Port Clinton store tops state in fishing license sales

PORT CLINTON — Year after year, the Port Clinton Walmart owns a distinction that makes it stand out in Ohio's hefty sports fishing industry.It sells more state fishing licenses than any other vendor in the state, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.The store was No. 1 in fishing licenses in 2016, and no. 2 statewide in hunting and fishing licenses combined, according to John Windau, a spokesman for the Ohio Division of Wildlife."Sometimes during the summer time, there will be four license machines going at one time," said Kevin Smith, an employee in the sporting goods section of the store.State figures show that the store sold 9,389 fishing licenses last year. Counting fishing and hunting licenses and related sales, the store had $205,794 of sales for the Division of Wildlife.Smith recalls license purchasers from Alaska, while Grayson Krueger, another Walmart employee, recalls customers this year from Australia and Syria. About half of the fishing license sales are from out of state, store employees say.Ohio's sports fishing industry in Lake Erie alone accounts for more than $1 billion in economic activity, state officials say.Port Clinton's Walmart store might seem like an odd lens for peering at Ottawa County's vital tourism industry. Aren't all Walmart stores basically alike, whether they're in California or Kalamazoo?Not quite. Take a close look at the sporting goods area of the Port Clinton Walmart, and you'll notice features you're not going to see in any other Walmart, such as the fridge filled with containers of fishing worms.Tammie Wadsworth, manager for the sporting goods section, says Walmarts don't typically sell live bait."We sell tons of them, too," she said, explaining that in a typical summer week, the store will sell 300 to 600 worm packets."Sometimes they call me and say, 'You really want that many?'," she said. One recent order was for 18 cases of worms, Smith said.Other Walmart stores don't have a sign giving weather conditions for fishermen, but Smith prepares a sign by the cash register every day.The store tries to have the best selection of fishing equipment around. Lures, fishing poles and other equipment fill several walls.The store has to get permission from Walmart's management in Bentonville, Ark., to carry locally-made goods, but it has a large section of perch spreaders (a particular device for nabbing yellow perch) and other fishing goods from the Crooked Eye in Marblehead.The folks in Bentonville have given permission for other variations to the chain's formula. The Port Clinton Walmart is the only store in the chain that carries boat paint, Wadsworth said. And it also has other supplies a boater might need, too.It's also one of the few Walmarts that sell kayaks. (Sandusky's store is one of the other ones). On a recent weekend, it sold ten kayaks on Friday and six on Sunday.The variety of fishing and marine goods, along with Walmart's more traditional offerings, combines nicely to boost store sales, Wadsworth said. A customer stocking up for a fishing trip on Lake Erie doesn't have to buy bait and fishing equipment at one location, and beer and water bottles at another. At Walmart, it's a one-stop shop, she said.Prime sales season for fishing gear is from April to October, Wadsworth said."If we have a good winter, we do really well, too," she said, explaining that sales associated with ice fishing were large two winters ago, although the store has been hurt by two mild winters since then.And although many customers are from out of state, the store has a strong local following."We have a lot of return customers who are in this area," Smith said.Charter boat captains know the store is well-stocked and recommend it to customers, the employees said.Smith and Krueger are avid fishermen. They trade tips with each other and can make recommendations on purchases to customers.Smith likes to fish for perch."I like bass fishing. If you know the spots, it's pretty good," Krueger said.Even in years in which Lake Erie has a large harmful algal bloom, Ottawa County seems to attract plenty of fishermen, they said. Many out of state anglers don't seem to know about the blooms, Krueger said.Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.Kevin Smith, Tammie Wadsworth and Grayson Krueger stand together in the sporting goods department at the Walmart in Port Clinton on Wednesday, July 26, 2017.At the Walmart in Port Clinton, employee Kevin Smith puts together the daily for customers looking to go on Lake Erie.The Walmart in Port Clinton is one of the stores that sells live bait.The Port Clinton location is the only Walmart store to stock boat paint.