The Fly Shop

Staff Bio – Bryan Quick

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Bryan Quick Bryan spent his early years chasing bass, trout and carp in the local Bay Area, and western Sierra lakes and streams with his fly rod. After having retired from the Air Force, he returned to Northern California to the waters he loves to fish and guide.

Bryan first got started in fly fishing when he saw a fly fisher on one of his family camping trips. After seeing this new style of fishing, he asked for a fly rod for his 7th birthday. He has been using a fly rod ever since and continues to pick up new aspects of the sport, two-handed fishing being a big part of his fishing.

Bryan’s favorite aspect of fly fishing is the challenge of figuring out how to catch trout. This involves so many things that appeal to him; observation, developing fly patterns and tying, practicing casting and presentations, planning trips, and much more. When it all comes together and you have fooled a fish, it is the best feeling.

Favorite fish to pursue:
Rainbow trout and steelhead. I love fishing dry flies and skating for the chromers, if there are noses poking up I’ll be fishing on top.

What fly fishing destination is on your bucket list?
I’m still having fun exploring a lot of the places up here in Northern California, but an early season trip to the Skeena system in British Columbia, Canada is definitely on my list!

Favorite fly rod and why?
I have a 6 weight Signature TFS rod I have had for about eight years. It stays in my rig and I have been using it to work on my FFI Casting Instructor certification for the past couple of years. I am partial to it because I have cast it at least three times a week over the past two years, whether fishing or practicing. My favorite two-hander is my Scott 6 wt T3H, it casts the Scandi compacts so effortlessly and fishes great.

Favorite reel and why?
This is a tough one, but I just picked up a post-war Hardy Perfect. The design and craftsmanship of the Perfect is tough to beat. Judging from the wear and dings on this reel it has a rich history.

Favorite fly and why?
Probably the last one I tied. I have a Muddler Minnow pattern with a gold ribbed hot orange body that is dynamite on summer run steelhead.

What is your greatest fly fishing extravagance?
My first rod ever was a package from Coast-to-Coast hardware, and then I fished a Payless Hardware store rod through the time I joined the Air Force. Now that I can afford to, I purchase a new rod every year. To cast well, you need a good tool and today’s rods are soooo much better than the best rods available back then.

Which living or non-living fly fisher would you want to spend a day Fly Fishing with?
Ted Williams (The Splendid Splinter). He was on the leading edge of the fly fishing boom in the Rockies, it would be great to hear what it was like to fish the west in that era.

Who are your favorite writers?
I read a lot of different genres, but I revisit Jack London’s short stories in The Tales of the Fish Patrol every few years.

Beautiful scenery shot by Bryan Quick

What single issue in fly fishing do you feel has the greatest adverse potential?
Hyping numbers. There will always be a portion of the fly fishing community that is looking to catch the most fish and the largest. Since my earliest days wading the Kings River in August without waders, it has been about the places, experiences and people I meet that make this pursuit worthwhile. A successful day for me may not involve actually catching fish. One of the best days I had guiding on the Trinity River, we fished hard all day and did not hook one adult steelhead. While driving my clients back to their truck, a mountain lion took a deer and literally rolled to a stop 15 feet in front of my rig. I don’t think they will ever forget that, and cataloging experiences like those is what keeps me headed to the stream with my fly rod. I think it is important to ensure that, while catching fish with a fly rod is a major part of this activity, I believe it should not be portrayed as the most important aspect of this sport I love, or we will not continue to grow.

What is your most memorable fly fishing trip you’ve taken?
Gold River Lodge in August, the Klamath Estuary was alive with salmon, eagles, bears and sea lions. A sea lion chased down and caught a salmon right in front of us. Epic!

Also, a backpacking trip in the Absaroka Wilderness north of the park. One day we hiked through a pass to get to a prime fishing location. We spotted a grizzly while he was pulling a stump apart about a quarter mile away. We made a bunch of noise, it stood up for a few seconds, then got back to the stump. We went somewhere else that day.

