Fly fishing flies, gear and guides – the holy trinity of fly fishing.
I woke up early today and left for River X around 3am. The drive was quiet and peaceful, and I couldn’t wait to get to the river. On the way, I drove by a fly shop that I’ve always wanted to stop at, if only because I love its name “Fly Fishing Flies, Gear and Guides.” It was still dark, and the open sign was lit when I got there around 6am. I decided to stop because I needed flies.
When I walked in, there was one old guy managing the store. He told me his name was Chap and that he was the proprietor and sole guide at Fly Fishing Flies, Gear and Guides. He had a friendly face, and his voice had a calming effect on me. I kind of wondered at the plural “guides” in Fly Fishing Flies, Gear and Guides, but assumed he was kind of retired and didn’t want to manage other guides or get too busy.
After getting advice from Chap and selecting an assortment of dry flies, nymphs, and streamers, I paid and prepared to leave. I congratulated myself on sticking with flies and leader material – just what I needed, and not getting tempted by the fly fishing gear and accessories that I don’t really need right now, but love to buy.
But Chap stopped me and said, “Look, I’d much rather be fishing than sitting in this store. How about you and me fish that stretch together — I know it like the back of my hand, and I’ll guide you for free.” I was a bit surprised, but I couldn’t say no to such an offer. I said yes, of course, and he turned off the open sign. Remarkably, he also put out a card table and set a plastic bin with a hinged lid on top of it. Above it he hung a sign: “Fly Fishing Flies – Self Service.” And next to that, there was a ‘payments’ slot, which was also a mail slot, that deposited envelopes into a basket. There were payment envelopes in the box where self-serve anglers.
In the truck, I asked him about people maybe stealing flies and he said that “it happens, but those same people come back and spend $1800 on new waders and boots. Plus, they steal from inside the shop too, my eyesight sucks these days. I consider it my donation to their fun. You might be surprised that most people ’round up’ and over pay when they use the self service bin. It’s very profitable!
We hiked upstream, and it was evident that Chap knew the area like the back of his hand. We fished a high mountain stream and caught some beautiful brook trout. The water was crystal clear, and it was easy to spot the fish in the pools and riffles.
After fishing the stream, Chap took me to some beaver ponds that were part of the stream. These ponds were magical; the water was calm, and the trout were eager to bite. We caught some nice-sized fish, and I was amazed at how much fun it was to fish in these ponds.
We fished together for a few hours, and I learned a lot from Chap. He showed me some new techniques and helped me perfect my casting. He was patient and kind, and I was grateful for his guidance.
As the sun started to set, we decided to call it a day. I thanked Chap for his generosity and for showing me some of the best fishing spots on River X. He smiled and said, “Anytime, my friend. Come back anytime.”
I left River X feeling grateful and satisfied. The day was perfect, and I couldn’t wait to come back and fish again. I was also happy to have found a new favorite fly shop and guide, “Fly Fishing Flies, Gear and Guides.” It was a day to remember.
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