Flyfishing - The gift that keeps on giving.

Fishing Saltwater Fly Fishing
1

Howdy folks. I hope the holidays have been good to you. They have been interesting for me. Not bad, mind you, but not good either… Except for yesterday.

I found my self near one of the mega outdoor stores in Orlando. I won’t say which, but I’ve been told that BASS PRO’s like to SHOP there.

Normally I support the smaller, mom & pop shops, but in Orlando there aren’t any. If it wasn’t for this place there would be nothing. So I am glad they are here.

I strolled around their fly fishing department and looked at all the stuff I shouldn’t buy and the stuff I couldn’t buy. There was only one person minding the shop, a kid no more than eighteen. He was busy explaining certain aspects of angling with a fly to a mother and her young teen son. It seems the boy got a fly fishing set for Christmas and no one in the family knows how to use it, obviously a gift from a more enlightened relative.

I couldn’t help but overhear the lessons being given. That’s not true. I was purposely listening to see if the kid behind the counter knew his stuff. He didn’t. Not even close.

I had to intervene. I excused the interruption and introduced myself, then commenced to give my opinion on their fly selection which they where discussing at the time.

The sales kid had handed them a bunch of deer hair bugs informing them that these where made specifically for bass. I told them it was true, and it’s arguably the most fun way to go, but it’s not the best fly to try and toss as a beginner. After a quick explanation I introduced then to the venerable wooly bugger.

Clich?, I know, but is there a better all purpose fly? Besides I explained, if the bass aren’t interested you can always go after the bluegills, a more likely first fish.

Well, one thing led to another, then another; I ended up not only explaining every piece of equipment, but I took the boy outside to give him his first casting lesson. Something the sales kid didn’t know how to do either. I swear he said the shorter rods are better because you can throw “it” further. Huh?

After a basic intro and a couple of backcasts and forward casts I told him to go and practice on his lawn. We said goodbye and I left feeling better than I have in a long time.

It’s true it better to give than to receive, but more so when what you give is of yourself.

So, go out and teach a kid to fish.

Happy Holidays and a Fantastic New Year.

Ed Mercado
[url=http://www.mercconsulting.com:2e802]http://www.mercconsulting.com[/url:2e802]
Web Design for the Treasure Coast.

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good job, ed! i hope you used your head and made the kid sign a waiver exonerating you from any responsiblity for his upcoming addiction!

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That’s nice of you Ed. Can’t speak for the Orlando shop, but I have been to the one near the airport in Baltimore. I found not only one but two very helpful and very knowledgeable gentlement manning the fly shop in the rear. Unable to leave without buying something I grabbed a pre-picked nymph selection. One of the guys made me put it back on the shelf and hand picked the equivalent number of the same flies and a better fly box. The loose flies were tied much nicer (not the best I ever saw but certainly not the worst). For twenty flies it cost me exactly $1 more to buy better loose fies in a more durable box than one of the preboxed selections.

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Hey FloridaFlyer,

Next time you’re in Orlando looking for a fly shop, check out …
[url=http://www.orlandooutfitters.com:f2056]www.orlandooutfitters.com[/url:f2056]

… ask for Chris. From what I understand this is a very nice well stocked fly fishing, etc. shop. Chris … aka, Mudfoot frequents another forum I log onto. Seems VERY knowledgeable about the area as well regarding fishing.

Just a little blurb on Chris …
[url=http://www.orlandooutfitters.com/orlando-outfitters/staff.asp#Chris:f2056]http://www.orlandooutfitters.com/orlando-outfitters/staff.asp#Chris[/url:f2056]

Usual disclaimer: No he ain’t my brother-in-law.

Gil

[This message has been edited by FL_SKIBUM (edited 29 December 2005).]

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Yo Ed,

Nice to hear from you and a great story. I can’t help but feel that what you did was as much for you as him. It is totally fun to help someone get started with something like flyfishing. While I dont know the kid and can only imagine the look on his face, I know what your smile looks like and I bet it was plastered all over your face that day.

Good job and Happy everything to you.

jed

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Howdy Jed. Your’e right. I was having a great time teaching this kid what I could. How could I not when I see somebody taking their first “steps” so to speak.

