The Background to GAC

The Glasgow Angling Centre story began in the famous Barrowland Market in Glasgow. The MD and owner Paul Devlin started with a small (just 5ft wide!) market stall in the Barras selling mostly second hand tackle but quickly progressed, due to demand, to a much larger market stall in the heart of the Barrowland building.

New Beginnings - GAC opens its first shop in Glasgow

Soon afterwards, the first fishing tackle shop opened in Cumbernauld, on the outskirts of Glasgow - PD Fishing Tackle and Guns. As the shop was quite small, every inch of space was taken up with as much choice as possible. It soon became the Mecca for anglers from all over the central belt of Scotland and beyond. The first shop was often described as an Aladdin's cave of fishing tackle and was regularly queued right out the door and into the street with customers! It was here Paul made his first foray into the mail order business, which was at that time dominated by large, established and well known companies, many of whom are still in business today. It was a great success and with just two full time staff there were many late nights spent in the shop wrapping parcels for the next days post!

Realising that there was a huge gap in the market for a larger shop that could offer an even bigger choice to the angler, Paul worked towards expanding the company and opened the first Glasgow Angling Centre store in the Gallowgate in Glasgow in 1996 - just a stones throw from where he had started in the Barras. With 6600 sq ft of retail space, 2500 sq ft of storage and lots more staff, the shop had the biggest choice in the UK. At first it seemed this would be big enough, but as anglers demanded more choice, GAC needed to expand even further. Mail order increasingly became a major part of the business and, once again, bigger premises were required.

The rise of our flagship store

In 2004 the current Glasgow Angling Centre store was opened, and with over 30,000 sq ft of space, it had the largest range of angling equipment in Europe and still has to this very day. Situated on the outskirts of the city centre area of Glasgow the business now employs over 90 full time staff with 50 full time staff between the Glasgow Angling Centre and Glasgow Field Sports, which is now located inside the GAC store.

The business is still growing, and who knows what is coming next!

Facilities at the Fishingmegastore

Just a short drive from Glasgow's M8 motorway, the megastore is literally brimming with game fishing tackle and accessories.

Park up in the free on-site car park - it holds more than 300 cars so you won't be stuck for a space.

Seating area with both a drinks and vending machine. There is also clean customer toilets in-store.

GAC is committed to making sure that the store is completely accessible to anyone with mobility problems.

Why not try out the rod you really want on our specially constructed casting pool.

GAC's commitment to customer service

Glasgow Angling Centre's aim has always been to be a one stop shop for all anglers offering a vast range of tackle, for every aspect of angling, not just specialising in one discipline like many of its competitors!

Our staff are committed to making sure that you get the best possible customer service and fishing tackle to suit your budget and requirements.

Our Staff are passionate about fishing, Glasgow Angling Centre, and our products.

Why not let one of our many highly experienced staff give you a more personal service in store. Whether you're a beginner or have been fishing for many years, let our instore experts offer their help, experience and knowledge to guide you through the 40,000 plus products on display at Glasgow Angling Centre. We have extremely experienced staff, anglers who can give you help and advice on all aspects of our sport.

If coming to the store is a problem, then why not order from our website or mail order department.

Our staff

What is so special about Glasgow Angling Centre is that the majority of staff, accross all departments, are vastly experienced and passionate fisherman! So in terms of helping and advising you, we have all the skills and resources needed to help you with any fishing discipline

In the last 12-months staff have stalked wild trout in highland streams, chased tarpon in Florida, heaved up huge halibut in Norway and battled carp in France

GAC have extremely experienced staff. We pride ouselves in having vast knowledge in all aspects of angling, and our enviable customer service levels. Customer Service is very important to all of us here at Glasgow Angling Centre so if you have any comments you feel may help to improve the service we give, please contact our General Manager

We also have 4 members of staff how have proudly represented Scotland internationally in both Fly Fishing and Coarse Fishing.

We are also proud that one of our staff was the winner of the Brown Bowl in 2009.

We have 5 fully qualified instructors and coaches, therefore if you need any advice, GAC always has someone with the necessary skills and experience to help.

Our Products/Ranges

Choose from a vast range of over 40,000 products instore from companies like Hardy/Greys, Svendsen Sport, Leeda, Daiwa, Loop, Sage, Guideline, Shakespeare, Abu, Penn and many, many more.

Departments instore include: Coarse fishing tackle, Sea fishing tackle, Game fishing tackle and Fly-tying. We also have one of the largest selections of fishing clothing in Europe!

We are constantly updating our range to include the latest products from the biggest suppliers in the Angling Trade

If you like your books and DVD's, our comprehensive range will give you all the information you are likely to need with regard to fishing in general, or fly-tying

The Glasgow Angling Centre megastore has a huge fly-tying department with a range of materials and accessories to suit your every need.

We have starter to advanced outfits for every type of fishing and a range of fishing tackle to suit every budget.

Clothing, camping, there is so much choice available in our fantastic store!!

Our vision for the future?

We are committed to providing the best possible service to all our customers.

We are also committed to constant and never ending improvement accross every department of our business, setting the standard and being not just the largest fishing tackle business in Europe, but also valuable resource to the fishing community in general!

To give anglers, at all levels of experience and ability the knowledge and resources to continually grow and improve and to become the best fisherman they can be

To also evolve and grow with new technology and to continue to be an amabassador for our wonderful sport.