Holiday Gift Ideas

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Take the guesswork out of buying the perfect Christmas gift for the fly fisher in your life. The list of gifts below is just a sampling of the 1,000’s of items available for purchase from The Fly Shop® – all available online, in our mail order catalog or in our shop. If you can’t think of what to buy, give us a call (800) 669-3474 and we can look up your fly fisher’s purchase history and suggest a great gift. And if you are still at a loss, purchase a gift card and let your fly fisher do the fun work of shopping.

Staff Bio – Patrick Pendergast

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Pat’s experience as a fly angler goes way back. His first memories of fly fishing were on the Kings River in California, when he took out his dad’s fly rod and automatic reel and thought fly fishing consisted of pulling all the line off of the reel (to the knot securing it to the arbor) letting it swing downstream and then retrieve by pulling the lever on the reel.

But when he was about 14 years old, he worked all summer mowing lawns and cleaning pigeon lofts to save enough to purchase a real fly fishing outfit. His mom drove him down to the Millpond in Los Gatos, and he purchased a Sage 8’9″ 7-weight (fiberglass) rod and a Shakespeare multiplier reel. He immediately started fishing the outfit for bass, bluegill, and pumpkin seeds, and he never turned back.

Pat came to The Fly Shop® 1996. He first met Mike Michalak, the owner of The Fly Shop®, while guiding in Alaska in 1986. He crossed paths with Michalak again some years later fishing the flats of the Mexican Yucatan and kept in touch with Mike after that meeting. A few years later, Pat and his wife Lisa decided to give up their office jobs. He had been working with Fishing International as a travel specialist, and Lisa was making movies for George Lucas at Industrial Light and Magic. They set off from Petaluma, California, and took a month to drive north for a stint in Alaska, where they helped get a remote fishing lodge up and running. They, along with their Chesapeake Bay retriever Maggie, lived in a Yurt on an Alaskan beach. Pat was involved with marketing the new lodge and was guiding again for some of the best silver salmon fishing on Earth, and Lisa was chief bottle washer (kind of gives you the idea of what type of trooper she truly is). By the end of October, they were out of the wilderness lodge business and looking for their next venture. Pat was still in touch with Michalak and soon made the best business decision of his life: accepting a position at The Fly Shop®.

He arrived with what seemed like a hundred years of fishing, outdoor, and business experience packed into a man in his mid-30s. Some of his experience includes a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration with a minor in business from California State University Chico, but the bulk of it comes from hands-on, in-the-field training. He truly loves talking with fishing travelers and putting together the trips that only first-hand experience can provide. Pat is the director of The Fly Shop’s International Travel Department. He is highly respected by the staff in the department not because he is the boss, but because he leads with the confidence of experience and is still willing and eager to learn. At work and play, he is organized and determined but not with blinders on. He is open to new ideas and solutions to old problems.

What does fly fishing do for you that keeps you coming back for more?
For me getting outside on the water with friends and family is what makes fly fishing special and has me coming back for more. Since I do quite a bit of international travel for fly fishing, it’s also meeting new people, making friends, experiencing new cultures, and seeing some amazing country. Fish don’t usually live in ugly places.

Favorite fish to pursue?
Saltwater – big tarpon – the only fish that has made my knees shake!
Freshwater – steelhead or Atlantic salmon – they are amazing creatures.

What fly fishing destination is on your bucket list?
Oh man, that is a tough one … New Zealand, Cuba, Africa — the list goes on and on! People ask me all the time what my favorite place to fish is, and I tell them: Where I am going next.

Favorite fly rod and why?
Probably my Scott Radian 12’6″ 7-weight double handed rod. This rod is so comfortable to fish, has never let me down when I need to punch a long line to hit a lie, and is just a great tool. Right behind it, and in some cases before, is The Fly Shop’s 13′ 7-weight double hander. This is one of best Spey rods I have ever fished and an incredible value. It can hold its own with any rod out there.

