385 Fly Shops: Is Yours in There?

Yes. It is an old meme. But it is a good meme. And, to be honest, I couldn’t get it out of my head so it has found itself at the beginning of this post.

Last year I set out to compile an exhaustive fly shop directory. Aside from the fact that I’m convicted that fly shops play an integral role in the culture of fly fishing, I am continually amazed at how well-known, highly-regarded shops aren’t always easy to find online. In the 21st century!

To date, there are 385 shops on the directory. First: that paints a much brighter picture than the dire predictions some industry types paint. Second: I found about 325 of those on my own, using relatively rigorous search criteria.  That means  about 15% of fly shops’ online presences were under the radar. It kinda, sorta confirmed why I set out to do this whole thing in the first place.

With the season coming up quickly, I wanted to put out another call to check my work. I’m happy for you to point out my errors, get things accurate, and make this a resource worth using.

Keep reading to learn more about the directory, find out where you can access it, and how you can help me keep it up to date.

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Podcast Ep. 274: [Cast1] Finding & Reading Water

Water, water everywhere… but is it water worth fly fishing?

Today we’re asking  the question: “Where can I find fish?” The answer has two parts:

  • First, how do you find fishable water?
  • Second, where do you look once you’ve found a river worth fishing?

Books have been written about both of these topics. But this episode will give enough of a head start so that you can get out on the water with a few essential things to look for. Still, it is worth acknowledging that looking for water and reading water are lifetime practices that are part of the fun of fly fishing.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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Fish More “just ok” Water

“It looks like the last part of this week is going to be in the mid 50s. I’m considering putting in an hour or 2 on [local river] – would you be interested?”

“YES. Friday?”

“Probably, in the late afternoon”

“Okay. I’ll put it on the calendar.”

“Full disclosure, this piece of river is just ok, and that’s if I’m being polite.”

“Ha. I have a much better chance of catching fish on an ok river than at my desk.”

“Exactly!”

This is a word for word text exchange from yesterday. It is two guys planning a fishing outing. But there’s something else going on. And it is something that I want to preach; something I want to practice, as well.

I want to fish more “just ok” water.

For years, I had the privilege of living near stream after stream with the highest designations the respective states could muster. Lots of fish per mile. Lots of natural reproduction. Lots of special regulations to make you feel like it was only a matter of your skill versus the big, plentiful fish.

All the while, I knew that there were numerous other streams that legitimate fly fishers spent their time on. Even though these guys knew their stuff, they occupied themselves with these “marginal” rivers. What did they know that I didn’t?

Come to find out, it was a few things.

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Reel Change: A Picture of Authentic Conservation


Authentic conservation means getting together and getting dirty. And authentic conservation doesn’t always entail leveling a giant dam or pouring millions into a famed trout river. Sometimes authentic conservation comes down to a handful of  devoted anglers putting time, energy, and effort into their local water.

That is the story of Reel Change, the latest short documentary from Frequent Flyers Fishing.

On a modest Delaware creek,  a committed group of local fishermen are putting in sweat equity to restore a watershed with potential. They call conservation agencies. They place trout in the river by hand. They do it for the coming season, and they do it for the coming generation. Most of all, they do it because they feel compelled to steward their water.

It isn’t glitzy or glamorous, but it is real. And it is the kind of conservation message that ought to  spur others to see change where they fish.

Watch the video below:

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Podcast Ep. 273: [Cast1] All that Fly Gear

“How do you put a fly on that thick line?”

“Can I just wear my hiking boots over my waders?”

These are perfectly honest questions that I’ve been asked by new fly fishers. Multiple times.

Today I talk through some of the other essential fly fishing gear that you need to pursue fish. Once you have a rod, reel, and line, there are still a few more items required.

Again: fly fishing isn’t all about equipment. But knowing what is necessary and how much it matters helps get you on fish faster with less encumbrances.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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Slap Happy: Lid Rig Mag Band

In fly fishing, flannel, fanny packs, and clunky footwear are all in. So it shouldn’t be  a surprise that another early 90’s fad is perfectly suited to angling.

