The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Sunday, I was on my way to San Francisco, with my son Michael, and my two grandsons. San Jose is about halfway, and the Union Street exit was a good spot for a break. We figured that we would drop by the San Jose Fly Shop, browse a bit, buy a few things, and then hit the coffee shop next door.

I had meant to check their hours before we left Monterey, but in the rush to get the 4 year old and the 8 year old into the car, I failed to do so. I figured, if they are open, we'll shop, if not we'll grab a snack and coffee.

We arrived, and parked, glad to note that the Fly Shop OPEN sign was lighted, and the door was not locked. We walked across the parking lot, opened the door and entered. The clerk behind the counter announced in a clear tone: “Sorry, we are closing. Did you have something you just needed to grab and buy?”

"No," I said, "we were just going to browse a bit, and maybe buy something.”

"We're closed." was the reply. It was 3:02 PM, and sure enough, the posted open hours for Sunday are something to 3 PM. Maybe there was an important football game on?

Now, here we have a retail establishment with four potential customers walking in. An old guy [maybe a Granddad,] an apparent Dad, and two young boys who are obviously at a decent age to be learning about fishing (who had already been promised that we'd get them something, if we could find something they needed. )

The last time I walked out of a fly shop without buying SOMETHING was last century. The last time I couldn’t find something my grandsons NEEDED was before they were born. We probably would not have bought much, and maybe would not have bought enough to pay to keep the store open for an extra fifteen minutes. But, the next time I drove by on Route 85, I'd have been sure to drop by, and shop again.

Like most of you reading this, I get catalogs from ten to twenty fly fishing outfits, from Cabelas through Dan Bailey and Bob Marriotts, and on to Rogue River Outfitters. I buy some things on line or through mail order, but I have a strong preference for shopping in my local fly shops. On the other hand, once your "local fly shop" gets bought by a major retailer, as you say ‘Farewell’ to the old owner; you can just say BuhBye to the old iron stove, the coffee pot and tin cups, and the ethic that recognizes the value of keeping the customer happy.

So, if you are lucky enough to still have a "local fly shop" that has not gone all corporate on you, for heavens sake support it. Buy your hooks and flies and bobbers and routine tying material there - most of your savings from online will be eaten by shipping anyway, and you can usually get what you want from your local the same day, if it's in stock, and if not, they'll likely be happy to order it for you.

I’m certainly not saying that I’ll never shop at that Fly Shop again. I don’t let clerks make that decision for me, but I won’t go out of my way to shop there. My urge to support their staying in business took a crippling hit yesterday.

Angler’s Choice in Santa Cruz is on the way home too, if I go down 17 instead of 101. Time for a change, I guess.

Ed, I couldn’t agree with you more about supporting local shops and how the customer service for SJ Fly Shop (now Fly fishing Specialties – owned by the one in Sac) has gone down the toilet. The previous GM, (Chappy) was awesome. If I needed something returned or fixed, they would do it, if I needed something special ordered, it was done, and it was a pleasure to go in there and shoot the sh!^ for a while, which I used to do often. Apparently he and the owner located in Sac (Tom I think), had a “disagreement in philosophies” and parted ways. Whatever that means…

Since then, I have gone in and have had friendly talks with the new GM, who seems nice enough. But my brother went in and bought me a spool for Xmass, and he said the person who was working there was rude and an arse. He fouled up on the transaction, and my brother asked for a receipt showing the correction that needed to be made, which apparently upset the guy working, who threw the receipt on the counter and made some sort of comment. I am pretty sure it was not the new GM, and probably the same guy, who was working there on Sunday. But that is only a guess.

Then I needed a new line for said spool, and placed a special order because they didn’t have the one in stock. That was about two months ago, and still no line. (which is actually good, because I have changed my mind on what line I want, but still haven’t gotten around to it yet.)

The other problem I have is their supplies, which has seemed to diminish as well. Not too sure if that is because of current economics or not. However, I would think that flies would have a high mark up (or ROI)… maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong. But all too often, I have gone in for certain common seasonal flies and they have been sold out. For example, come mid to late summer, they should stock up on parachute hoppers - or one would think. But apparently others do not feel the same.

I will still patronize the shop. There are still good guys, (last I checked), who do work there. And being so close, I would hate for them to close.

Ah, such a huge difference between a professional amateur and an amateur professional (the root word of amateur is amare [to love])! So many have simply become "professional", and have left the love of the sport for the love of money and prestige.

Some just don't have the same love of people either...


Buzz

hey Ed

It might not be a bad idea to send an e-mail to the owner/manager and give them a chance to fix the problem. if i was in charge of that shop the people involved would certainly get an earfull.In this current buisness climate the reason a shop stays in buisness is service. Lets face it you can buy anything you want from cabelas or the fly shop or Bass Pro. Not to mention California Fly Shop is close by.

vested interest in your "maybe" purchase of something? If he was just an employee, he wasn't benefiting from your looking around. It is just a job. He probably had better things to do than keep the lights on. He gave you the opportunity to shop, if you had something specific in mind. That was pretty nice of him. You have your catalogs to keep you mildly occupied. There wasn't anything in there that you really needed or wanted anyway. Besides, you discounted your rant with the fact that you never checked to see what their hours were prior to your arrival.

I enjoyed your rant and it appears that you put some time and thought to your complaint. I only intended these comments as the devil's advocate. There is nothing new out there, especially at that particular shop. They'll be plenty of stuff to browse at Pleasanton Fly Fishing Show the end of the month. You could have hit the Orvis shop in San Jose, California Fly Shop in San Carlos which closes at 4 PM or Leland in SF as well as another Orvis store close by.

Going to fly fishing shows and expecting to make a "killer" deal is like a teenager cruising the blvd expecting to find available babes. After the gas to get there, the parking fee and the entrance fee (which you HAVE to add into the price of anything you buy) you're pissing in the wind if you think you're going to come out ahead.

there have been several times you and I have made bonzai runs to a specific flyshop in Sacramento, arrived there either right at closing and been rushed out with the "we're closed" line or called on the way, told them we were stuck in traffic and trying to get there and told TFB. ( more than what, 5 times-or was it 10?)I don't know why we kept going back. I don't think I've ever walked out of a flyshop under $50 ( usually a franklin). Shop owners need to bear the responsiblity for their business. I remember going to the "unnamed shop" and we were going to get those arctic fox tails, the Blue eared pheasant cape, the Alec Jackson hooks and other stuff before our trip to the N.Umpqua with dad. Thank God for Joe Howell at The Blue Heron, who opened his store for us on his day off. Someone in Sacto lost a $400 sale on tying materials. Too bad we had to go all the way to Oregon.

We have to convince Anglers Choice that it is worth stocking up on good quality fly fishing merchandise so we don't have to order from a catalog.He carries TFO and G Loomis, Clear Creek, Cortland, Dan Baileys stuff, a few materials, and cheap imported flies. I used to go into Ernie's about once a week and drop some change on materials, widgets, lines, boots, books, magazines, whatever. I would always go after work and show up at 5:00, closing time. My wife wondered how Ernie could stay in business until she went in there and saw how much stuff costs because he carried mostly top of the line stuff.

Greg

I've had good and bad trips to the sj fly shop. Once went there in the morning, having checked the hours, on my way up north to fish. Someone with keys showed up before ten, but then walked out of the shop and didn't come back until 45 minutes after they were suppose to open. That pretty much sucked. Most other times I've been there have been fine, aside from one clerk telling me how much the reel I was purchasing sucked... after i paid for it. hahahaha... ah well. I still shop there.