Turnover in Madison's retail fishing and bait scene

After 31 years of faithfully serving the Madison fishing community, Gene and Sandy Dellinger, owners of D & S Bait and Tackle on Northport Drive, have retired. No need to worry — the shop will not be closing its doors. Instead, they have found a buyer who plans to keep their legacy of providing quality bait, tackle and local fishing knowledge to Madison anglers for years to come.

Patrick and Ashley Hasburgh became the new owners of D & S March 1. Pat has been an avid angler his entire life and has been active in several conservation and civic initiatives since moving to Madison 23 years ago. Ashley will continue her career of 17 years as a nurse practitioner at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Madison but will manage the books. Pat will be the person behind the counter most days.

The couple have deep ties to the north side and Madison as a whole and will continue D & S’s longstanding tradition of supporting local conservation groups and charities.

First opened in 1981 by Debbie and Steve Pappas, D & S quickly gained a reputation as a reliable source for fishing supplies on Madison’s north side. The Pappas’ ran the store for 10 years before selling the business to the Dellingers in 1991. While they didn’t change the name, D & S expanded its offerings and has remained a staple for fisher folk the entire time.

D & S has been a major supporter of local conservation organizations and fishing clubs. Perhaps most notable is the shop’s annual support of the Yahara Fishing Club’s Free Kids Fishing events. Every June and January, several hundred rods and reels are given to local youth attending the events where they receive basic instruction from club volunteers.

So, while the shoes to be filled are big, the Hasburghs are excited and honored to carry on the incredible legacy that Gene and Sandy Dellinger fostered for so many years.