Precision Fly & Tackle coming to the Poconos

[wgmiller]

Saw this come through my email today. Had them opening up a shop in the Lehigh Valley next, so this was a bit of a surprise.

 

[tpn]

Love it. Frequenter of the online shop and their mobile shop. Justin and crew are great to work with.

 

[Millsertime]

Good to hear. Better than closing. I wish/hope they keep the name. Can't think of a better name than Evening Hatch.

 

[Tigereye]

EH was a good shop with great people. Bar is pretty high for the new guys.

I wish both good luck.

 

[RichFishbelt]

EH was a good shop with great people. Bar is pretty high for the new guys.

I wish both good luck.

I have heard that most if not all of the current crew will be staying on.

 

[Bamboozle]

...Had them opening up a shop in the Lehigh Valley next, so this was a bit of a surprise.

After witnessing the demise of at least 6 Lehigh Valley fly shops in the decades I lived in the area, I wouldn't bet on another...

 

[wgmiller]

After witnessing the demise of at least 6 Lehigh Valley fly shops in the decades I lived here in the area, I wouldn't bet on another...

That's odd. When looking at a map, it certainly paints a picture that a fly shop in the LV would be a slam dunk. Guess not!

 

[Bamboozle]

That's odd. When looking at a map, it certainly paints a picture that a fly shop in the LV would be a slam dunk. Guess not!

You would think, but there hasn't been a quasi-proper fly shop in the area in more than 20 years. Even though the shop changed hands & focus, the "region" also lost Angler's Pro Shop in Souderton earlier this year.

It's the same deal with Carlisle & Stroudsburg. I remember when there were several independent shops in and around both towns. Today Carlisle boasts two rubber stamp/cookie cutter shops and Stroudsburg has nothing worth mentioning unless you want to do some driving WAY out of town.

I just hope if the Lehigh Valley, Carlisle or Stroudsburg proper ever get a new fly shop. It's a one-off independent shop with some character and characters...

 

[wgmiller]

You would think, but there hasn't been a quasi-proper fly shop in the area in more than 20 years. Even though the shop changed hands & focus, the "region" also lost Angler's Pro Shop in Souderton earlier this year.

It's the same deal with Carlisle & Stroudsburg. I remember when there were several independent shops in and around both towns. Today Carlisle boasts two rubber stamp/cookie cutter shops and Stroudsburg has nothing worth mentioning unless you want to do some driving WAY out of town.

I just hope if the Lehigh Valley, Carlisle or Stroudsburg proper ever get a new fly shop. It's a one-off independent shop with some character and characters...

At least if you're in Carlisle you can shoot to TCO in Boiling Springs or Precision in Mt. Holly Springs rather quickly. They're only a short dip from the borough.

Sadly, I think starting a successful "brick and mortar" fly shop today is a true rarity. As with many businesses nowadays, the big fish keep the little fish out of the pond and make it tough to compete. There are a few notable exceptions that I've seen in the past few years, such as Creekside in Lancaster County and Pocono Fly Fishing in Jim Thorpe, but they are definitely the exception. Dunkelberger's in Stroudsburg has the potential to have a decent little fly shop as a part of the bigger store, but there must be a reason it never really took off.

 

[JeffP]

At least if you're in Carlisle you can shoot to TCO in Boiling Springs or Precision in Mt. Holly Springs rather quickly. They're only a short dip from the borough.

Sadly, I think starting a successful "brick and mortar" fly shop today is a true rarity. As with many businesses nowadays, the big fish keep the little fish out of the pond and make it tough to compete. There are a few notable exceptions that I've seen in the past few years, such as Creekside in Lancaster County and Pocono Fly Fishing in Jim Thorpe, but they are definitely the exception. Dunkelberger's in Stroudsburg has the potential to have a decent little fly shop as a part of the bigger store, but there must be a reason it never really took off.

Do you think Creekside is doing ok? I live a couple miles down the road and feel bad I have never been there.

 

[wgmiller]

Do you think Creekside is doing ok? I live a couple miles down the road and feel bad I have never been there.

They're always adding inventory and seem to be doing events, etc., so I have to guess they're getting by. I'm not 100% sure on the owner's details, but from what I know it's not his livelihood. That being said, I have to guess as long as he's covering expenses and having fun, it's likely not as big of a deal as someone who is trying to earn a living from a fly shop. I've only ever been in Creekside once or twice, as I find that location a bit out-of-the-way from where in live in the northwest part of the county. If I fished Lititz Run, there would be a reason to stop, but I don't.

 

[Bamboozle]

At least if you're in Carlisle you can shoot to TCO in Boiling Springs or Precision in Mt. Holly Springs rather quickly. They're only a short dip from the borough...

...Dunkelberger's in Stroudsburg has the potential to have a decent little fly shop as a part of the bigger store, but there must be a reason it never really took off.

TCO & Precision are a far, far cry from the Yellow Breeches shop and Cold Spring Anglers back in the day...

I've walked into TCO Boiling Springs and Precision, Mt Holly exactly once each and that was enough for me despite being a frequent visitor to the Carlisle area.

Dunkelberger's wasn't a bad shop back in the day when Don Baylor worked the counter in Stroudsburg and you also had Andy Charalampos' Windsor Fly Shop just up the road to fill the gaps.

These days Dunkelberger's is more about guns and clothing than fishing and sadly Andy & the Windsor Fly Shop is long gone...

 

[lycoflyfisher]

TCO & Precision are a far, far cry from the Yellow Breeches shop and Cold Spring Anglers back in the day...

I've walked into TCO Boiling Springs and Precision, Mt Holly exactly once each and that was enough for me despite being a frequent visitor to the Carlisle area.

Dunkelberger's wasn't a bad shop back in the day when Don Baylor worked the counter in Stroudsburg and you also had Andy Charalampos' Windsor Fly Shop just up the road to fill the gaps.

These days Dunkelberger's is more about guns and clothing than fishing and sadly Andy & the Windsor Fly Shop is long gone...

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.