Family tradition
keeps growing on
Neely Henry
Story by Jackie Walburn
Submitted photos
At the family-owned and operated Buck’s Island Pontoon and Bass Boat Warehouse, new for 2020 are the Bentley Pontoon line, the Caymas Bass Boat line, plus three new Skeeter fishing boat offerings and expanding selections – including kayaks and accessories – at The Loft at Buck’s Island, the pro-level tackle store.
Located in Southside on Neely Henry Lake, Buck’s Island is a full-service, new and used boat dealership that specializes in pontoon boats, bass boats and aluminum fishing boats. In business on the Coosa River lake in Etowah County since 1948, Buck’s Island also sells new and used outboard motors and has 18 dedicated service bays providing maintenance, service and repairs on all types of boats. Buck’s also welcomes trade-in boats and offers used boats of all varieties.
An on-site, pro-level tackle store called The Loft carries full lines of reels, tackle and clothing and accessories. Online ordering is available at shopbucksisland.com.
Founded by Buck Lumpkin 52 years ago, Buck’s Island remains in the family, says co-owner Mary Lumpkin, who operates Buck’s Island with husband Tony, Buck’s son. “And we are proud to say that our daughters and son-in-law are going to carry on the business, as the third generation.” Daughter Angela and husband Israel and daughter Katie are already working at the business founded by their grandfather,
The Loft at Buck’s Island, opened in fall of 2018, is geared to professional tournament anglers with a professional buyer helping to stock the tackle store that sees customers from throughout the state, Mrs. Lumpkin says. With a huge selection of tackle, reels and lures, The Loft also carries clothing and hats from all the brands they sell, plus sunglasses and clothing from Costa and Calcutta Outdoors.
Added to The Loft’s offerings in late 2019 were kayaks, the fastest-growing market in boating. The Loft carries Jackson Kayaks, a brand founded by Olympic kayaker Eric Jackson and made in Tennessee, and YakAttack, USA-made fishing gear and accessories for kayaks.
Brand name boats offered at Buck’s Island include Bentley and Crest Pontoon boats, Caymas Bass Boats, G-3 Boats, Polar Kraft fishing boats, Stingray bowrider boats, Falcon Bass Boats, and Suncatcher Pontoon boats by G-3, a Yamaha marine group company. Buck’s also specializes in Yamaha and Mercury outboard motors.
Of the new lines and models for 2020, the Bentley Pontoon “is a lot of pontoon for the money,” Mrs. Lumpkin says. “We’re happy with the line and how it looks, the quality and the pricing.” The same goes for the Caymas Bass Boat line that’s new to Buck’s Island this year.
She says the new tri-toon standard for pontoon boats, with three pontoons and up to 300 hp motors that allow for pulling skiers or tubers, are becoming the preferred family and friends boating option for Buck’s customers. But runabouts, like the Stingray bowrider boats, remain popular. Fiberglass bass boats generally outsell aluminum fishing boats at Buck’s, depending on how customers like to fish, with the new fishing kayaks now in the mix for fishing the Coosa River and its lakes.
Check them out online at bucksisland.com
