Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/812511
better than I ever will, and she made sure that I had both the info and the flies I needed to maximize my success. I can even take advantage of that kind of local expertise online. Before I drive down to fish the Missouri river, I invariably check out the HeadHunters website. One click and I can find the updated river conditions, see if the fish are biting, and learn what flies and techniques are working best. Of course, it's also incumbent upon me to swing into the shop and buy a few flies or a couple of leaders when I roll into Craig, Montana. If I'm going to avail myself of a shop's expertise, it's only fair that I support the business with a purchase or two when the opportunity arises. The most important reason to go into a fly shop, though, may not be apparent unless you think about it for a while. Seriously, where else are you going to find a bunch of folks who love fly fishing as much as you do? Sure, you can head down to the local stream and chances are good you'll bump into a handful of other anglers. But if you're anything like me, you'd rather spend your time on the water fishing, as opposed to socializing. When I'm in the mood, though, I can stop by Bigfork Anglers, which is a sweetheart of a fly shop right here in town, and whether it's packed or empty I know that owner Jason Lanier is always going to have a smile on his face and a couple of great stories to tell. And that's also true of Lary's Fly & Supply up in Columbia Falls, or the Mystique Fly Shop in Kalispell, or TroutHunter on the Henry's Fork, or Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, or HeadHunters in Craig, or the Elk River Guiding Co. in Fernie, B.C., or The Trout Shop on the Missouri, or hundreds of other fly shops all over North America. At the end of the day, human beings are tribal; that's how we roll. And it just so happens that our particular tribe wears waterproof pants, fishes with really long rods, and fixates on trout, steelhead, bonefish, pike, tarpon, smallmouth bass, and permit. So the fact that there are stores just for us, retail emporiums that not only provide the gear and clothing we need but also help educate us with fishing reports and expert advice, is a huge bonus for anglers all over the country. When we throw in the fact that fly shops are also a great place to hang out and socialize . . . well, it sounds like it's time to visit the local shop, doesn't it? n 146 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S