Favorite reel and why?
I fish a lot of different brand reels, but my go-to is various Nautilus NV’s in different sizes. These reels have been great tools and have never let me down. And I like that they are made in America by a good bunch of guys.

Favorite fly and why?
Paul Miller’s Predators/Intruders/Phantoms/Super Speys. These are the most amazing anadromous fish flies ever tied, and they are by our good friend Paul Miller. I have a few in my box and still fish them on occasion.

What is your greatest fly fishing extravagance?
My Farlex reel – 4″ S handle raised pillar click and pawl reel. This reel is amazingly beautiful, handmade and bomber. Nothing sounds like this reel when a fish is running — it wakes up the entire river!

Which living or non-living fly fisher would you want to spend a day Fly Fishing with?
Hmm, that’s a tough one, but (in no order of importance) Lee Wulff, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Moore, and Mike Mercer.

Who are your favorite writers?
Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, Conn Iggulden, Jack London, Robert Ruark, Ernest Hemingway, Nathan Jorgenson, John McPhee, the list can go on and on…

What single issue in fly fishing do you feel has the greatest adverse potential?
Pebble Mine. NO PEBBLE!

What is your most memorable fly fishing trip you’ve taken?
WOW, this is a tough one. I have had so many memorable trips, but two come to mind. One is when I was guiding in Alaska, and my dad and younger brother came up, and I got to guide and fish them for the entire week. We had epic fishing, but more importantly, we had a great time. These memories will last a lifetime.

The other was a two-week float on the Sedanka Spring Creek in Kamchatka, Russia, way, way back when. We had a great group of folks, the fishing was amazing, and the two weeks allowed everyone to get in a groove. The second week was pure bliss. I wish we still did two weeks on the Sedanka — it gives you time to get into the rhythm of the river.

Which talent or natural gift would you most like to have?
To be able to play a musical instrument and sing

Who are your heroes in real life?
My dad, my mom, my wife Lisa, and my son Aidan

What is your fly fishing pet peeve?
Anglers who show little or no ethics or manners on the water

What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty, honesty, compassion, and forgiveness

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Gyrfalcon

Ross Colorado Fly Reel Review

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Ross Colorado Reel

Ross Colorado Fly Reel Review

Ross Colorado - Matte Black I was surprised recently to hear Ross was remodeling one of their most popular trout reels, the Colorado. Yet upon receiving the sample and opening the box and the included neoprene reel case, I immediately understood. They took an already beautifully machined reel and made it so much more. The curves and rounded edges would induce envy in a swimsuit model. No longer hidden with your backing and fly line, the precision machining is out in the open for you to see and enjoy. The large arbor reduces line memory and increases your line pickup rate. Not satisfied to stop there, they added more porting, even to the reel foot, to decrease weight. The all-metal external clicker mechanism adds that special look to the back of each reel, with a machined silhouette of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. This is a big change from its predecessor, which had the mountains hidden once you added backing and a fly line. At the same time, the placement of this metal plate adds appropriate weight to the reel next to the reel seat, giving it better balance with the rod.

Ross Colorado - Platinum We got a sneak peek at the new Colorado in early October and were able to spend a day on our local Upper Sacramento River putting it through its paces. I was pleasantly surprised by how smooth this reel really is. Line comes off effortlessly, without worry of free-spooling or tangling. I found the balance to be excellent when paired with the new Scott Centric 905/4, as well as a couple of other 5 weight rods we had on the trip. In my opinion, this is one of the nicest click & pawl reels to come out in recent years, and is a must-have for small stream fishing.

The price increase on this reel, from $295 to $335, is worth every penny, and keeps it at a solid price point for a click & pawl reel. It is now available in either a matte black or a softened platinum finish, and Ross has added reduced size options appropriate for either 2/3 or 4/5 weight rods.

– Terry Jepsen

Click HERE to purchase or learn more about this great reel.

Staff Bio – Terry Jepsen

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Terry Jepsen has worked for The Fly Shop since he was in junior high school. Of course, he took some time away from the shop to attend college and try his hand at other careers. Terry is the son of the owners, Mike and Bertha Michalak, and he has done just about every job you can think of here, from dusting and stocking the shelves to his recent promotion to Chief Operating Officer.

Terry with a Largemouth Bass He has been an integral part of creating one of the largest websites in the world for fly fishing as well as incorporating technology into the company. When Terry first started here, inventory and ordering were done on a clipboard, and there was only a single keyed register that we were all using.

But Terry also took a couple of years away from the shop to guide in Alaska at Wilderness Place Lodge for Ed and Judy Sharp, and this was really when his passion for fishing came to light. He had enjoyed fishing for bass locally prior to this big adventure, but fishing and being around fishing daily lit the fire. However, after his second year guiding, he realized that this wasn’t the future he was looking for. It takes a special person to be a fishing guide, and it just wasn’t the ideal fit. So, when he was 26 years old, Terry came back to The Fly Shop® to start over again.

Once home, he was surprised when Mike Michalak asked him to take on the newest aspect of the business — the internet, which was something that very few were up to speed on or even capable of doing. Remember, this was the late 1990s, and the internet was fairly new and most of us didn’t even have a personal computer or access to it. But we knew we needed to have a presence on this new platform. It started very fundamentally with a handful of informational pages, growing over the years to over a dozen domains.

Terry Jepsen - Mataveni Peacock Bass Terry has been fortunate to fish in some of the most remote and unique places on the planet. His first big adventure was to Belize with his family when he was in his early 20s. This trip was more about his first international experience, and ultimately, he found diving and snorkeling more exciting than chasing bones and permit on the flats. His second outing, several years later, was to the fabled rainbow trout waters of Kamchatka, Russia. This was an epic trip and brought a new interest in trout fishing. But his passion for bass fishing never let up over the years, and in 2015 he visited Colombia to fish the famous Mataveni River for peacock bass. This exotic trip opened the door to even more fishing opportunities. In 2017 Terry headed to Bolivia in pursuit of golden dorado, his new favorite species. Tsimane Lodge didn’t disappoint, and the extreme predators there were game changers, making it a trip that he definitely wants to take again. But next on his schedule are the tigerfish of Africa, with a plan to head to Tanzania in 2021 to put himself and his gear to the test with these jungle creatures. In case it’s not clear, his newest passions are the jungles of South America and Africa. There is no harder place on gear than the jungle!

Favorite Fish:
My favorite species to chase with a fly rod are golden dorado. This is the most aggressive species I’ve ever encountered. I actually saw this show, River Monsters, where Jeremy Wade was talking about the golden dorado. It was bizarre, especially when he told a story about a boy who had been bathing in the river and had his manhood removed by a fish. If that doesn’t give you some intrigue, then I’m not sure what would. I just had to catch this fish! Like Mike Michalak said when we were fishing for them, “If you tie a steelhead and a dorado together at the tails, the dorado would drown the steelhead and then turn around and eat it.” These powerful predators and their feeding frenzies make the hair on my arm stand up just thinking about them. There are still several golden dorado destinations that I would like to visit.

Favorite River:
This one would probably surprise most people, but my favorite river is the McCloud here in Northern California. A close second being the Pluma at Tsimane with its gin clear waters. The McCloud has possibly the most famous strain of rainbow trout in the entire world, and it’s only an hour from my house. Visiting the McCloud River is like taking a step back in time. There are no roads along the river, rarely do you see another angler, and the forest and surroundings are just beautiful. I honestly lose myself in the beauty and the sounds of nature, and I haven’t been to another place like it.

Bucket List Destination:
When you work in the fly fishing industry, your bucket list is constantly changing as new destinations are discovered. For years the top of my list (which is still incomplete) was to catch a sea run brown in Tierra del Fuego. But over the last couple of years that list has changed significantly, mostly pointing to the jungle. At the top of my list right now are tigerfish, and I’ll fulfill that when I visit Tanzania in fall 2021. After that I would like to check the largest of the jungle fish, the arapaima at Pirarucú, off that list. However, if a chance to chase golden dorado comes up, I would certainly skip other things to make that happen, such as Tsimane (Bolivia) again, Dorados on the Fly (Argentina) or Golden Dorado Cruiser (Argentina).

