Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2021 9 hours ago, Bryon Anderson said: I would agree with you that Cabela's started out as the quintessential "Mom & Pop" business -- I think the discontent with so-called big box stores comes from what tends to happen to Mom & Pops that grow into big boxes: in order to grow, they have to try and serve larger and larger clienteles with more diversified interests, leading to the selection becoming more generic (especially in niche areas like fly fishing and--ever more niche--fly tying). If they get REALLY big, they eventually go public, which means that now the shareholders' profits are always going to be more important than their customers' satisfaction, and it's a downhill slide from there. It would be hard to find a better example of this than what has happened to Cabela's since they merged with BPS. Too big, too generic, more concerned with maximizing profit than genuinely serving the needs of all their customers. Oldest story in the (capitalist) book. There's a "sweet spot" in there somewhere--a spot where the owners are making good money, but still providing high quality service and selection. The problem is, you're never going to get a businessman to recognize (much less stop growing at) "enough money". And before you light into me for dissing capitalism, "the American Way" and all that, hear me when I say that I know other socio-economic systems have signal failings, as well. All I'm saying is, with Capitalism, what I've described above seems to be the nature of the beast. Indeed it is good and ever so slightly bad for ever so few. Good for thousands of employees, good for economically depressed areas these big box stores open in, good for owners, good for share holders, good for the economy, good for the taxman, and good but not great for the super niche fly fishing/tying folks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted October 26, 2021 Jim's Fly Company is NOT in west Yellowstone. It is on the bank of the Madison River at Campfire Lodge just off of Ghost Village Road. It is owned by Jim Slattery, who I know from Flyfish@. Their mailing address is West Yellowstone because that is where the post office for them is. So I think that is what may have misled you. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jim's+Fly+Co.+Fly+Shop/@44.8703929,-111.3489126,1056m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xdf7ac3d4d7c60216!8m2!3d44.8691079!4d-111.3472418 Jim has the best selection of fly tying hackle in the USA. I stop there every time I fish the Madison. This is Jim. You will usually find him working his magic on the grill during breakfasts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2021 18 hours ago, SilverCreek said: Jim's Fly Company is NOT in west Yellowstone. It is on the bank of the Madison River at Campfire Lodge just off of Ghost Village Road. It is owned by Jim Slattery, who I know from Flyfish@. Their mailing address is West Yellowstone because that is where the post office for them is. So I think that is what may have misled you. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jim's+Fly+Co.+Fly+Shop/@44.8703929,-111.3489126,1056m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xdf7ac3d4d7c60216!8m2!3d44.8691079!4d-111.3472418 Jim has the best selection of fly tying hackle in the USA. I stop there every time I fish the Madison. This is Jim. You will usually find him working his magic on the grill during breakfasts. I stand corrected. Next time I'm up that way I'll def stop in. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted October 27, 2021 There are four fly shops I always visit when I fish the Madison River. 1. Jim's Fly Shop - for breakfast at the attached restaurant and to check out the Jim's hackle. 2. Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone to check out their supply of elk and deer hair for quality patches and to see if Craig Mathews has come up with any new patterns, 3. Slide Inn to visit with Kelly Galloup 4. Here is the "secret one" - Beartooth Flyfishing on Hwy 287 south of Cameron which is between Ennis and $3 Bridge. This is really a great fly shop for fly tying materials. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eaglecreekcustom 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2021 On 10/25/2021 at 4:59 PM, SilverCreek said: Cabelas did start out selling mail order flies with which they included a mail order catalog for other sporting goods. To my knowledge, they never had a fly SHOP. https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/how-dick-cabela-sold-the-great-outdoors https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/about-us https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabela's I think that is right Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrLogik 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2021 Cabelas never really did have a good fly tying section. BassPro actually did though, and still does where I live but the store is 40 minutes away and the Cabelas is 15. Luckily there are two other shops in town that have a pretty good selection plus there is an Orvis shop 5 minutes from where I live. I'm lucky, really lucky but I do live in a fishing mecca part of the country. Lot's of bass and off-shore tournament fishing here also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted October 28, 2021 On 10/27/2021 at 12:32 PM, SilverCreek said: There are four fly shops I always visit when I fish the Madison River. 1. Jim's Fly Shop - for breakfast at the attached restaurant and to check out the Jim's hackle. 2. Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone to check out their supply of elk and deer hair for quality patches and to see if Craig Mathews has come up with any new patterns, 3. Slide Inn to visit with Kelly Galloup 4. Here is the "secret one" - Beartooth Flyfishing on Hwy 287 south of Cameron which is between Ennis and $3 Bridge. This is really a great fly shop for fly tying materials. Thank you sir Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timijin 0 Report post Posted October 30, 2021 On 10/25/2021 at 7:55 AM, Sandan said: Cabelas here is terrible for tying supplies. Anglers All still rocks though Greg has retired. Charlies Fly box, Charlie Craven's shop has more candy than any other shop around. Anglers and Charlies are my go to shops. Great selection, great customer service and great people work there. Unfortunately, Garcia didn't retire but someone wanted his job. He built most of what the tying section has become. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 On 10/29/2021 at 6:34 PM, Timijin said: Unfortunately, Garcia didn't retire but someone wanted his job. He built most of what the tying section has become. Really? I don't know anything about the internal politics at the shop, but the guys told me he had retired. He did a great job with the tying section and was always really free with advice, help and answering any questions. I always had plenty of them. Are you a Coloradan? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J-Kno 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 13 minutes ago, Sandan said: Really? I don't know anything about the internal politics at the shop, but the guys told me he had retired. He did a great job with the tying section and was always really free with advice, help and answering any questions. I always had plenty of them. Are you a Coloradan? Greg is great! If you want to learn to tie consistent flies, Greg is your guy... counting every wrap! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 20 minutes ago, J-Kno said: Greg is great! If you want to learn to tie consistent flies, Greg is your guy... counting every wrap! Greg is great. A true expert. Where in NoCo? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Timijin 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 6 hours ago, Sandan said: Really? I don't know anything about the internal politics at the shop, but the guys told me he had retired. He did a great job with the tying section and was always really free with advice, help and answering any questions. I always had plenty of them. Are you a Coloradan? Yes, he was forced in to retirement. Yes, I met Garcia when he was still at Charlies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 8 minutes ago, Timijin said: Yes, he was forced in to retirement. Yes, I met Garcia when he was still at Charlies. That sucks. You know Charlies has moved to a new location right? Greg is a great guy. Charlie too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J-Kno 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 7 hours ago, Sandan said: Greg is great. A true expert. Where in NoCo? I do a version of his Rojo midge that has slayed on lakes! I'm just above Ft Collins Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eaglecreekcustom 0 Report post Posted November 1, 2021 Where I am there is no designated fly shops. Their is Ace Hardware, BI mart, and a few other places. I supply an outdoor store with flies. Chase eaglecreekcustom.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites