Fishing has been Chelsea Zylstra’s passion since she could walk. She has now fulfilled her dream of owning her own tackle and bait store.
“As a kid, going into the bait shop was so fun and I always dreamed of having my own,” said Zylstra, the owner of OutCast Fishing and Convenience. “Both of my parents loved fishing and have now passed away so it’s also in memory of them. I want to be a family name and make sure the community knows they can rely on me. My vision is to be Muskoka’s go-to, one-stop bait and tackle shop.”
“It’s definitely a male-dominated industry,” said Zylstra. “A lot of people come in and expect an old man, not a young woman.”
Zylstra is still building her inventory and will have more available soon. OutCast’s current fishing offerings include a selection of fishing gear and tackle (rods, reels, hats, lures, hooks, line, knives, and sinkers) and live bait (leeches, dew worms, small, medium, and large chubs, large suckers, and shiners). She also plans to have a display of locally made products including jigs and soft plastics, and will add hunting gear—everything but guns—in the near future.
OutCast is also a convenience store and carries treats and snacks, drinks, firewood, propane, and lottery. Within the next month or so, expect to find fresh sandwiches, milk, bread, and eggs on her shelves, as much of it locally sourced as possible.
Running her own business was always Zylstra’s end goal.
“I come from the restaurant industry and I didn’t get a lot of family time,” she said. “My kids are growing up and I don’t want to miss it.”
Chelsea Zylstra, left, owner of OutCast Fishing and Convenience, aims to be Huntsville’s one-stop shop for fishing supplies (submitted photos)
While lockdown restrictions are ever-changing, as a convenience store, OutCast remains open.
Zylstra has implemented safety measures including a six-person in-store maximum, a disinfecting fog machine, personal temperature checks every day, and a plexiglass barrier around the checkout desk.
“Fishing remains to be an outdoor activity that anyone at any age can enjoy at any time,” she said. “It’s a safe, healthy, family pastime where you can enjoy outside.”
OutCast Fishing and Convenience is located at 18 John St. Its current hours of operation are Monday to Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For the season opener of pike and walleye (around May 24) the store will be open at 5:30 a.m. to ensure people can get in before sunrise, and the store will remain open later as well.
“I just really want to earn my spot in the heart of the community because I’m in it for the long haul,” said Zylstra. “I love doing this and never want to do anything else. I always want to be there for our fishing community.”
Follow OutCast on Instagram @outcastbait and on Facebook here, or contact the store at 705-784-9920 or [email protected].
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Hi Chelsea,
Conrats on opening up your dream….I truly admire your efforts, especially now, but no virus will curtail the zeal of fishers to get out and enjoy a wonderful fulfilling activity! We all need fresh air and your shop will help and encourage all ages to get out and enjoy Ontario and maybe have a prime cuisine as a reward. I wish you great success and will support you in any way by promoting you and referring people to you! Well done and best wishes! I will contact you later or may appear in person with notice of course……..karl
I congratulate this new business especially opening at this difficult Covid time.
And I think this media exposure is excellent and undoubtedly helpful.
However after reading so much recent dialogue from so many different sources about the necessity to continue to support all local businesses struggling through the restraints of this pandemic, perhaps it might be appropriate to offer Roger’s Bait and Tackle equal coverage and publicity. This man has operated in Huntsville many years and is a storehouse of fishing info. He operates an interesting bait and tackle shop packed with a great cross section of inventory.
Let’s be fair here and show support for an established business too. .
Best of luck young lady. Reminds of the days we made pocket money catching dew worms, crayfish and frogs to sell to Sy Payne and Tink Kendrick. The accent was on live bait then.
Now days you snag a line and you are out ten bucks. Should be a good spot you have there and the 5:30 opening is rather novel.
Again, wish you well.