Pierce-Weippe Chamber Member Profile series
Black Dog Tackle
By Leslie Potratz
The Pierce-Weippe Chamber Member Profile series begins with Black Dog Tackle.
Owned by Joe and Charlene Douglas, Black Dog Tackle specializes in
custom-crafted fishing rods.
Joe builds bamboo, graphite and fiberglass fly rods, Spey rods, casting rods and spinning rods. Each rod is handsomely crafted by hand. A customer may order a rod in their favorite color, or other individual specifications. His customers are from the United States, Indonesia, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Dubai, and Singapore. Black Dog Tackle also has an extensive online catalog of rod building supplies with approximately 1500 components.
Joe and his wife Charlene, a marketing director for a Canadian education company, lived in Asotin from 1990 to 1998, then moved to Milwaukee, Wisc., when Joe accepted a job with the University of Wisconsin as Chief Information Officer. Four years ago, he and Charlene decided that the Northwest was to be his early retirement destination, and they now live near Rudo Rd. with their two dogs, three cats and 1 bird.
Joe is a member of the Economic Development Council, and when asked about the future of this area, he believes it is ripe for refocus on recreation and related new business recruitment.
Black Dog Tackle restores and repairs rods, and Joe conducts private and group rod-building classes. Joe promotes Rod Builders International, which is open to professional and amateur rod builders. Black Dog Tackle can be reached at by phone at 208 476-5708, e-mail joe@blackdogtackle.com or visit www.blackdogtackle.com.
Pictured: Black Dog Tackle owner Joe Douglas.