Micus, it’s funny you bring that up because several times I’d point out what gear usually works best in what conditions, #3 vs. #8, floatng vs. sinking, so on. Everytime I’d make a comparison I’d follow it by saying “Fly fishing can get expensive.” I must have said that over ten times. I think I might have given the lady a complex by the time I was done 'cause she decided to buy him another complete outfit that was lighter than the eight weight he had recieved.

Gill, thanks for the information. I will certainly look him up. I just checked out their site and according to their map they are located just down the street from a place I used to live at. It’s not an area know for commercial use. I’m intrigued now.

P.S. - A small disclaimer. I usually don’t have a negative experience in that place. There is one fellow who could probably chart the Indian river from memory 'cause he’s kayaked it all. And he’ll tell you exactly what, where, how and you can bet money he’ll be right. A really nice gut to top it off too.

Ed Mercado
[url=http://www.mercconsulting.com:a0027]http://www.mercconsulting.com[/url:a0027]
Web Design for the Treasure Coast.

[This message has been edited by FloridaFlyer (edited 29 December 2005).]

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Some good points! I never said it was good for them, just fun for me.

Ed Mercado
[url=http://www.mercconsulting.com:6b08d]http://www.mercconsulting.com[/url:6b08d]
Web Design for the Treasure Coast.

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I’ve been in the same situation at the local place where Bass pros like to shop. Fortunately, when I overheard the guy in their fly fishing section ready to correct any errors, I found that the guy behind the counter was right on target with all of his advice. I guess that sometimes in life you do get pleasantly surprised.

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Ed, I knows ya, and what you did doesn’t surprise me at all! Way to go, my man! Also, I’ve seen Ed cast, and if the kid displays a third of what Ed taught him, he’ll do better’n average! :wink:

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Hey, you’re letting my secret out. Now how am I supposed to win any bar bets?

Thanks for the kind words Gary. I hope to see you again soon.

Ed Mercado
[url=http://www.mercconsulting.com:641f1]http://www.mercconsulting.com[/url:641f1]
Web Design for the Treasure Coast.

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ed,
You don’t have to worry about bar bets, you’ll be gettin enough liquor 'cause of your smile And if that doesn’t work you can use your cutlass.

jed

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Ed,
I can vouch for Mudfoot ( aka Chris) as well. I met him via the other forum Gil was talking about. I drove two hours to buy rods for both my son and I. He is first class and runs a first class shop. At least the one in Titusville was and I can’t imagine him being associated with anything else.
There is also another shop in Orlando called the Fly Fisherman. It is the same outfit Chris was with before. I also understand there is a shop in Apopka somewhere but I have yet to locate it as of yet.
I’m also in Ft. Pierce from time to time. Do you have a shop down there?

Thanks,
Rusty <><

“PC” is for Plant City not Politically Correct. if you wanna catch something ya gotta get a hook in the water

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Hi Rusty,
Ft. Pierce used to have a shop, but the storms took them out in 2004 and to my knowledge they never recovered.

The closest place to Ft. Pierce would be John B’s in Stuart. Nice shop and a very helpful owner, John Sweeney.

[url=http://www.johnbflyshop.com/:a20f9]http://www.johnbflyshop.com/[/url:a20f9]

Ed Mercado
[url=http://www.mercconsulting.com:a20f9]http://www.mercconsulting.com[/url:a20f9]
Web Design for the Treasure Coast.

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Speaking of Chris, he is now at a shop called “Orlando Outfitters”. I was in the shop Saturday, very nice! Lots of neat stuff.

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Great story FF. That BPS is 5 min from my house and I go to Orlando Outfitters for my shopping.

I had a similar experience in that BPS regarding kayaks. My wife and I were discussing kayaks in the BPS when a customer came up and said “no one here knows anything about kayak fishing, mind if I ask you some questions?” I spent the next 20 minutes with the guy going over stuff. Not once did a salesperson come over. My last advice to him: Don’t buy a fishing kayak from someone who doesn’t do it themselves. All those MBA’s in the BPS system have yet to figure that one out.