Favorite Rod:
I’ve always been a bit of a Scott junkie since I started fly fishing. It may be that it was the first high-end rod I ever used, the original G series. I broke that rod trying to get my fly out of a tree and got in a lot of trouble. But, I always loved the unfinished look to their blanks and the ferrule system. I had been using the Scott Radian, but with the new Scott Centric it will be an easy transition. If you haven’t gotten an opportunity to cast one of the new Centrics, I recommend you make that happen ASAP.

Favorite Reel:
This is one of the toughest decisions in fly fishing for all anglers. So many wonderful reels out there with so many different needs and uses. But, my favorite are Abel reels. Again, it goes back to the old Abel Super when I started at The Fly Shop®. Seeing those going out to customers who were going on trips every day made me realize that they were top of the line. It took many years for me to get an opportunity to first use an Abel, but it was worth the wait. My Ross Reels got the job done, but an Abel to me will always be the top tier in fly fishing reels. I really love the new Sealed Drag series as well as the lighter Vaya.

Favorite Fly:
Being a bass fisherman, this is an easy one. My all-time favorite fly is the Whitlock’s Swimming Frog. Dave Whitlock was a hero of mine at a young age, and one of the first books I read on fly fishing was written by him. I’m not a real fan of dredging the bottom for fish; I prefer watching them take on the surface. There is no better fly ever made for topwater largemouth bass fishing, period!

The One Thing You Take Everywhere:
There is one product that goes on every single trip or fishing outing — the Patagonia Stormsurge Backpack. I use this as my carry-on and then it becomes my boat bag for the week. I also take this thing everywhere when I’m home. I find having a dry bag with me all the time just makes life that much easier. I’m not one for wearing a fishing vest, pack, or sling, but I use my backpack to meet all of those needs.

Video: Fly Fishing for Kola Peninsula Atlantic Salmon at Yokanga Lodge

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At Yokanga Lodge on the Kola Peninsula, anglers fly fish for Atlantic salmon in a wilderness setting. These fish are known for their size and strength and reliably put up an impressive fight.

Learn more about this destination by clicking here.

Euro Nymph Rod Review

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Chris King - Euro Nymph

We’ve been hearing about Euro nymphing, a version of the old “high sticking” that many of us grew up doing, for quite a while. Euro nymphing just takes that type of fishing to the next level — but with long and lightweight rods, specialty lines and leaders, and even a uniquely sparse group of flies. Although this seems to be simplified, there are a lot of technical aspects to this style of fly fishing. Take for example some of the flies, which most of us would walk by in the bin and wonder why someone barely dressed a jig hook. But Perdigon style flies, such as the Sweet Pea, make for excellent “tag” flies while the “anchor” flies are similar but with a giant tungsten bead to keep them on the bottom. This style of fishing puts the angler back in touch with the trout and the flow of the river. You’re no longer limited to watching an indicator float down the river, nor are you limited to a “perfect drift,” as you are now more in control of the flies and the line.

Chris King Euro We were lucky to get out on the Upper Sacramento River a couple of weeks ago with our own Chris King and Michael Kaplan, and Echo Sales Rep Matt Callies to put the rods listed below to the test. Chris and Matt have been doing Euro nymph for years, and both have their own favorites when it comes to rod, reel, line, leader, etc., but this gave everyone an opportunity to fish all these rods next to each other. The rods are listed below from least to most expensive.

Chris King, who has been doing Euro nymph for quite some time, was the perfect person to share his reviews of the following rods:

Echo Carbon XL Euro Nymph:
If you’re looking to pick up a Euro stick to dabble in the technique a bit, but you’re not yet ready to sell your 9’5 weight and go all in, look no further than the Carbon XL. This little gem will get the job done when those little trout get quick on the grab. If you’ve ever thought about trying Euro nymphing, this a ridiculously good rod for the money that will get you started. A no frills workhorse, the Carbon XL is responsive enough to detect light takes and forgiving enough to protect light tippet.

