The window at Fuller's Tackle Shop was a tourist destination with hundreds of people checking out the catch of the day and hoping to learn where it was caught. Until it closed, Jerry Fuller operated the Tackle Shop on Main Avenue following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

Frank Fuller and his son Earl owned a hardware store in Park Rapids in the early twentieth century. As tourism increased, the Fullers began selling more and more fishing gear to tourists eager to try their luck. In 1915, Fuller's began what would be the most successful promotion in their history - one that would put Park Rapids on a national stage.

The Fuller's fishing contest, and the Golden Books they produced and distributed across the nation, made Park Rapids a destination for competitive anglers. At the peak of its popularity, Fuller's received 4,000 contest entries and printed 40,000 copies of the book.

During the season, fish caught at local lakes and rivers could be brought to Fuller's for official measurement and entrance in the contest. Contest results, published in the year's Golden Book, were distributed to entrants in late winter. It noted sizes, quantities of fish, and fishing locations, allowing tourists to plan their trips to maximize their sporting potential.

The Fullers maintained a tackle shop on Main Street in this building. The store drew crowds of visitors who came to peer at the fresh entries in the fishing competition displayed, on ice, in the store's front window. Fuller's also distributed free area maps and provided a key marketing opportunity for area resorts.

Between 1969 and 1979, the store even boasted a large bass sculpture on the roof. The store closed in 1984 and the contest ended two years later. By then, Fuller's had left its mark on Park Rapids and on the sport of fishing.

112 Main Avenue South
Park Rapids, MN 56470

Open Site Location on Google Maps
46.9217328588398, -95.059550727264