May 20, 2011

Dagwood Opens bait and tackle shop

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Rick Goines

The Daily Southerner — Those of us fortunate enough to see our eighth decade on God’s green earth will probably be looking for an easy chair and someone to wait on us. Not Dagwood! John Abrams, called Dagwood since he was a toddler, is 82 years young and has recently opened Dagwood’s Bait And Tackle at his home on Bogey Street, a block off North Carolina highway 33 near Tarboro: Make a right turn on Dowens, just past the Edgecombe-Martin EMC, then a right on Bogey. Dagwood’s is down on the left. Look for his yard signs.

Dagwood is well known in these parts as a very skilled carpenter. It’s like a Tarboro catch phrase to hear, “Dagwood built that…” It’s hard to drive around Edgecombe County, and not see some of his handiwork. This very talented man is also quite well known as an accomplished pool player.

Dagwood built a cricket box for his son, John N. Abrams, II, of Tarboro, who said, “Daddy, that’s too pretty to put in my garage.” The well-built cricket box got the bait shop idea going.   

Conveniently located near Etheridge Pond, Dagwood’s Bait And Tackle has everything you need for a successful pond outing. Minnows, crickets, worms, bait containers, hooks, bobbers, sinkers, cane poles, even Nabs & drinks. Dagwood offers reasonably priced bait to pond anglers, some of who are not fishing just for fun, but for food.

Customer service, the likes of which is unheard of in this day and time. I asked his open hours, and he said just toot the horn any hour day or night, and I will come out to help you. He even offers curb service, if you don’t want to get out of the car.

If you want to, pull up a chair, sit, talk, rest your face and hands; Dagwood’s is the place to do it. He loves to chat, and talk fishing. Enthusiasm pours out of this man. This is not a high profit venture for Dagwood, but I will guarantee you he didn’t get in this business for the money. You can tell right away that he flat-out enjoys what he is doing. Dagwood and his wife of 46 years, Frances H. Abrams, just love people, and it shows in everything they say and do.

I intend to support Dagwood Bait & Tackle, and I encourage you to do the same. This nice man deserves your business. Stop by and let some of that wonderful, contagious enthusiasm rub off on you.

Etheridge Pond is a great place for family fishing fun. Open 24/7 it is free, and always provides you plenty of fishing space, pier or bank. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has recently installed a floating fish feeder that feeds the fish 14 times a day.  In addition to that, the NCWRC stocks the 27-acre pond with bream, catfish, bass, and crappie April through October.

Etheridge Pond is officially part of the Robert Barnhill Public Fishing Areas. From US 64 near Tarboro, take Exit 487 and go south on N.C. 33. Go .2 mile and right on Dowens St. (SR 1624). Go to the first street and turn right on Bogey St. (SR 1625), follow Bogey St., go past bend in the road to left and road will proceed along bank of pond.

Looks like a good place to visit.  Grandpa Ben