap and spend time talking about fishing before heading back out.
“There’s just not a lot of shops that you can do that in anymore,” Carter said. More than 80 years after first opening its doors, Stoddard’s Bait and Tackle continues serving as a piece of old Wetumpka, where generations of fishermen, families and longtime locals still gather to swap stories, relive memories and carry on a tradition rooted along the Coosa River.
