Collection: Berkley
The Berkley story is deeply rooted in the idea of the American Dream. It is about humble beginnings and unexpected success. It's about hard work, struggle, and tough times. And it's about building partnerships to accomplish goals. Still, the story of Berkley is much more than the story of Berkley Bedell. It's also the story of dedicated co-workers and loyal customers, who were equally willing to take risks.
It all began in Spirit Lake, Iowa, in June of 1937, when 16-year old Berkley Bedell took $50.00 from his paper route earnings to start a business selling his hand-tied flies to fishing tackle shops and vacationing anglers. In his upstairs bedroom, with hair clipped from the family dog, Stubby, and feathers from the backyard chickens, young Berkley crafted flies to entice local bluegill and bass from their underwater cover. The Berkley Fly Co. was founded.
By the time Berk graduated from high school in 1939, he was employing several area girls who made flies, silkworm gut, and cable wire leaders in their homes. The business soon outgrew Berk's parent's basement and living room. He expanded to the second floor of the local grocery store, using a tub filled with ice and a fan for air conditioning.
After attending the state university and serving in the Army Air Corps, Berk returned to Spirit Lake in 1945 to start Berkley and Company. The business focus was on its cable wire leaders. One evening, while reading Popular Science, Berk learned about a Connecticut company that was producing nylon-covered cable for sailboat rigging. After visiting their plant, he began to work on nylon-coated wire for use in fishing leaders. Soon, the Steelon? leader was introduced and production began in Spirit Lake. Shortly after this, the distinctive Berkley heart logo was designed with the slogan "nylon leader with a heart of stainless steel."
Berk next became interested in extruding nylon monofilament fishing line. At that time, all nylon came from DuPont. After receiving a license from DuPont, Berk returned to Spirit Lake to begin work developing equipment to produce nylon. The initial extrusion equipment consisted of reclaimed washing machine wringers, bicycle wheels, and other homespun materials. Soon Berkley was marketing private brand mono as well as Dew Flex monofilament. Ongoing experimentation would soon yield the company's breakthrough innovation - Trilene.
In 1959, Berkley introduced Trilene at about the same time DuPont introduced Stren. To help introduce the new line, Berk sent out thousands of sample spools of line and asked store owners to have their best fisherman try it on a spinning reel. Fishermen loved the line and it began the successful launch of Berkley Trilene.
The next four decades were a time of great growth for the company. In the 1960's Berkley entered into the rod business, which lead to international expansion in the 1970's. Soft plastic baits made an appearance in the 1980's. The 1990's through today have seen significant technology improvements in all of the Berkley products. From the beginning, Berkley has committed significant resources to research and development - a continuing strategy that has resulted in countless product innovations, including Berkley Trilene, the Lightning Rod, PowerBait, FireLine, and more recently Gulp!? and Gulp! Alive.
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Berkley Trilene Big Game 1/4lb Spool, Assorted Line Sizes
Regular price From $10.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene Big Game 1/4lb Spool, Assorted Line Sizes
Regular price From $10.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene Big Game 1/4lb Spool, Assorted Line Sizes
Regular price From $10.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting Line Filler Spool
Regular price From $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting Line Filler Spool
Regular price From $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting Line Filler Spool
Regular price From $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
Regular price From $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
Regular price From $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
Regular price From $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley FireLine
Regular price From $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley FireLine
Regular price From $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley FireLine
Regular price From $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley Wire Leader Connector Sleeves Sz:3 Qty:33
Regular price $1.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Choppo 90
Regular price $12.49 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Choppo 90
Regular price $12.49 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Choppo 90
Regular price $12.49 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line/Leader Material
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Regular price From $0.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line/Leader Material
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Berkley Cherrywood Spinning Rod
Regular price From $0.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Cherrywood Spinning Rod
Regular price From $0.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Cherrywood Spinning Rod
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Berkley Trilene Micro Ice Line - CLEAR
Regular price $4.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene Micro Ice Line - CLEAR
Regular price $4.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Trilene Micro Ice Line - CLEAR
Regular price $4.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley Flicker Shad 5./16OZ Sz7 Pearl White
Regular price $5.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Trilene® Big Game™ Monofilament Line - Clear - 25 LB. 2380 YDS.
Regular price $39.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Berkley Powerbait Power Tube 3.5" 9 cm
Regular price $5.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Powerbait Power Tube 3.5" 9 cm
Regular price $5.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perBerkley Powerbait Power Tube 3.5" 9 cm
Regular price $5.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
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Berkley Digital Fish Scale 50#
Regular price $29.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
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Berkley Weigh Bag
Regular price $13.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Flicker Shad 5./16OZ Sz7 Chartreuse Pearl
Regular price $5.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Wire Leader Connector Sleeves Sz:5 Qty:15
Regular price $2.42 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Trilene® Big Game™ Monofilament Line - Clear - 30 LB. 1,760 YDS.
Regular price $51.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
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Berkley Choppo 105 Ghost Bluegill
Regular price $10.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Flicker Shad 1/3 OZ Sz7 Warrior Lures Custom Painted - Crazy Wonderbread
Regular price $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out -
Berkley Flicker Shad 1/3 OZ Sz7 Warrior Lures Custom Painted - Sweet Pea
Regular price $8.99 USDRegular priceUnit price / perSold out