Fly Fishing Outfitters: What's Out There For Me?

If you don't have a clue as to where to begin, even after all of the reading you've done on the sport, it's okay.  Deciding where you want to buy all of your gear is as difficult a decision as, say, figuring out from whom you're going to purchase your new or used car.  You're not likely to jump into a deal headlong, especially if you know that you can save money, and so as always we encourage you to shop around before buying anything.  Fly fishing outfitters, though they may not be explicitly labeled as such, can be found in a variety of places.  Here's what we mean.

Sports Stores and Department Stores

No matter what kind of sports store chain you have in your area -- or if you have a sports section in your local Wal-Mart -- you should take a look at what they have.  Sometimes, there are some incredible bargains to be had where you least expect them.  After all, if it's not a specialty shop, you're likely to find lower prices, even if premier quality does suffer somewhat.  While it's not likely that you'll find world-class brands at these places, you will probably find the basics, at least from a beginner's standpoint.

Online Stores

If you type in "Fly Fishing Rods" into any search engine, you're bound to come up with someone, somewhere, who wants to sell you gear.  Do be very careful when you're shopping around online for anything at all, especially bigger-ticket items.  If the store expects you to purchase the fly fishing rod, or reel, or whatever it is without a picture, sight-unseen, you should probably look elsewhere.  eBay is one place where you can look for used or outlet priced gear -- and you might check other internet auction sites to compare prices. For new, good-quality gear, you might check a place like the Orvis.com outlet online.  (FYI:  Orvis is arguably one of the most popular fishing suppliers in the United States and in the UK.  It might do you well to give them a look!) 

Again, running a search for the particular piece of equipment you're after, big or small, will probably turn up at least a few hits.  Don't be afraid to investigate.  It certainly won't hurt!

Specialty Shops

You might see specialty shops near campgrounds or places that are popular fly fishing destinations.  The gear found in fishing shops can be extremely expensive, but you can be pretty well assured that what you're looking at is of a higher quality than you'd find otherwise.  Of course, if you're nowhere near a specialty store, you might want to pick up the phone and give them a call.  Ask them if they have a mail-order catalogue.  If so, you can order your gear over the phone or by mail and have it shipped to you.  It's the next best thing to stepping into an actual fly fishing outfitter's store and looking around.

Whichever way you decide to go, we wish you the best of luck!