Last year, Lid Rig came out with the Mag Band. Essentially, it is a silicone-coated slap bracelet with a magnetic surface. Yes: those slap bracelets. But this uncomplicated piece of gear isn’t a fashion trend. It is a functional little item that you can use in a handful of unobtrusive ways. And sometimes, those very things that are compact and unfussy produce outsized benefits.

Here are four helpful ways to use this simple product from Lid Rig, including a few that don’t involve wrists or being on the water:

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Fly Fishing (Art) Show

By all means, buy that third (or 13th) fly rod at the next outdoor show you attend. Pick up a basket full of flies, the perfect shade of rooster hackle, or your next perfect lucky fishing hat. If you have the resources, the requirement, and the opportunity: go for it.

But if you have some money burning a hole in your pocket and no real gear needs, consider getting something just as much a part of angling. Fish art.

These days, a quick scroll through a fly fishing-focused social media account will present you with the work of countless artists nationwide. There are prints, carvings, and assorted miscellany  worth displaying in your office or cabin. Creative pursuits and fly fishing have always gone hand-in-hand, and accumulating at least a few things is quite normal for the angler.

While an online buy is great, there is something uniquely special about meeting the artist and picking out your piece in person. Chances are, there aren’t a lot of local galleries specializing in fly fishing artwork. One of the benefits of an  outdoor expo show is a relatively high concentration of fly fishing artists for consumers to meet and patronize.

As you keep your eye out for the next local event near you, check out six art exhibitors  from the  New Jersey stop of The Fly Fishing Show:

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Podcast Ep. 272: [Cast1] Rods, Reels, & Line

The fly rod. It is a beautiful, functional, and essential part of fly fishing. But if you’re new to the pursuit, the hundreds of options (split into different weights, lengths, actions, and even materials – mind you) can be  a lot to take in. Add a reel and line on top of it? That is what they call a “barrier to entry.”

But it doesn’t have to be. First and foremost, a good fly shop will get you set up with what you need at a price close to your budget.

On your way to said good fly shop, consider listening to this episode. It is a quick, thousand-foot flyover of the bare essentials of these three core pieces of gear. And trust me: this part of fly fishing becomes fun quickly.

Listen to the episode below, or on your favorite podcast app.

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The Culture of the Fly Fishing Industry

The judicious reader of this website will be well aware that he may encounter content that is fly fishing adjacent. The  very subheading of the website, in contrasting white for all to see, promises that what follows is about “the quarry and culture of fly fishing.” The quarry is the fish. But as soon as you delve into rods, flies, locations, history, or conservation you’re squarely within the category of culture. Try as you might, you can’t have one without the other.

This reality does create some consternation among anglers, from time to time. If paid attention to, the sheer volume of the stuff and the marketing and the social media intensity can be off putting. For what it is worth, there is a kernel of truth in that sentiment. But there is more to the industry than that. Here are three observations:

  • Fly fishing is a small economic fish in a big outdoor industry pond.
  • No one is forcing you to scroll Instagram, attend a film festival, or read this website.
  • The vast majority of people are in it for the genuine love of the quarry and the culture of fly fishing.

And I have a great example of that third point.

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New Humbling Perspectives

Perspective is incredibly valuable. For example: I have been fly fishing, inside and around the industry, for over 25 years. I know that there is a lot of gear – a lot of gear – but I’m comfortable picking out what I need and discerning what is necessary. But when I try to pick out a few things for myself as I take my boys skiing? That is  completely different story. A humbling one, in fact.

Going from a higher aptitude in one arena to a significantly lower competency  in another brings a lot of perspective. On one hand it is humbling. On the other, it is incredibly enlightening if you’re just starting out… or helping someone else start out.

I’ve come to these three conclusions:

  • There is a lot of gear out there.
  • The quantity of gear out there shouldn’t keep you from having fun.
  • True experts encourage beginners.

Whether you’re looking to head downhill or up the river, read what I mean below.

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