The chain has over 250 locations in 24 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The first store opened in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan in 1937 as Dunham's Bait & Tackle.

[1] It was operated by Ron Dunham on Northwestern Highway west of Telegraph Road.

The original store gained exposure through advertisements in Newsweek and fishing shows hosted on radio.

[3] Robert L Schmalzried bought the store in 1953 and relocated it to the corner of Northwestern Highway and Orchard Lake Road.