Hook and Arrow not only carries fishing supplies and live bait but they also have an indoor archery and shooting range complete with six indoor lanes at 20 yards. They charge the lane usage at $6/hr and bow rentals at $10/hr. The archery range also features a chronograph to measure the speed of the arrow (feet per second) as well as velocities for any projectile including bullets, pellets, etc. The business hosts multiple winter leagues in their range that last 10 weeks long and a day-long Veterans shoot that is free for all active and retired veterans.
Being a locally owned fishing and shooting shop can be disadvantageous for Hook and Arrow, with big corporate competition such as Northern Tool, Bass Pro Shops, and even Dick Sporting Goods. And while every shop you get your gear at is great, an employee of Hook and Arrow thinks that buying locally from them is much more beneficial to your fishing and hunting game.
“We can fit the equipment to each customer, in big stores you can probably buy some equipment, but I can guarantee that their employees would not know anything about archery or fishing like we do, especially when it comes to outfitting a beginner," said the employee. "If you’re looking for a special item and we don’t have it, we can order it. Big stores use corporate ordering, not having a clue what people use in the specific region for hunting and fishing. They are not going to special-order one item for anyone."
“Our best feature would be the staff interaction. We can teach people how to fish or shoot a bow. Once I had a customer who didn’t know how to clean fish. I told him to go catch a dozen and I would show him how. He did. I showed him how and now he fishes all the time and his family enjoys fish fries. Word got out that I showed him, so all his buddies come by now, too,” the employee continued.
This local shop has supplies from many different brands like Hoyt Archery, Bass Pro, Bowtech, Strother, Parker, Octane and more.
For more information, call 260-739-6661, or visit Hook & Arrow at 7536 Winchester Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46819.
Insider tip: Scott and Kelley Ruse also own Pike’s Pub, across the driveway from the shop, and the specialties there are pizza subs and sausage rolls, and “a LOT” of wings, which are cooked in a smoker and seasoned with a dry rub.
This post was originally posted in October of 2012 and has been updated. Last Updated: June 2024
