Do you love fly shops? The rows of bins stuffed with possibility; the racks of rods glittering under lights; the shiny reels resting in jewel cases; the racks of unblemished waders waiting for someone to take them fishing. Many of our greatest days on this planet begin with a trip to the shop to grab some flies, book a shuttle, and replace that misplaced bottle of floatant. Fly shops give us information and inspiration, they console and cajole, mark our passage from timid neophytes to confident regulars. But we don’t always treat our beloved fly shops as well as we should. Intentionally or not, some of us perpetrate faux pas that range from mildly annoying to downright obnoxious.
We asked some of our favorite shops to send us a list of things they wish people would stop doing.
1. If you try it there, buy it there.
Coming into a shop to check out something that you’re planning to buy online is the number one frustration we heard from our fly shop friends. Nick Secrist of Mossy Creek Fly Fishing told us, “There is nothing worse than spending over an hour with a customer getting them fit in waders, boots, packs, etc… only to have them say ‘thanks my buddy has a pro deal! I've also had customers tell me they were planning to go home and purchase the item I just helped them with."
Corey Haselhuhn of Schultz Outfitters echoed a similar frustration. “There is no need to inform the shop staff of the deal you managed to get on any pro account. Please don’t waste our time helping you find the right products so you can do a pro deal flex and then walk out the door.”
“It’s as obvious as the nose on your face,” says Andy Leister of Vail Valley Anglers. “We’re happy to sell you backing, but when you come in asking us to spool a reel and a fly line that you obviously got on pro deal (or from a guide in a different shop) at least offer us $20 or a 12-pack.”
2. There’s no dress code, but there are limits.
Fly shops welcome everyone; you can walk in unshaven, disheveled, unshowered, underslept, and wearing just about any clothing that covers your essential bits, but don’t make a mess or damage the floor. “Raincoats are kosher,” Haselhuhn says. “Wet boots with mud are not kosher.” Secrist agrees, “Don't be the guy who walks around the fly shop with wet, muddy, or (worst of all) studded boots.”
“Are we fine dining? No,” says Leister. “But we [fly shop employees] have to sweep the floor later. Show some common courtesy.”
3. If you’re going to ask for advice, buy something.
Fly shops don’t mind giving guidance. In fact, that’s a big part of what they do, but handing out free advice doesn’t support a business. Recognize the value of the service you’re getting, and make sure you're compensating appropriately.
“I understand that not everyone has a lot of money to blow on extra gear,” says Nick Secrist, “but if a fly shop employee spends 30+ minutes with you in front of a map, showing you places to fish that have taken him/her years to learn, you should at least buy a couple flies or leaders.”
Andy Leister considers giving at least a little something back to the shop if they’re willing to help you out. “If you’re an avid angler, you might not need anything, but a respectable fly shop should have something you want. Out of common courtesy, show some reciprocity. Even a couple of flies goes a long way to saying thank you.”
4. Speaking of advice...
Most, if not all of us have asked fly shop employees for information about current conditions, hatches, timing, and suggestions on where to fish. That’s to be expected, but you wouldn’t hand out the exact details of your hard-earned secret spots to someone you met five minutes ago, so don’t expect shops to. Besides, if a shop gives the exact coordinates of a spot to everyone who asks, you don't want to fish there.
Corey Haselhuhn feels strongly about this one. “DO NOT ASK FOR SPECIFIC SPOTS—GO OUT AND LEARN YOUR WAY AROUND. We will gladly point you in the right direction.” Haselhuhn continues, “NOBODY in a fly shop knows every location like the back of their hand.”
Finally, “if you’re going to ask for advice, at least listen to the answers.”
5. Fish photos are great but use common sense.
“We obviously want to know when the flies we sold you worked or the spot we sent you to worked out well,” says Andy Leister. “But please read the room. Respect the other customers wanting help. We love you and are glad you had a great day, but we have a job to do.”
Nick Secrist has some advice on how not to be “that guy.” “Don’t be the guy who shows the employee at the counter all your recent hero shots when there are several eager fishermen waiting behind you. Also, don’t be the guy who keeps the fly shop employee 30 minutes past closing time showing fish pics.”
6. The Internet is not a real place.
We all use the Internet all the time (you’re doing so right now) but just because you found or heard something online doesn’t make it real or true. “Don’t let the internet fire you up too much when buying equipment,” suggests Haselhuhn. “Talk to someone locally before trusting Reddit, YouTube, etc.” That’s good advice, not just about fly fishing gear, but life in general.
