Chris Odom moved to Middle Tennessee before it became the trendy thing to do. As a recent college grad, he found work as an IT specialist and, in his spare time, found ample opportunity to indulge in his favorite pastime: fishing the area’s waterways.
That changed in 2017 when corporate downsizing compelled him to turn his passion into his occupation. By 2020, what started as an online source for fishing gear became a brick-and-mortar store: Harpeth River Outfitters at 580 Highway 70 in Pegram.
That’s where you’ll find Odom, a Kingston Springs resident, Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We stopped by recently to learn more about the store and the best way to go fishing on the Harpeth.
BCLS: First of all, how did you become involved in fishing?
Odom: I grew up fishing Lake Hartwell (in upstate South Carolina) with my family, but it wasn’t until my wife’s grandfather’s introduced me to trout fishing in the mountains of Walhalla, South Carolina that I really fell in love with river fishing. I guess you could say that from that point on I was hooked on rivers. My opportunities to fish are few these days as I am here six days a week, but I still try to get out when I can.
For the novice or inexperienced fisher, what gear should they purchase in order to have a good experience the first time they go out?
When choosing fishing equipment, I recommend considering what matters most to you: your budget, how often you’ll be fishing throughout the year, and your current skill level. For beginners or occasional anglers, a simple spincast setup with a handful of lures costs about $50 and will get you out on the water. While you can certainly invest more, around $200 will provide you with quality gear that’s reliable and will serve you well for many seasons to come.
When is the best time to fish during the summer months and what type of fish can one expect to catch in the Harpeth River?
I would say the best time to fish during the summer would be whenever you have a chance to go, but early morning and late evening are prime time to be on the water. The Harpeth has lots of different species of fish, but primally I focus on smallmouth bass.
What is the advantage of shopping at Harpeth River Outfitters over one of the big-box retailers?
I talk with everyone that comes in the shop and I always find out if they are (looking for) anything special. Depending on the time of year, and if I’m asked, I’ll offer suggestions on which baits to use.
There are over 50,000 products in the store, including swimbaits and an extensive selection of baits not found in most big-box stores. We have baits for more than just the Harpeth River. A lot of my customers fish Kentucky Lake, Percy Priest, Old Hickory, Dale Hollow and many other lakes throughout Tennessee.
I cater a lot to tournament anglers as well as those who don’t compete, but who fish a lot and know what they’re doing. I hear from a lot of customers that I have a better selection of lures, lures that people actually want to fish with, including several Japanese brands. Those manufacturers have a reputation for producing high quality and innovative products.
It’s not easy to keep up with everything new that enters the market. A lot of times my customers will mention a new brand or product that’s released. And because I trust their judgement, I’ll start carrying that particular item.
What are some of the top brands available at Harpeth River Outfitters?
Baits - 6th Sense, Strike King, Rapala, Megabass, Jackall, Deps, Berkley, Nikko, Keitech, Ima, Z-Man, Baitsanity, Hog Farmer; Rods – Lew’s, Shimano, Daiwa, Phenix, Dobyns, 6th Sense, Abu Garcia, Duckett; Reels – Lew’s, Shimano, Daiwa, Abu Garcia
What does a great day at work look like?
Every day is a great day for me. I get to talk with people about fishing and swap stories about the ones that got away.
For beginners or occasional anglers, a simple spincast setup with a handful of lures costs about $50 and will get you out on the water.
It’s not easy to keep up with everything new that enters the market. A lot of times my customers will mention a new brand or product that’s released. And because I trust their judgement, I’ll start carrying that particular item.