Echo Shadow II Euro Nymph:
The Shadow II is a giant leap for Euro Kind. Super light, super responsive, super forgiving, and well, just super! It’s a big step up from the Carbon XL, so if you are serious about the Euro technique but don’t want to break the bank, give this little stick a look. You can add length sections later if you want it longer, and you can even buy an additional counterbalance weight kit to dial in the balance. It’s sensitive enough to feel the little guys slap at the fly and soft enough to protect light tippet. The Shadow II is definitely a game changer for those days that you are committed to using the long pole.

Echo Shadow X Euro Nymph:
This is the quintessential stick for the die-hard Euro-thrasher. The Shadow X is wicked light in the hand — even small children could hold it above their heads for a full day of crouching behind rocks. It’s so light, in fact, that we found our knees gave out before our shoulders did. With a super responsive tip, this rod will not only detect the subtlest of takes, but we’re pretty sure we could also feel the temperature change in various water columns. It comes complete with counterweights that you can add to balance out your favorite reel on the bottom. And that reel seat will even remind you which flies you should be using with some super cool graphics. There’s plenty of power in reserve for the big boys and not so fast that you can’t fish 6x from the tippet ring down. As a true competition rod, it will throw dries with delicacy and roll cast an indicator a country mile. If Euro nymphing is your game, the Shadow X is THE rod.

Winston Super 10 Euro Nymph:
If you are a true fly rod connoisseur, you will not find a better-appointed rod for Euro nymphing. Painted that familiar “Winston green” with a burl reel seat and shiny nickel lock rings, the Winston Super 10 will bring you joy to fish even if the fish aren’t cooperating. In traditional Winston fashion, this rod is super forgiving for the light tippet necessary to get the perfect drag free drift. There is still plenty of power in the butt section if you find a “good one.” The tip on this series is not as sensitive as others on the market, but this rod will perform well when you need to go back to traditional tactics like dry flies and indicators.

– Chris King
Master Certified, Two-Handed Certified and an emeritus member of the Casting Board of Governors for Fly Fishers International

Video: Fly Fishing for Dorado in Bolivia at Tsimane

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The jungle waters of Tsimane in Bolivia are home to some of the most thrilling fly fishing on the planet. Anglers visiting this area of the Amazon take on big, aggressive dorado as well as pacu and other species. Enjoy some exciting film footage in the video above and learn more about fly fishing for dorado at Tsimane by clicking here.

The Fly Shop Announces Lower 48 Program

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REDDING, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2020) — The Fly Shop is pleased to announce an expansion of their travel program to now include their new Lower 48 Program. Building on years of expertise and experience throughout the world, The Fly Shop now has more destinations in the United States to offer anglers.

The lodges and outfitters selected for the Lower 48 Program are a collection of friends and associates The Fly Shop team has fished with or partnered with on international trips over the last 43 years. They are a cross section of some of the best outfitters The Fly Shop team knows of and trusts to deliver a great fly fishing experience.

“I can’t tell you how excited we are to unveil our new Lower 48 Program,” states Patrick Pendergast, director of travel for The Fly Shop. “We have been fishing these destinations for close to 40 years, and now we are going to put that experience to work for our friends and clients.”

The Fly Shop’s staff members have extensive experience in states including Montana, Colorado, Texas, and more, and their breadth of expertise will serve anglers traveling in the lower 48 states well. The Fly Shop’s initial launch includes numerous world-class destinations in Montana and Idaho with more to come soon.

https://www.theflyshop.com/lower48/index.html

Casting a Spey Rod with Justin Miller

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Looking to learn how to cast a Spey rod?
A video from YETI features The Fly Shop’s Justin Miller as he breaks down the elements of casting a Spey rod. The video was made by Felt Soul Media on location with the Kamchatka Steelhead Project.