To find all things fishing and boating in Chisago Lakes, look no further than Frankie’s Live Bait & Marine. For nearly 60 years, Frankie’s has been the region’s go-to shop for live bait, fishing equipment, boat sales and repair. This family-owned and operated business started as a humble hardware and bait shop and has grown into a leading destination for bait, supplies, and premium boats.
Family Legacy
The businesses on the northeast corner of Old Towne Road and Hwy 8 in Chisago City have been owned by members of the Dusenka family since 1959. Today, Frankie Dusenka is the third generation running a business there. He started working at Chisago Hardware as a kid after his grandfather bought it in 1959. At that time the hardware store also sold live bait, and Frankie was most drawn to that side of the business.
“I never went to school on Fridays as a kid. My grandpa would pick me up from my house in the cities on Thursday evening and bring me home on Sunday. I remember that Sundays were always busy, taking customers out fishing.”
Frankie’s dad took over the business in 1965 after Frankie’s grandfather passed away. As time passed, Frankie and his brother wanted to focus more on the bait and marine business. Frankie opened Frankie’s Live Bait & Marine in 1968 in a space next to the family hardware store. By 1974, they were solely-focused on selling bait and tackle, and started buying boats wholesale to sell to customers and other retailers.
“I met some neat people over the water back then – Dick Clark, Bud Grant, Walter Cheryl the astronaut, Whitey Herzog, Billy Martin. Pretty much any baseball player you can think of from those days, we took out.”
Even today, Chisago Hardware is a family business; Frankie’s sister and husband are the owners.
Shopping at Frankie’s
When you walk into Frankie’s you’ll find a giant selection of tackle, rods, bait, fishing supplies, ATVs, boats and fishing kayaks. As Frankie says, “We’ve got everything from the live bait to the boat.” They are even the largest dealership of Ranger brand boats in the world!
Frankie’s is the only place in the Chisago Lakes area to purchase live bait. Customers can choose from eight different types of bait in live wells. The family raises and catches all their own bait on 80 acres of family-owned land in Chisago City.
Not only does Frankie’s carry a giant selection of fishing equipment and live bait, they also have a service department that offers repairs, maintenance, and storage. The 30,000 sq. ft. store is open almost every day of the year from 7am – 7pm. They’re typically only closed on Easter and Christmas Day. Frankie’s Live Bait & Marine really is a one-stop shop for all things fishing and boating!
Looking to the Future
The family business is now owned by a fourth-generation. As of January 1, 2024, Frankie and his wife Debbie turned the reins of the business over to their two sons. The legacy of working at Frankie’s will probably make it to its fifth generation; their 18-year-old grandson will be starting college this fall, and plans to come work at Frankie’s after graduation.
Now that Frankie is retired he says he’s excited to do more fishing, after 55 years of running and expanding the business. However, he still goes to the store every day. “My favorite thing about the business is the people.”
The corner businesses in Chisago City have seen many changes since 1959. One thing that remains constant is the Dusenka family’s dedication to its customers (and fishing!).
“I wouldn’t trade a day of it. I got to spend the last 55 years with my family.” – Frankie Dusenka
