Dream Shop

[Stoney725]

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.

[Z Fisher]

In order of importance:

1) Friendly staff that makes you feel welcome. Some shops feel like a fraternity house. If you don't know the secret handshake, no one talks to you. Of course, every shop has a wizened guide who can be a bit gruff, but there better be his younger brother who's personable.

2) Good advice from the friendly staff. Whether it's what flies are working on the water to where to fish to candid comments about equipment.

3) Good selection. I know inventory is the bane of retailers everywhere, but the shelves need to be stocked. If you carry hooks, don't be out of size 14 nymph hooks. Same goes for 5x leader, tippet or the popular floatant. If you don't have midge-sized root beer colored glass beads, you can be forgiven, but the basics should be there in plenty.

I think Grady does a pretty solid job at all of the above. The Feathered Hook in Coburn, PA is also one of the better shops for the same reason. Most Orvis shops that haven't become clothing stores are really strong on the first two but fall short on the third.

[WhipFish]

Good question. A few of my bullet points...

Good selection, classic and modern materials, old wooden wet-wader-friendly floors, giving you $10 back when your change is $9.88, a friendly dog(s), couch rest/social area w/ coffee on, enough employees so you know that they get some time off to fish, locally tied flies (at least some), a good website, a wall of pictures of locally caught fish...I'll stop there for now.

[pvansch1]

One grumpy old fly fisher still fishing his almost as old South Bend bamboo, Pflueger 1494 and silk line.

Friendly dog to keep the yuppies in line and at bay.

Friendly staff willing to dish a bit of info in code. :confused:

Inventory to browse over, the right stuff for the local streams and enough to make it a worth while stop before heading to unknow waters.

Wet wader friendly.

Hot coffee.

[dudley]

Dream come true

http://www.ausablewulff.com/


I CAN NO LONGER DO WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR SO MANY YEARS. AS A RESULT, THE PRICE OT MY BUSINESS HAS BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED!! Having been recently inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame, after 46 years, I am ready for this change. to retire and write more books. The price on my entire operation (Sport Shop, restaurant, apartment building, motel and gift Shop) has been drastically reduced to induce a quick sale. Also willing to discuss the sale of the Adirondack Sport Shop Business alone. A great reputation and chance of a lifetime for the right one. It is a turn key operation that includes all stock on hand. Willing to train and act as consultant for a time to insure the large number of old and new customers. Call 518 - 946-2605 or cell phone 518-524-0011. Only serious inquiries. Fran Betters, Box 125, Adirondack Sport Shop, Wilmington N.Y. 12997.

[Z Fisher]

Yeah, Fran has a beautiful shop. Attached motel and restaurant. It's a sweet place.

[Apache Trout]

Dudley, you read my mind.

[Jon]

What Pete said.

Plus, as this is utterly hypothetical, I'd like the shop to sell mostly rods and tackle that transfer a greater percentage value to the customer, and less to share holders, designers, marketeers, sales stuff (so customers aren't being taxed in order to be sold yet more "lighter, better, farther" rods in 6 months)....basically, where the price of rods is closer to their worth.

Oh, and John Gierach and Hugh Falkus would pop in to tell stories on Wednesdays.

Jon

[Adam Taylor]

http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:UvJ9uOx7GiTYFM:http://www.wildfilmhistory.org/media/5613ED14-5B5D-4E71-85C4-2BF1ADCA09B1/webmedium_5613ED14-5B5D-4E71-85C4-2BF1ADCA09B1.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wildfilmhistory.org/media/5613ED14-5B5D-4E71-85C4-2BF1ADCA09B1/webmedium_5613ED14-5B5D-4E71-85C4-2BF1ADCA09B1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wildfilmhistory.org/person/148/Hugh%2BFalkus.html&usg=__fmuqCV5NvHveRuCR215NUvHCLJE=&h=351&w=448&sz=59&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=UvJ9uOx7GiTYFM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHugh%2BFalkus%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa fe%3Doff%26sa%3DN)

Well Falkus won't be walking in the door anytime soon...but here is a photo for you....

