Precision Fly & Tackle coming to the Poconos

[jifigz]

I think I was in the Precision Fly Shop in Lancaster one time. It was a nice shop. It had plenty of stuff to choose from and the guy working the store was polite, helpful, and courteous.

I hate to admit this, but I just placed an order at J. Stockard yesterday. Between BWO and J. Stockard, those two companies get 90% of my business.

 

[Bamboozle]

I think I was in the Precision Fly Shop in Lancaster one time. It was a nice shop. It had plenty of stuff to choose from and the guy working the store was polite, helpful, and courteous.

I hate to admit this, but I just placed an order at J. Stockard yesterday. Between BWO and J. Stockard, those two companies get 90% of my business.

Online retailers get 100% of my business and have been for some time because I can hunt for the specific items I am after versus buying something else because that's what the shop sells.

The bigger problem is fly tying materials...

I was lucky to build a relationship of trust with a few guys like Chris Helm, an acknowledged expert in hair flies who owned a business called Whitetail Fly Tying and Don Bastian, a master of classic wets.

When I ordered materials from these guys, they hand selected the stuff and it was always as good or better that what I would have chosen if I went to a shop. As fly tiers vastly more talented than me, they also suggested tools or other things based on their experience which saved me a lot of trial and error. Both gentlemen got almost 100% of my material purchases.

Sadly both passed away but I've managed to partially fill the void with a couple of small shops with both an online presence and someone in the shop I trust to pick out materials.

 

[hooker-of-men]

Agreed about dunkelbergers. I had been in there several times in the past decade or so and thought it was a nice store pre covid. Was in post covid and noticed a trend towards more clothing. Was in again about a year ago and it went even further towards clothing. Fishing section was a shell of former self. I am sure sales must support these moves, but for flyfishing I wouldnt see any reason to stop there.

That's a bummer. During the years I lived in the area (something like 2014-18), both the Dunkelberger's locations had a solid assortment of essentials, a wall of tying materials, etc. I even took some Intro to Fly Fishing courses at the Brodheadsville location that included parking lot casting instruction. They seemed to be at least trying to get a cool program going.

I guess it's inevitable that selling Carhartt gear is going to be more profitable, though. Unfortunate.

 

[CRB]

"
The bigger problem is fly tying materials...

I was lucky to build a relationship of trust with a few guys like Chris Helm, an acknowledged expert in hair flies who owned a business called Whitetail Fly Tying and Don Bastian, a master of classic wets.

When I ordered materials from these guys, they hand selected the stuff and it was always as good or better that what I would have chosen if I went to a shop. As fly tiers vastly more talented than me, they also suggested tools or other things based on their experience which saved me a lot of trial and error. Both gentlemen got almost 100% of my material purchases.

Sadly both passed away but I've managed to partially fill the void with a couple of small shops with both an online presence and someone in the shop I trust to pick out materials."


That is the service we all got with the local shops. I too feel the pain. It is very hard to purchase fly tying supplies now days. Colors just are not descriptive nor color photos crisp enough online on feathers, threads, ect. for me to purchase.

"I guess it's inevitable that selling Carhartt gear is going to be more profitable, though. Unfortunate."

Even tougher because of the status of the Carhartt wears because of our senior US Senator.
But, fads do change.

I too purchase most of my fly fishing supplies online never have a problem with out of stock or it will be here later this week. My big box is constantly running out of goods. The big box inventory is all based on seasons, limits and things that will sell quickly..

 

[wgmiller]

Even tougher because of the status of the Carhartt wears because of our senior US Senator.
But, fads do change.

To be fair, he's still this junior senator until January 3, 2025 🙂

 

[Bamboozle]

"
The bigger problem is fly tying materials...

I was lucky to build a relationship of trust with a few guys like Chris Helm, an acknowledged expert in hair flies who owned a business called Whitetail Fly Tying and Don Bastian, a master of classic wets.

When I ordered materials from these guys, they hand selected the stuff and it was always as good or better that what I would have chosen if I went to a shop. As fly tiers vastly more talented than me, they also suggested tools or other things based on their experience which saved me a lot of trial and error. Both gentlemen got almost 100% of my material purchases.

Sadly both passed away but I've managed to partially fill the void with a couple of small shops with both an online presence and someone in the shop I trust to pick out materials."


That is the service we all got with the local shops. I too feel the pain. It is very hard to purchase fly tying supplies now days. Colors just are not descriptive nor color photos crisp enough online on feathers, threads, ect. for me to purchase.

I had good sucess dealing with Joe Fox at Dette's.

 

[Mwo10mwo]

I stopped in Evening Hatch last week for the first time. Great shop with even better staff. Super nice guys all around and taught me a few things on tying.

 

[Letort]

I frequent both TCO and Precision and they generally have what I am looking for. Trouble with those quirky, one-off shops is that they are entirely dependent on the owner. Both health-wise and temperament. Cold Spring Anglers in Carlisle was mentioned. Don’t get me wrong, Herb was knowledgeable, and I knew him well enough to be at his house from time to time, but depending on his mood, you were as likely to be growled at as helped. Always had good luck at Evening Hatch when I was in the area.

Lot more stability when you have a management team that can run a chain of stores and have some buying clout versus a sole proprietor.

 

[Bamboozle]

Herb mellowed a lot just before and after the shop closed...

I still remember seeing him & Cathy post Cold Spring Anglers, sitting on lawn chairs in Vince's Meadow one balmy November day when I was headed down to the Letort. He was so friendly and talkative I had to excuse myself so I could go fishing.