With their drive and passion for fishing and community, Woodland residents Robert and Jen Day are putting the “unlimited” into a new venture, Anglers Unlimited in downtown Woodland.
The Days bought the former Angler’s West after an opportunity arose on Christmas Eve and are bringing many new ideas to their business.
With Robert Day’s addiction to fishing and Jen Day’s expertise in retail, they are striving to create a fisherman’s one-stop-shop in Woodland and, eventually, beyond.
Along with improving the stock of fishing supplies at the longtime store, the Days want to offer food, coffee and even tobacco products to the angler’s shopping paradise. Jen Day said they hope the food offerings will be available come November. It will offer doughnuts, espressos, biscuits and gravy: “What a fisherman wants in the morning time,” Robert Day said.
With close proximity to Woodland’s Horseshoe Lake Park, Robert Day said they plan to offer kayak rentals along with other summer activities, as well.
He believes what differentiates their store from others is an opening time that catches anglers on their way to fish. Anglers Unlimited opens its doors at 4 a.m., seven days a week.
The Days do not intend to stop with just one Anglers Unlimited location and would like to open multiple locations spread out 30 to 40 miles from each other. Still, Robert Day said he strives to keep the mom-and-pop store feel alive at each spot. They said the fishing store world needs knowledgeable customer service, and Robert Day said each location will pack their employee roster with experienced fishermen and women. Currently, an Anglers Unlimited location in Rainier, Oregon, is in the works, with a deli in Castle Rock set to open soon, as well. Robert Day said a location in eastern Clark County could be possible in the near future.
“My vision by this time next year is I would love to have five stores open throughout the states of Washington and Oregon,” Robert Day said.
When starting their Angler’s Unlimited journey, some people initially discouraged the Days from starting at 4 a.m., but that is when the store has been busiest as fishermen head out to start their angling ventures.
“A tackle shop should be open early,” Robert Day said. “I mean, you have guys launching at 5 a.m. They need ice, they need cigarettes, they need tobacco.”
He said being open on Sundays and holidays has also been a popular decision.
“Guys that have the day off, they want to go fishing,” Robert Day said. “All these other stores are closed on national holidays, not this store because that’s when I used to go fishing the most. Like, ‘hey, I got a day off, I’m going fishing. So let’s hit the tackle shop,’ you know.”
The Days said the community support by the fishing community of Woodland and beyond has been great.
For Robert Day, the store is important in another way. He is now coming up on 21 years clean from drugs and six years sober from alcohol, he said. Robert Day said he is working on promoting the love for fishing to individuals who are struggling with an addiction or mental health problems.
“I’m big with sobriety. I love it man. It’s one of the best blessings I’ve done,” Robert Day said. “If I was still doing drugs and alcohol, I probably wouldn’t have this place, you know, because my money was going elsewhere.”
He explained fishing is a big help with addiction struggles in many ways including the sound of water providing therapeutic treatment by reducing stress levels, blood pressure and encouraging a sense of calmness.
“If [people are] spending their money on tackle boxes and stuff like that, they’re not buying drugs,” Robert Day said. “If you show people other outlets of ways of getting their depression out and their addiction out, it’s a good way because you’re benefited with food. You’re not getting out chasing a bag. You’re not out chasing the beer bottle or anything else.”
Along with a passion to bring fishing to those struggling, the store hosts monthly raffles benefiting nonprofits in the region. The Days said they have brainstormed many other ways to assist community members in need, local students, veterans and others and plan to implement those ideas in the near future.
Anglers Unlimited is located at 143 Davidson Ave. in Woodland. For more information, visit its website at anglerswestunlimted.com, or call 360-747-1093.
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