Fly fishing needs fly shops. We have all heard this before, it has been stated almost ad nauseam. Yet, the fact remains that fly fishing thrives through community and camaraderie. What better venue exists for this diverse and quirky cult of feather slingers to flourish than our local fly shops? Without fly shops, the culture of our sport diminishes through isolation from one another.
Sure, you can keep up with influencers and trends on social media, or buy online to get the tackle and gear you need, but does it really make you feel part of a community? Fly shops give us a home away from home when we’re traveling to distant waters. They educate us to be better anglers and stewards. They are the locals, guides, and in-the-know fishy folk who foster our vibrant community.
The creaky and dimly lit fly shops I haunted in my fly-fishing infancy have slowly faded into oblivion. A new era of modern, fully stocked fly shops with passionate owners engages anglers and non-anglers alike with exciting ideas to build relationships across multiple outdoor enthusiast communities. I miss the days of those dank and bygone shops that smelled of mothballs and cigarettes—but that’s just my own personal nostalgia for a simpler time. Those owners relied on local and destination anglers, healthy and predictable hatches, and the seasonal influx of new products that excited consumers to open their wallets. Modern fly shops face various hurdles in procuring new business and, more importantly, loyal customers. Direct-to-consumer buying, e-commerce competition from other retailers including big-box stores, year-round product releases from manufacturers, and shifting climate extremes are all obstacles they must navigate in an ever-evolving landscape.
And so, they have adapted with an innovative solution—taking their fly shops on the road. Working from a towable custom-built 28-foot trailer, Precision Fly & Tackle (PFT) is one example of a fly shop putting the rubber to the road and venturing into territories unknown, with amazing success.
In addition to their Cumberland Valley shop in Mt. Holly Springs, PFT operates brick-and-mortar locations in Lancaster and White Haven, PA, and Hagerstown, MD. However, by stepping outside the traditional retail model, PFT is expanding the reach of fly-fishing to underserved communities and fostering a stronger connection between anglers and the sport. Their mobile fly shop allows them to connect with anglers from far and wide, encouraging visitation to the Cumberland Valley region which boasts pristine, cold-water rivers teeming with trout, warm-water rivers home to smallmouth bass and muskies, and high-elevation streams and spring creeks where native brook trout thrive.
Cumberland Valley's diverse and vibrant fly fishing community also includes TCO Fly Shop, which has five prime Pennsylvania locations, including a store in Boiling Springs adjacent to Children's Lake. Visitors interested in diving deeper into fly fishing can visit the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum in Carlisle, which preserves Pennsylvania's rich fly fishing heritage.
As Walt Disney once said, “In this volatile business of ours, we can ill afford to rest on our laurels, even to pause in retrospect. Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”
That philosophy resonates with PFT’s owner, Justin Pittman. “Our approach was to home in on areas lacking a local fly shop and focus on what we do well, which is fly tying, education, gear, and accessories. We want to reach those anglers who can’t otherwise touch the newest and greatest fly-tying materials from Hareline, Fulling Mill, Wapsi, Nature’s Spirit, and more, as well as gear,” says Pittman.
For over two decades, Pittman has been at the forefront of Cumberland Valley’s fly-fishing scene, conservation efforts, and historic preservation. He understands the challenges of running a small business and the need for continual growth. “Every business shares the same struggles, and we’re constantly trying to get better and gain new customers. We collaborate with breweries and outdoor associations to cross-promote the mobile fly shop events, so all businesses involved can benefit and reach new audiences. We are now seeing some of the same patrons who attended these events get the full fly shop experience to begin their fly-fishing journeys. It’s inspiring. I’m blessed to have a fantastic and diverse staff who are passionate fly-fishing experts and excel at developing trusting relationships with our customers.”
By blending tradition with innovation, PFT’s mobile fly shop ensures that fly-fishing remains accessible and thriving for anglers of all backgrounds.
To read the full story (including details about mobile efforts by Moss Creek Fly Fishing in Virginia), click here.
About the Author: Dennis Pastucha is the art director for Fly Fisherman. An avid angler and fly tier, he resides in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania.
