The Grove Lake Bait Shop has been in business near Grove Lake for many years.

According to the "Royal Centenniel," Arthur and Agnes Erb had several people stop for worms on their way to Grove Lake. After this reoccurrence, the couple decided to dig worms out of their garden and build a bait shop on their farm in October 1968. They had other items to sell besides live and artificial bait. Refreshments, ice, food items, and fishing licenses were also offered.

In 1980, the couple moved to Orchard, Randy and Renee Erb kept the shop open during the summer. Randy married Mary (McCarty) Erb in September 1980, and they moved to the farm, where they still continue to run the bait shop year round.

"I started with the bait shop the day I graduated in '79. It was just a thing I grew up with. My grandpa owned it then my dad bought it. Then I started at the bait shop when we started raising hogs," Randy Erb remembered.

Throughout the years, Randy Erb continued to update and make additions to the building. He also does chainsaw wood carvings, and Mary, paints and stains the sculptures made by her husband.

The Grove Lake Bait Shop is open all the time, and the Erbs continue to run the business themselves.

They still offer premiere bait, ice, tackle, refreshments, T-shirts, in addition to other items. They even have a baby alligator to show the kids.

In addition to running the Grove Lake Bait Shop, the Erbs also offer places to camp near Grove Lake. They have 12 spots for campers and one cabin. There is electricity in all and a showerhouse is available.

"Covid year was swamped all the time. It is still that way because gas prices are high. People aren't going as far, so they come here," Randy Erb said.

With the high number of campers, Randy and Mary Erb book many spots a year ahead. The camping area receives about 50% of out-of-towners and 50 % are locals.

"The real local people can come fish and go back. People who are anywhere from Tilden, Norfolk, Newman Grove, Lincoln or Omaha area, they come up and camp and go home. But I do have locals who are just from Orchard. They come out and camp, go off check their pivots and come back and sit by the campfire," Randy Erb concluded.

While Arthur and Agnes Erb didn't mean to start a bait shop business, it has led the family to run a successful business for several years.