Fly Fishing

gaudet012

I know many of us have thought what we would do differently at our local shop and dreamed of paying the bill by sitting behind the counter of our very own fly shop. I was wondering what you guys think makes for a good fly shop. What things make you remember a certain shop or make you keep going back to a particular on. I know that I enjoy a free cup of coffee and some solid information. Just curious what you guys think.

kory_k · Location: New York, NY

Great topic and I am sure a lot of the guys on here will offer some great viewpoints as there are people from both sides of the equation, from the perspective of being a customer or working in the shop (many times both).
For me from both sides, the single most important factor is staff that is passionate and knowledgeable. Passion being far more important than knowledge. The people are what make any small business what it is and this is more true in the fly shop world than anywhere else. These guys work in a fly shop (or own it) because they love to fish and want to be surrounded by fishing and will work for low pay and sacrifice just to be completely immersed in the world of fly fishing. They are the heart and soul of any fly shop and what I think is the most important factor. There are many other factors and I am curious to see what other people say.

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Free Coffee

(just kidding .. actually, not really) - I will add more in a bit. But honestly, free coffee goes a long way - as dumb as it may seem.

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Ok - I couldn't just leave it at "Free Coffee" although I'm serious - That mattes to me. Here is what I like

1. An environment that I CAN hang out it. Sit, read - drink my coffee (free) ... take my time buying stuff .. Sometimes i like to go to a fly shop for THE EXPERIENCE. I always buy -- but I tie that into an experience. For example llbean is right up the road from me. Now, I realize that every fly shop does not do 1.2 BILLION in sales per year so the average fly shop can't stay open 24/7/365. Anyway my point is .. I like to sometimes go up there .. like .. let's say .. NOW (11:08pm) .. I can spend 3 hours there if I want ... looking at books, newest packs, joking with my friends who work there, check out the brook trout ponds and tanks, watch videos, etc...

2. So, sometimes I go into small fly shops and it seems they are too busy all the time .. and in a rush to get me out of there -- where as, I wish they would set up a couch or something where I could take a nap and chill out and read or whatever. I like to view a fly fishing shop as not just a place where i run in and purchase something and run out (although many times that what i do) .. but it is a hang out joint - a place to find refuge (other than on the water) ..and a place to connect with people IF i want to -- or just sit there and read a book or whatever and not socialize.

3. Above all else - APPRECIATION for my business. And, that's the one thing that LLBEAN doesn't have (really) where the smaller fly shop CAN have an advantage .. LLBEAN is a monster .. i have had many friends that i have made relationships with up there and who appreciated my business and would wind my line on or give me free backing or whatever when i bought a reel and line or whatever .. but, llbean is so big and the turnover of people is big .. so, i build relationships for a couple years .. but then innevitably -- i go to the fly shop one time .. and there is a new guy there .. that doesn't have a clue who i am or my history there and i gotta start all over again ... So, aligning myself with a fly shop that KNOWS me and appreciates the TOTALITY of the DOLLARS that i spend in the shop over the course of any 1 year is hugely important .. because that's how I view it .. I think, "Hmmm how much did i spend at XYZ shop this year?" I want to be sure its a nice number because I KNOW FULL WELL that shop doesn't want to invest in a customer thats gonna take a nap on their couch, drink free coffee, be a total PAIN IN THE A** asking all sorts of quesitons .. and in the course of 1 year buy 2 flies and a pair of nippers. That would be nonsense. So, I like a relationship where the money I spend is RECOGNIZED .. so that if I go in one month and buy a 700 rod .. I can feel GOOD about going in and having free coffee Very Happy

, chilling out and buying some tippet, a couple flies and the newest drake magazine or whatever .. without feeling as though I am being cheap and with the shop knowing the TOTALITY of my business that i give them.

gaudet012 · Posted: Fri 02/20/09 1:22 am Post subject:

hey guys, thats all good stuff, I have to agree that the feel of the shop is most important. I hate going into shops that may look down on me, and or just really not take me as seriously because I am a young 20 year old, who loves to fish. I love going into the small shops that have a t.v. and a couch, and a staff that just loves the sport and will shoot the breeze with you for hours. I like when I can go in a shop and ask a question about how to tie a certain fly and they offer to sit down with you and spin one up and show you. I don't know it just seems to me the shops that truly care about the sport and understand their clients are the one that I remember.

waterwhippa · Location: Upstate, NY

1. a staff who is not pretentious.
2. staff that is not pushy when it comes to moving product.
3. not being rushed.
4. alot of the shops around me are very clicky. if you are on the outside looking in, it can be frustrating. it took me years and years to gain credibility with the old timers. i'm all for paying my dues but people who are just starting out can be turned off in a hurry by this mentality. remember that the guy who is just starting out is going to need ALOT of gear. treat him with respect.

MarshallD · Location: Naples, Fl

I'll go one step better...Free Beer. That trumps free coffee IMHO. I'm an afternoon beer guy. At Tom's shop we have a fridge that's open to all, just fill her when she's dry.

Passion and creativity in all aspects of fly fishing

a full line of gear for begginner to world-travelling expert

A credo of honestly bringing along everyone in the sport, no matter their level of experience or skill.

The area's best talent for tying

The area's best talent for rod-building

The area's best talent for guiding

Accurate fishing information

Lessons in tying 2hr, for bench fee of $5

casting lessons available on site

chromefinder · Location: Southeast PA

I think the biggest thing lacking in most of the fly shops today is a DEMO rod program for try before buy evaluations.

I'm not talking about casting a new model in the back yard of the shop for 5 minuets while the shop staff pimps you on how good it makes you cast. I'm talking about a shop demo rod program that let's you actually fish the rods before you make your final purchase choice. Example, you decide your buying a new rod from shop X, you go in, throw down a deposit and then demo til you've narrowed down the rod for you. If you decide nothing fits then the shop can charge you rental fees or something along those lines. This works in the ski industry. There is just not enough fly shops doing it these days.

I too like the coffee, beer and couch ideas.

Heck, lets put lapdances on the wish list too while were at it.

lunchbox · Location: Utah

Employees who don't leave food crumbs all over the desk in the back office.

TroutBone · Location: Bavaria, Germany

Hospitality, laid back, easy going sales rep, and large enough to roam around in, I love to shop when it comes to my passion, and a corner where if they don`t have the exact type of flies you want, you could either tie one yourself or have one of the sales rep tie some for you. as well as a large post your trophy picture wall, also enjoying seeing other peoples catch in and around the local rivers and streams.

peterdk · Location: Denmark

A large variety of fly gear. And people who work there because they have a love for flyfishing....

kory_k · Location: New York, NY

Put all of this together and you do have the dream shop, free coffee, free beer, all the gear in the world, ability to try anything out anytime, lessons for next to nothing, passionate employees that care about customers, plenty of space that can be used to just hang out hopefully with comfortable chairs and a fireplace and books. Sounds like a great place to hang out in. There are a lot of shops out there that do put all of this together and I salute them as it is what keeps the passion and flow of knowledge and local community of fly fishermen alive. I salute them because I know that doing all of this as a business is next to impossible to operate in a profitable manner. The reason most of them do it is because they really love it. It is the most difficult aspect of the fly fishing industry to be in and stay alive. So if you have a local shop that is this place for you, make sure you continue to support them. Even if you only buy one or two flies or a leader, every little bit counts. Let them know you appreciate them being there and being all of these things for you and your local fly fishing community!