One of the very Michigan things about businesses in our state is their willingness to be innovative, expansive, and needs/opportunity-ready. It’s not unusual in our rural areas to find a restaurant that also sells live bait, medical supplies, hunting licenses and sells a neighbor’s dock displayed in front of the building. These are the places that always remind me of my summers on the lake in Northern Michigan. A recent visit to Double L Bait and Marine, 10588 Sprinkle Road in Vicksburg, delighted me with that very spirit.
The business is on two large parcels with storage buildings on the north parcel and the marina and bait shop on the south parcel. Visiting just a few days before the Labor Day weekend, the business was getting ready for the hectic winterizing and storage required by boaters for the long Michigan winter. Owner Clarence LaCombe says, “The busiest time for the marina is winterizing and storage in the fall and the readying and delivery back to the lakes in the spring.
“The bait shop stays busy year around, and if we have ice on the lakes, sales are better in the winter than in the summer.” The service department stays busy year around as well. Shrink-wrapping and winterizing dominate the fall months, repairs and remodels and upgrades keep the staff busy in the winter, and the spring starts the addictive boating season with all the repairs needed to keep the watercraft moving and floating.
LaCombe had a trucking business on the property prior, but in 2002 he started Double L Bait and Tackle. In 2006 he expanded to selling boats and changing the name to the current Double L Bait and Marine. Lacombe says, “If you sell‘em you have to be able to fix’em,” and the service department was added next. Winter storage is available indoors and out, but indoor storage fills more quickly.
The bait and tackle section is well stocked with lures, live bait, poles and reels. You can purchase your fishing license there and get important information about fishing regulations and requirements in the state. There’s also an assortment of boat parts and accessories to include some used parts like props and the motors themselves. Firewood is available; so are cold drinks. Their “Free Worms Yesterday,” sweatshirts and tees, a local favorite, are available in different sizes and colors along with a good selection of other items including hats. Their boat sales include new and used, and brokerage sales. Pre-orders for live Christmas trees are also taken and LaCombe heads north to cut the trees to deliver them fresh cut to his holiday customers.
LaCombe is truly a bit of a character. Currently his 1974 ski boat is on display in the marina showroom. He says it’s not for sale, but a hypothetical offer of $50,000 brought a very quick, “I’ll help you get it out,” response. He also showed me a custom-painted three-wheel motorcycle with a trunk that he uses when he retrieves parts for customer’s repairs. Double L currently serves as the dealer for new Yamaha motors and LaCombe hints at a new boat line coming on board in the future. Learn more at https://www.doublelbaitandmarine.com or follow it on Facebook.
