Licenses help keep Virginia’s woods and waters healthy. Your fees support the Department of Wildlife Resources, which manages stocked streams, balanced wildlife populations, safe hunting seasons, and public access for future generations.

Yes, we do. You can mix and match items—local snacks, sauces, peanuts, or handmade goods—and we’ll wrap them up for you. Perfect for holidays, birthdays, or thank-you gifts.

Convenience and trust. We’re right here in Franklin VA — no long drives, no parking hassles. You can take care of errands and get your papers notarized all in one stop. Grab bait, groceries, or a snack while you’re at it. Simple and reliable, just like it should be.

All kinds! Farmers with muddy boots, young couples completing adoption papers, truckers getting documents signed before hitting the road. Every paper tells a story, and being part of that day-to-day life in Franklin is what we love about our service.

We keep a mix of bait that works for our local waters. Nightcrawlers, red worms, crickets, minnows, and sometimes wax worms when they’re in season. Folks heading for catfish usually go for the worms, while panfish and crappie lovers like the minnows or crickets. If you’re not sure what’s biting, just ask, we’ll point you in the right direction.

Right now, our gifts and local items are sold in-store only. This way, you can see everything fresh and choose exactly what you like.

Nope. Just stop by — we handle walk-ins every day.

The biggest trick is don’t cook it. Worms hate heat, so keep them in a cool shady spot, maybe a basement or garage fridge if you’ve got one. Minnows need air and clean water, so a small aerator or a bucket with fresh water swapped out now and then helps a lot. Crickets do better in a container that isn’t airtight, with a slice of potato or apple to keep them fed. Don’t leave anything sitting in a hot car, you’ll wake up to a mess, not bait. Folks around here sometimes joke that taking care of minnows is like babysitting, they just need a little attention.

Just walk in, tell us what you need, answer a few quick questions, and we’ll print your Virginia hunting or fishing license right away. No online forms, no waiting—plus you can chat with us about what’s biting on the Blackwater or when the next season opens.

Local bait is fresher and stocked often because people actually use it. When you buy from Nate’s, your money keeps the lights on, pays the kid scooping minnows after school, and supports a small-town shop where neighbors gather. You’re not just buying bait—you’re helping keep Franklin’s fishing spirit alive.

Yes. We’re an authorized spot for hunting and fishing licenses in Virginia. You don’t need to go downtown or figure out the online forms, we handle it right here in the store. Bring your ID, tell us what you’re after, and we’ll set you up so you can hit the water or woods the same day.

Nope. There are no trout waters in Franklin, so you’re all set without one.

A valid government-issued ID: driver’s license, passport, or state ID (must be current).

We carry the essentials you actually need for local rivers and ponds—hooks, bobbers, split shots, light rods for kids, and affordable beginner kits. You won’t wander through endless aisles here; everything is simple, practical, and ready to go fishing.

We sure do. Most local goods are delivered weekly, and seasonal items change throughout the year, so there’s always something new to find.

Usually less than ten minutes.

Plenty!

• First Fishing Trip: A granddad once bought crickets and small hooks for his grandson’s first fishing trip. A week later he came back grinning—three bluegill and a memory that stuck.

• Friday Reset: One of our regulars stops in every Friday for a scoop of minnows, rain or shine. He says an hour on the river clears his head better than anything else.

Mostly from small farms, kitchens, and family businesses across Virginia. We choose products made with care and quality, the same way we’d want them at our own tables.

A current photo ID is all you need, driver’s license, state ID, or passport. It has to be valid, not expired. Nate keeps the notary service simple. You show ID, sign your document, and he stamps it. That’s it.

No. Children under 16 can fish without a license.

If the pond is stocked by the owner, you don’t need a license. Public rivers and lakes, however, do require one.

We can’t notarize without it. No ID, no stamp. That’s the rule everywhere, not just here.

We open early most mornings, around 6 AM, and close in the evening, usually 7 or 8 PM. Hours can shift a little with the seasons or holidays. If you’re cutting it close, give us a call and we’ll let you know if the door’s still open.

Why not? It’s part of what makes Nate’s Bait & Market special. You can mix fishing essentials with local snacks for the perfect outdoorsman’s gift.

You’ll get friendly, local help and the right license the first time. Plus, your purchase supports a long-standing Franklin shop that keeps our outdoor community strong.

Yes! We offer mobile notary service. We can come to your home, office, nursing home, or even a coffee shop. As long as you have your document and valid ID, we’ll notarize it on the spot. A small travel fee applies, but it’s worth the convenience.

Yes. We’re not just bait and tackle. We keep milk, bread, hoop cheese, drinks, chips, candy, and a bunch of everyday groceries stocked. A lot of folks stop in for snacks on the way to the river, or grab supper items after a day hunting. It’s meant to save you a trip into town.

Our notary service is simple and fair. Most documents have a small per-signature fee. You’ll know the cost upfront — no hidden charges or surprises. Quick, honest, and local.

Each license sold funds restocking programs, land management, public access points, and trail maintenance—helping ensure healthy habitats and sustainable hunting and fishing for generations to come.

Sure do. Hooks, lines, sinkers, bobbers, small tackle kits, even rods and reels for folks who forgot theirs or need a new one. We try to keep the basics that actually get used, not a wall full of stuff you’ll never buy.

We take both. Cash always works fine, but we’ve got card readers too. Visa, MasterCard, debit, all good. Some of the old-timers stick to cash, but we know folks like the option.

Buying your license at Nate’s means real conversation and local knowledge — not just a receipt in your inbox. You can ask what’s biting on the Blackwater or when squirrel season starts. You’ll leave ready to go, license in hand and local advice in your pocket.

Nope. Families stop in for groceries, snacks, and cold drinks. Kids come in for candy. Hunters and fishermen might make up a big part of our customers, but plenty of folks just want a quick stop store without running to Walmart.

No gimmicks—just common sense. Treat your bait like living things and they’ll still be lively in the morning.

Worms: Keep them cool and damp, away from heat or direct sun. Store in a shaded spot or a cooler with the lid slightly open. Minnows: Change the water if it gets cloudy and make sure it stays fresh. Don’t overcrowd your bucket. Crickets: They hate heat, so don’t leave them in a hot car. Add a bit of cardboard inside the box so they can cling and breathe.

We keep a few basics, ammo in common calibers, hunting licenses, and sometimes seasonal gear. It’s not a full sporting goods store, but you’ll find the essentials that keep your hunt legal and on track.

Yes. We sell bagged ice, which comes in handy whether you’re stocking a cooler for a fishing trip or just grabbing some for the house.

No, we stick to groceries, soft drinks, and the fishing side of things. Franklin has other stores for beer runs, but we keep our focus here on bait, food, and gear.

Yes, we’ve got space out front that’ll fit pickups and small trailers. Folks hauling boats stop in often, and we make sure they’ve got room to pull in and out without a hassle.

Sometimes, yes. If you’re planning a big fishing weekend and need a certain amount of bait, let us know ahead of time. Same goes if you’ve got a grocery item you’d like us to keep in stock, we’ll do our best if we can.

Dogs on a leash usually aren’t a problem, especially if you’re just running in quickly. Nate’s got a soft spot for hunting dogs, though he might joke about them eyeing the bait tanks.

Yes, we’ve got simple store gift cards. Handy for birthdays or holidays when you don’t know what to buy as a fisherman or hunter.

The market covers a little of everything, bait, tackle, groceries, licenses, notary, and more. If your question isn’t listed here, just call the shop or stop by. Around here, talking face to face usually works better than scrolling through a website anyway.