ELLSWORTH — What started off as a 2-year-old’s enjoyment for digging up nightcrawlers has become a local stop for fishers to pick up bait, lures and jigs before they hit the water.

Easton Bundy, who Easton’s Crawlers is named after, has become the face of a family operation.

“We just started picking crawlers one night with [Easton’s] grandpa,” Brady Bundy, Easton’s father, said. “He just loves worms.”

Kaitlyn Bundy, Easton’s mother, said Easton would carry worms around and show off the ones he had collected. Kaitlyn’s father also sold nightcrawlers, so the family got the idea to carry on the legacy.

About a month ago, the family got the idea to turn these fun memories into something that could benefit fishers in the area. The operation started off simple; people could reach out via Facebook Messenger and go to pick up their nightcrawlers. This lasted about two weeks from the initial launch before a self-service shack was set up, and it is now open at all times.

“We just wanted a way for people to have access 24/7,” Kaitlyn said. “A lot of people that go fishing, they leave early in the morning and, you know, weird hours. So we just wanted something that was available for people at all times.”

The family makes some of the jigs and lures themselves, and the worms are collected by the family as well. Kaitlyn said the money made could make a difference in Easton’s life.

Easton’s Crawlers has become more than a way to save Easton a bit of money, as the family values the learning experiences Easton is getting, such as taking in small bits of information about business as well as picking up skills including counting.

“We change out the bedding and the worms and he loves to help us count them and put them back in,” Kaitlyn said.

Prices include $3 for one dozen nightcrawlers, $5 for two dozen and different pricings depending on other products. Payments can be made in cash or by Venmo. Brady said the family aims for reasonable prices because they are focusing on the fun they are having running the shop.

“We don’t want to make a ton, but we just want to be here and be an option for people,” Kaitlyn said.

One of the most exciting things for the family has been receiving pictures of catches from fishers who have used their nightcrawlers. The location of the self-service shack is N4286 U.S. HWY 63, Ellsworth, WI. 54011.

“We’re just hoping it takes off,” Brady said. “I think we’re in a good spot for it, being this close to the river.”

The Bundy family is not entirely sure where the operation is headed, but they are open to anything.

“We’re willing to grow with the community,” Brady said. “The more business we get, the bigger we’ll get. We’d love to keep something like this, but if we have to grow or get bigger or expand or whatever, we’d love to do that… if it becomes a full bait and tackle shop at some point that’d be fantastic, but if it fails it fails.”