Shop starts and ends with the people working there. Friendly folks who work there are the biggest piece of the puzzle. Followed by solid inventory. You will pay a few more pennies for something if you enjoy the experience...and the 100 year old wet, worn wader floors is a great visual...plus the smell of really good coffee on a gray rainy morning....ahhh....

anyone want to go in with me and set up a shop?

need someone who can build a solid e-commerce backend...while I like all you guys...it is the nameless, faceless folks that will keep the lights on via the world wide web.

[waterworker]

Yeah, Fran has a beautiful shop. Attached motel and restaurant. It's a sweet place.

Two Fly Challange....May 16th....Take a ride up,fish the two fly and buy yourself a nice shop.The first half,I'm there,the second, I'll need some help!

[Jon]

[QUOTE=Adam Taylor;34280
Well Falkus won't be walking in the door anytime soon...but here is a photo for you....[/QUOTE]

Really? And there was me thinking this could actually happen ;-)

In fact, despite my fondness for "the Falk", I'm not sure he would've been the ideal guy for friendly banter around the shop...those that are familiar will understand this!

By the way, do you and other Flyaddicts know about this great man? If not, he wrote what is considered by many to be a seminal text on fly fishing for Atlantic salmon, and THE book on sea-trout fishing in Britain. Inter alia, he was also instrumental in his teachings of Spey casting.

If you ever get the chance to see his 1977 film Salmo the Leaper, take it. He even jumps into a river to demonstrate how to deal with a sudden dip in chest waders! The footage of him fishing for and catching sea-trout at night is legendary.

Jon

[Z Fisher]

....Inter alia....

Now you've done it, you've gone and used latin in the course of civil conversation.

People are gonna think we're a bunch of pretentious, fly fishing snobs.

Oh, wait....

[hookandhackle]

Great thread that all can enjoy. I personally like a shop to have everything for both the fly fishing crowd and the bait fishing folks.

A great flyshop should be:

1. Simple
2. Knowledgeable
3. Friendly with great friendly debate and conversation
4. and have cheap (preferably complementary) but good coffee

I really like everyone's responses about at least 1 grumpy old fly guide. They're there because they really do know it all and they're the one's that will teach you and put you onto fish.

[Jon]

People are gonna think we're a bunch of pretentious, fly fishing snobs.

Oh, wait....

And I knew YOU would take the bait!! ;-)

[grayghost]

I would agree with all of the previous qualities of the Dream fly shop and like to add to the list.
Clinics both for a fee and the occasional complimentary one.
We are fortunate to have some pretty good fly shops in CT.

GG

[williethekid]

One that carries small .5" by .1" strips of lead tape with adhesive backs. those are proving hard to find. A great shop to me is one that has a bunch of regular staff you see in the shop and on the stream, that have good recommedations and have tried all the gear they sell. A huge fly tying selection is a must as well.

[peconic]

What Pete said.

Plus, as this is utterly hypothetical, I'd like the shop to sell mostly rods and tackle that transfer a greater percentage value to the customer, and less to share holders, designers, marketeers, sales stuff (so customers aren't being taxed in order to be sold yet more "lighter, better, farther" rods in 6 months)....basically, where the price of rods is closer to their worth.

Oh, and John Gierach and Hugh Falkus would pop in to tell stories on Wednesdays.

Jon
You got it on the nose for me.

We all got different budgets, but sell products at a price point that represent the bast value at the price. Don't try to upsell me on a piece of equipment if it doesn't come with a real value to the purchaser...

It is great for the shop to sell that $500 fly rod, but if all the purchaser gets is buyers' remorse when it isn't much better than the $200 rod, you only lose the customer...


Maybe like a "No BS Wall" where the products displayed all represent excellant values, maybe not the best/most expensive items in the store, but the stuff that works, the stuff that people buy and use over and over even after they "upgraded".....