A History of DMF
In 1977, three Michigan schoolteachers – twin brothers Dan and Mike Beaudoin and lifelong friend Fred Fry, started DMF Bait Company. What started out as a hobby, selling worms to fellow fishermen, became a full-fledged business by 1979 as DMF began shipping bait beyond Michigan. During this time, Dan, Mike, and Fred hired their high school students to scour golf courses and fields for a steady supply of nightcrawlers. By 1980, a nationwide retailer began selling DMF worms in five states. Demand prompted DMF to begin buying worms from the fertile soils of Canada. Come 1984, healthy growth caused DMF to begin shipping product by mail to 49 states, guaranteeing live-delivery. By 1994, DMF Bait became the world’s largest wholesale bait dealer, and our founders retired from teaching.
1977
DMF started in Pontiac MI, with a building that had no windows, no water, and only one door
1980
Big break began selling to K-Mart, 30 stores, sold 650,000 thousand worms annually and moved to Keego Harbor, MI
1984
Successfully began shipping through the mail
1991
Moved to our current location in Waterford. Servicing over 1,800 stores
1997
DMF became automated to accommodate the growth of the business
2004
Sold One Billionth Worm!!! DMF was also named “Wal-Mart Vendor of the Year” in sporting goods
2010
First bait company to pack in an environmentally friendly cup
2017
DMF celebrates 40 Years in Business
Today
Today, we sell over 200 million worms a year, and also offer seasonal and specialty bait to 49 states. Dan, Mike and Fred are now retired. The 2nd generation of ownership, Dan, Mary and Chris, now handle all the business responsibilities. The 3rd generation is hard at work, preparing for the future. Mary’s oldest son, Nolan, spent several years in the warehouse before joining the management team.
Our Family
Here at DMF Bait Co, we firmly believe that the key to all our success has been our luck in luring talented individuals to be a part of our family. Over the years, we’ve managed to reel in more than our fair share of keepers.
Our Partners
Here at DMF Bait Co, we pride ourselves on our eco-conscious commitment to keep the sport of fishing sustainable for future generations. That means partnering with companies that care as much about responsible fishing as we do!
