Growing up 40 years ago in a suburban area in North America, it was unlikely for the young angler to have much exposure to fly fishing gear at the local tackle shop. Stores that specialized in this type of gear – Fly Fishing Shops – were quite rare in most places.
Fly Fishing Shops Used To Be Snobby
If you could find one, many people were turned off by the high prices and often what they perceived as a “snobby” attitude towards those who wanted to learn but had no clue about angling with a fly.
If a youngster or adult angling enthusiast lived close enough to a tackle shop that did carry fly fishing and fly tying gear, there was a good chance that the person running the store as well as the staff knew very little about fly fishing and could offer only poor advice.
The products might also have been of low quality and with the lack of knowledge of the staff, customers often were not equipped properly.
In the last 20 years though, an explosion of interest in fly fishing has meant that knowledgeable folk have created more and more businesses dedicated to this specialized form of angling. And it’s also true that many traditional bait and tackle businesses as well as big box stores have taken advantage of this market by adding fly fishing gear to their offerings.
Fly Fishing Shops In North America
In North America alone, there are now over 1500 fly shops (including those businesses that are dedicated to selling only fly angling gear as well as other fishing related stores that also have a fly fishing section). It’s pretty tough to not be in a location within an easy drive of a place where the beginner or experienced
angler can purchase rods, reels, lines, leaders, flies and even fly tying material.
With the explosion in interest in this sport over the past two decades, the quality of service to beginners and those who want to improve their skills has also increased. Today, there are many decent instructors who can have you casting a fly rod proficiently in hours. Most fly shops now do not have the “snobby” attitude that seemed to permeate the niche thirty and forty years. In fact, most fly fishing shops today are more than willing to help out novices and those who have never tried the art of fly angling – it’s become a hefty segment of the angling industry and those businesses have recognized that happy, satisfied customers are repeat customers.
Even many traditional bait and tackle stores have recognized this growing market and have incorporated fly fishing sections into their stores. Some owners have gone so far as to hire pro staff that are there to help advise customers who are interested in learning about fly fishing and have no clue what gear to buy to get started. Many of the local bricks and mortar businesses will also regularly have fly tying demonstrations or fly casting clinics to help those who want it, to improve their skills and become better anglers.
Fly Fishing Shops Cater To Everyone Now
Although traditionally a male adult market, more and more women and children are also getting involved and are taking an interest in this sport. Children love crafty types of things, and learning to tie up simple flies and then moving to more intermediate and advanced levels of patterns helps to get children interested in using their creations to catch fish. Many manufacturers in the
industry have recognized this and are now producing equipment and gear that are suitable for both children and women.
Today at your local fly fishing shop, you can find fly rods that are suitable for children that cast very well. Women can find wading gear and clothing that fit them instead of having the discomfort of wearing gear that was designed with the male physique in mind.
Another advantage that beginners and anglers who are interested in fly fishing have today since the explosion of interest in the sport is the fact that the expense of starting out has been decreased dramatically. Although high end gear such as rods, reels and waders can be still very expensive, good quality gear can be had at far more reasonable prices. Most fly shop owners realize that it is not in their best interests to oversell a beginner, but at the same time the experience of learning to fly fish will be much better with gear that works even if not expensive. Today, there are fly rods and reels that are aimed at the beginner, sometimes coming in packages that include a reel balanced well with the rod and fly line that may not be premium, but will do the job nicely at getting the fly out to where the fish are.
Fly Fishing Shops – Bricks & Mortar Best For Beginners
Of course, it is possible to purchase equipment and gear now through online Internet shops. However, the beginner or novice should seriously consider the major advantages of visiting a local bricks and mortar fly shop or combination bait and tackle store/fly shop (as long as the staff have experience in fly fishing) in order to get the most benefit from their purchase. Fly fishing is different than using bait casting or spinning gear and watching a demonstration of how some knots are tied, or how a leader is best attached to the fly line, and how tippet is then added to the leader is often best learned in person. Most fly fishing shop dealers want you to have a great experience and are more than willing to demonstrate such skills to you and help you learn them.
If you’re planning on fly fishing locally, another advantage of the bricks and mortar store is the local knowledge they can give you. They will likely sell flies (which you’ll want to have several different types of until you learn how to tie your own) that they know are effective in the local area – and the faster you’ll know that exciting experiencing of that first fish on the fly rod!
Your local fly fishing shop will likely know who the best instructors are locally as well, if you don’t have a friend who is proficient in fly casting. Lessons are not always cheap, but often you can get group lessons that are not expensive through the shop. For the beginner, casting lessons are highly recommended.
If you have an interest in fly fishing, be sure to look for a local fly shop near you!
