Background: I’ve been out of fly tying for the past 2.5 years, then earlier this year my wife decides she doesn’t want to be married anymore. So now it’s just me and my daughter. Since I have more free time, I decided it’s time to start again. When we moved 2.5 years ago into this house, two of my three vises disappeared, along with some other stuff. I “lost” a Thompson Cobra Vise with all the trimmings, and a Regal knockoff. I now have a basic Thompson knockoff to work with. I’m getting a nice vise from another member, so I’m looking to get more materials.
I find out yesterday that one of three local fly shops shut down last year :mad: . The Angler’s Lie was an independent shop with a good staff and was excellently stocked with everything I needed. I’m now stuck with two Orvis stores, one of which has reduced the size of it’s fly fishing section to less than half of its original size. Don’t get me wrong, I like the guys at the Orvis shop, but it’s starting to turn into A&F. Feh. I don’t know where else to go at this point. I really don’t want to drive up past Baltimore. Oh well.
Jim, Welcome to FAOL and the BB here. Sounds like you’ve had a run of bad luck or foul play around you. I agree with BBW on the internet shopping. I know it’s nice to do hands on, touchy feely when buying flytying materials and tools but it’s not always possible. My nearest store is a BPS and it’s 75 miles one way to it. Check out our sponsor links on FAOL. We have a bunch of nice people on here. Also throw out what you need or want on the “Things Wanted” link at the top of this bulletin board and you will probably get more than you ask for.
The stuff you are going through now is just stuff. I know from years of experience that this too shall pass. You have your daughter, and a whole lot of fishing to do so get busy. Oh yeah, stay in touch on this site and you’ll have more people helping you out than than you’ll know what to do with. Jimsnarocks
Bummer, Jim… My sympathies. I had a marriage yanked right out from under me many long years ago, I understand. It’s behind me now for years and I have a great family. I only think of it very seldom… The thompson is a pretty good vise, actually. the vise I use is one I built, basically just like a thompson, only made by me.
No big deal, really as I’m a metalsmith by trade.
PM me your address and I’ll send you a care package of tying stuff…Gratis…
Later, bro. and welcome to FAOL…ModocDan
By the way, If you internet shop at all see Ron at Hook &Hackle, He’s a great guy and a sponsor here, and once you buy from him you’ll get emails about sales every week. Mention FAOL, and he’ll give you a deal most of the time. Ron’s exellent and his stuff is very good quality
Jim,
I have been in your situation, and I am sorry about the stress you’ve gone through, but someday it will all be in the rear view mirror, and you will appreciate your life even more.
Doug
Next time I am planning a trip to Cabela’s or one of our fly shops I will shoot you a PM. Anytime you need anything just shoot me a pm and I will see if I can get it for you. I have a good supply of stuff and I am always willing to share.
jimswanson, this is the place to be… Great folks here, they are sincere real people…
if you get down this way, (I’m not to far from you) maybe we can hit a stream in the SNP…
And thanks for all the offers, folks. I still have two big containers full of material, but the pheasant tails seemed to have disappeared along with my vises. Cobras are tough to find. I really prefer looking at the feathers and pick one out versus getting what I get from mail order.
a big “Welcome aboard!!!” from someone in youre area. but there definitely aren’t many fly shops close around here. I know where Urban Angler is and have been there, but the two Orvis shops you mentioned i’m baffled about:confused: I’d say the best place to go would be Gander mountain, which isn’t too far and has a wonderful flytying section. But i normally just go to craft stores for my supplies. there are some good places around Potomac Mills. the big Michaels store off Princewilliam parkway between potomac mills and I-95 is one great place. they normally have ringneck, golden, and amherst pheasant tail singles for very low prices. then the Joann fabrics on smoketown next to Gar-field high school is another great place. but if fly shops is what youre looking for, i’d have to say go with Urban Angler or gander mountain.
There is an Orvis store near the Tyson’s Corner Mall. If you take the Rte 7 exit off of 495 towards Tysons, pass International Drive, go under an Overpass, you’ll see it on the right. There’s a light where you make the right turn to get in. They’ve shrunk the fly fishing area :mad: but they still have a lot of good stuff there.
Things are looking up for you already. A couple of new, close-by stores and a couple of new friends all from one post. I’ve done the same thing with a woman who just didn’t want to be married any more and it hurt like hell. Even that will pass with time. Welcome to gang. 8T
One little suggestion, try to include your daughter in your fishing and tying activities. It would be a good bonding experience for both of you.
Thanks to my soon-to-be ex and her highly liberal friends, my daughter is now a vegetarian and won’t touch animal products :mad: . Won’t even go fishing with me now.
Sorry for your troubles. The passage of time helps, but time spent on the water even more so. I found a quote in a National Geographic Magazine some time ago regarding fly fishing, in an article written by Cathy Newman. It goes as follows: “If our concentration is fierce enough, we find safe habor, if only for an afternoon, in the holy water of a trout stream”.
I know many out there fish for other species, but I think you all get the drift.
I’m sure you’ve already found out about the generous and supportive group here at FAOL, as evidenced by their responses, what a great bunch.
Good luck in your journey.
Take her camping, enjoy the wild life, take her to a fish hatchery, you can expose her to a lot of what makes fishing great with out the fishing, perhaps that will come with time.
Eric
P.S. to help you feel better, sneek out in the middle of the night and put one of these on your soon to be ex’s car
By now you should be picking up a common thread here .
Many of us have been in your spot.We all got the same advice.
Its all true and only you can go through with your situation.
Its taken 16 years for my daughter and I to have a “tenuous” relationship. Its a relationship.
There are a lot more women out there so unless you are a complete toad you’ll get another one of them too.
Good vices are really hard to replace though! Remember too, some girls aint scared of even toads.
Get one that ties her own flies and can build rods too.
Get out and fish ,go danciing once in a while too , shows the girls you aint scared either.
Welcome aboard and best wishes.
Perch
