A trip to the waterfront always brings with it unexpected discoveries and delights, even if those findings uncover certain goods and services that have been around for many years. Take, for example, Worms ‘n Things. Now, I’ve been cycling the waterfront for most of my life, and in that time I always knew that there was a fishing supply hut that was located at the Outer Harbor (near Dug’s Dive restaurant) but I until Friday I never paid the place a visit. Only recently, with the removal of some raised berms, is the hut visible from the bike path, which was the reason that I found myself face to face with the place.
It also helped that the front of the building (a garage door) was wide open, which looked pretty inviting. So I parked my bike and walked inside. What I found was a world of fishing supplies that ranged from hundreds of lures to bags of ice for the cooler. As I browsed the equipment, I couldn’t help but notice the wave of fishermen that walked in and out, picking up their supplies for their aquatic outings.
Being a voyeur on this particular day, and not a shopper, I was able to get a glimpse into the world of the bait supply shop – what people were fishing for, and what they were using to catch their prey.
As the line at the front counter dissipated, I couldn’t help but walk right up and peer into the bait containers that were teeming with all sorts of critters. As the crayfish were scampering about, and the chubs (minnows) were darting around in the tank next door, I found myself transfixed on yet another container… filled with… leeches!
The guy behind the counter was amused by my apparent grimace as I stared down at the slithering, slimy suckers. “They don’t hurt,” he said, as he picked up a handful and held them out to me, amused at my squeamish reaction and my pallid face. “They even stick to your hand, but all you have to do is wipe them away.”
That was enough for me. I thanked my host for the tantalizing experience, and left the fishermen to their own devices. While I will not be frequenting this place much in the future, it’s good to know that if any of my fishing buddies ever need anything (anything!), I can steer them in the right direction.
Worms ‘n Things | 1111 Fuhrmann Boulevard | Buffalo NY | 716-824-8239 | Open May 15 – October 1 | 6am to 8pm | 7 days a week