Helping Folks Catch Fish Since a Good Ol' Boy Had a Dream
Gersty's Bait & Tackle was built on a simple idea — that fishing brings people together, and every kid deserves a chance to feel the tug on the line.
How It All Started
It started the way most good things do — with a dream, a little stubbornness, and a whole lot of love for the water. The man behind Gersty's grew up fishing the lakes and rivers of southern Illinois, spending summers with a cane pole and a bucket of nightcrawlers, learning patience and wonder from the fish that pulled back.
When the time came to do something with that passion, the answer was obvious. Open a shop. Stock it with the best live bait in Madison County. Sell licenses. Know every local honey hole. And most importantly — make it a place where families feel welcome, where kids can ask dumb questions without getting laughed at, and where the fishing community in Troy has a real home.
That dream became 121 W Clay St. That's Gersty's.
Our Mission
We believe fishing is one of the last great ways to get kids off screens and into the world. There's something that happens when a child feels their first bite — a spark that no video game can replicate. We exist to create those moments. For every family that walks through our door, we want to send them home with a story.
Community First
Troy is our home. We sponsor local tournaments, support youth programs, and show up for our neighbors.
Kids on the Water
Getting the next generation hooked on fishing — not screens — is at the heart of everything we do.
Honest Service
We'll tell you what bait is working, what isn't, and where the fish are biting. No upselling. Just good advice.
Family Welcome
Whether you're a seasoned angler or buying your first rod, you'll be treated like family from the moment you walk in.
Part of Something Bigger
Gersty's isn't just a bait shop — it's a gathering place. We host kids' fishing clinics, sponsor the annual Troy Youth Fishing Tournament, and run the First Fish Wall of Fame where every kid's first catch gets celebrated. We partner with local schools and scout troops to introduce fishing to the next generation. If it gets a kid outside and excited about nature, we're in.
Come Say Hello
We're right in the heart of Troy. Stop in, grab some bait, pick up your license, and stay a while. We love talking fishing.