Also, fly shops are small, local businesses with limited space and budget for inventory. Nick Secrist advises, “Don’t be mad when the fly shop doesn’t carry the exotic tying material you found 30 pages deep in a dark web forum.”
Corey Haselhuhn concurs. “You may not find everything you need in here—small shops won't have everything.” He also offers this wise reminder. “Fly tying is like cooking—substitutions can be made; hooks can be swapped. Believe it or not, you will still catch fish on the pattern if the hook is different from the OG recipe.”
Leister agrees, “Fly tyers are the worst, and I can say that because I’m one of them. We all should remember that when it comes to fly patterns, close enough is usually good enough. Sometimes it’s better.”
7. Don’t treat expensive merchandise like Chucky Cheese arcade prizes
Part of fly shops’ allure is the opportunity to fondle all the fishing gear you covet. Remember that the shop has to buy all that inventory you're ogling, so show their precious merchandise the respect it deserves. This is especially true for delicate (and pricey) fly rods.
“Don’t grab a fly rod from the rack and bend it against the floor to ‘test the action,’” says Secrist. Also, don’t pretend to be Star Wars Kid with a 9-foot fly rod in a cramped space. “Wiggling it vigorously doesn’t tell you anything about how a fly rod actually casts,” says Leister. If you want to test a rod, most shops will let you do so outside with the help of an employee.
8. Keep your pants on
We mean this figuratively, but also literally. When trying on waders, do not first remove your pants. It’s unnecessary and, in fact, counterproductive since you’ll be wearing pants under your waders when you go fishing. It’s also kind of nasty.
“Clothes are meant to be worn in public, and the fly shop is a public place,” implores Andy Leister. “Would you want to purchase a pair of expensive waders that a nude person has been in? Probably not. Keep your clothes on for everyone’s sake. If you acted like that near a school, you could end up in prison.”
9. We love kids and dogs, but...
“A lot of us, me included, have kids,” says Leister. “We love kids. We want them to go fishing instead of being on a tablet!” That said, there are limitations when it comes to young children and fly shops. Make sure your kids are also treating the merchandise with respect and care. Maybe remind them that hooks are, by nature, sharp when they’re exploring the fly bins. Also remember that guide trips have age restrictions for good reasons.
“I’m sure your 4-year-old is the most athletic little tyke to grace his preschool since 1985,” Leister continues, “but floating him down class III whitewater probably isn’t the best idea. Please respect the limitations any shop puts in place as it’s our goal to be safe, catch fish, have fun, and not have too many tears in the process.”
While we’re not trying to insult anyone by equating pets and children, dog owners should follow similar guidelines when it comes to canine companions. “We also love dogs, and we want to continue welcoming them into our shop, but your dog is your responsibility. We keep our streamers on the bottom shelves, and I’ve lost count of how many I’ve had to take out of dogs’ mouths’. Usually, they don’t get impaled, but a few times I’ve had to do surgical extractions. That’s not fun for anyone.”
10. Things you absolutely SHOULD do
Support your shops in the off season. Most do the majority of their business in a narrow window that corresponds with prime local fishing. By all means, stop in during peak times to stock up, but understand that they may not have much time to chat. Also make the effort to visit your local shop when they really need the business—the off season. That’s the perfect time to make significant purchases like rods, reels, waders, or jackets, because shop staff can more easily spend dedicated time with you. Making the effort to stop in regularly during slower seasons will also help you develop a relationship with the shop, which can pay off big time.
Be polite, be kind, and remember that the people working in fly shops will treat you well if you treat them well. “The more down to earth and polite you are with our staff, the more we will return the advice and help,” says Haselhuhn.
Finally, think about the contribution fly shops make to your life and general happiness. Imagine the loss you’d feel without them and consider showing the staff a little love.
“DO be the guy who leaves the shop guys a case of beer,” says Secrist. “It usually helps us think of a few extra tips or hot spots!” Haselhuhn offers a similar suggestion. “Beers, coffee, snacks, lunch, dinner, breakfast, sweets = ALWAYS WELCOME - you will earn gravy points here.”
This is a universal truth. If you show fly shop employees love, they’re likely to return the favor. “A 12 pack of beer and a pepperoni pizza will take you a long way.”