This 1986 Rose's Grand Opening Sale ad was commonplace back through the 1990s. It featured a tackle store grand opening that featured pro Larry Nixon, and a bunch of great gear, all on sale. With the internet and the big box stores, you don't see this often at all anymore.

With most anglers buying their equipment online these days, the local tackle store is becoming more and more difficult to find.  Because of this, gone are the days of Grand Opening Sales, where a new mom-and-pop shop would hire a few pros to make an appearance and have a sale, bringing their business into the community. 

Today’s Friday Finale historical photo is an ad which dates to 1986 featuring both a famous tour angler, as well as some great tackle of the day.  There’s just so much goodness to share.

Starting at the top left is “The General,” the great Larry Nixon who was making an appearance at the new Rose’s store opening in South Carolina.  This was about a decade into Larry’s career with BASS, and as mentioned, he had already won a Classic along with a pair of AOYs.  He had also established himself as one of the best worm fishermen on tour.

In the tackle section of the ad, most all the items shown had just been introduced within the past year or two, and so were all relatively new to the market.  Under Larry is a small selection of Team Daiwa rods.  One of the more iconic ad campaigns in the business, they listed models available from Larry (wormin’/jiggin’), Bill Dance (spinnerbait), and Linda England/Fredda Lee (skippin’/pitchin’).  Other models were introduced featuring Rick Clunn, Denny Brauer, Guido Hibdon and Zell Rowland, and their pro staff included George Cochran and Jay Yelas.

Then you have Bill Dance and Fish Formula.  The old Fish Formula was super popular at the time, started by David Bethshears.  In the ad, if you buy a bottle, you will “receive absolutely free, Bill Dance’s secret dream lure – the incredible DANC’N EEL.”  Who didn’t own one or both items at some point in their angling background?

Right below that, if you want to see how far we’ve come in the electronics world given all the forward-facing sonar controversy, just take a look at the new Humminbird LCR2000.  With resolution more closely mimicking a game of space invaders, this was the very beginning of the transition from flashers and paper graphs to the more modern electronics we now take for granted.

Some other items of note include the newest Daiwa Pro Caster models, one of the early “low profile” reels featuring the Magforce anti-backlash control system – still, arguably, one of the greatest reel innovations to date.

You also have Strike King willow-leaf spinnerbaits.  Though the willow-leaf design had been out for about a decade, look how standard that blade design has become compared to the old days when Colorado blades ruled the earth.

And the venerable Rapala Shad Rap for just $3.88 (reg. $5.47), another of the lures that would make most anybody’s Top 10 “best ever” list.

What a great time to be a bass angler in those days, and a fun look back at what were some of the ‘hottest,’ and most innovative, products at the time.