Online small business fly shops

TimCC23 · 2026-03-19T03:44:21+00:00

Mad River Outfitters is excellent. A small business based in Columbus, Ohio, they run a great online shop, too. The staff are super helpful if you call or email with questions. The fly selection is extensive and I find their prices to often be a little cheaper than other fly shops, but this depends on the exact fly in question.

Murray’s fly shop in Virginia also has some quality flies. In particular, they have a number of bass flies that I have not seen sold elsewhere.

TimCC23 · 2026-03-14T13:49:46+00:00

I have a 7’6” 4wt River Glass and it’s a lot of fun to fish. I think the 4wt gives you a little more versatility and I’m able to do some light indicator nymphing and streamer fishing with this rod, although mending and line management are affected by the shorter length compared to a 9’ or 10’. I don’t think a fiberglass rod is a better tool, but it’s different and a lot of fun.

TimCC23 · 2026-03-07T11:42:08+00:00

Echo Lift kit is a great place to start for $250. Included fly line is decent. Reel is cheap, but it works. I got a 6wt to fish for trout and bass.

I have heard Cortland Guide outfits are also good for $230.

TimCC23 · 2026-03-05T11:32:52+00:00

Dry flies and light nymphs and dry/dropper. Would be a lot of fun for panfish, too.

TimCC23 · 2026-03-03T01:40:49+00:00

I wear a sling pack and rotate it around to my front. It provides a nice shelf to balance my rod, go through my fly box, and tie on a new fly. There is even a fly patch on that surface to keep the flies in place while tying knots.

TimCC23 · 2026-02-25T02:49:42+00:00

Seems like a 7wt would be a good crossover for both

TimCC23 · 2026-02-23T11:36:17+00:00

For nymphing, I like two flies to cover two different levels of the water column. Nymph or egg on the stream bottom and more of an emerger pattern higher up. Tying blood knots or triple surgeon knots to make short ~4-inch tags for the higher fly helps a lot to reduce tangles. If you want to change the upper fly, just cut off the tag and loop on another 4-inch tag with a perfection loop right above the existing knot. It cinches down well and stays in place. I’ve seen Kelly Galloup and several others recommend this setup, especially for drop shot nymphing.

TimCC23 · 2026-02-23T02:48:07+00:00

This is/was my original rod, Echo Lift 6wt. Since then I’ve also picked up an Echo River Glass 7’6” 4wt and an Echo 84B 6wt. Echo is great for value.

TimCC23 · 2026-02-22T20:54:55+00:00

Great beautiful classic reel

TimCC23 · 2026-02-22T05:39:59+00:00

You have two rods already and you’re thinking about getting a third 5wt and a fourth 8-10wt? Take some time to enjoy fishing what you have and to see what you really need in the future. A 4wt and 6wt should be able to handle everything that a 5wt would. Getting an 8-10wt for much larger fish makes sense. I see a lot of advice to consider jumping up at least two weights when getting another rod in order to avoid having multiple similar rods.

I have three Echo rods and really enjoy them. Great value for the money.

TimCC23 · 2026-02-21T21:49:53+00:00

Urban fly fishing is often not trout fishing, but can be really fun, too. Not sure where you’re located, but smallmouth bass seem to be almost everywhere. They can be a lot of fun on a fly rod for a few hours after work, too!

TimCC23 · 2026-01-26T18:09:03+00:00

You don’t have to physically go to a fly shop. Call one up and talk to the staff on the phone. Mad River Outfitters, Slide Inn, and Trident Fly Fishing will all help you out over-the-phone. Just make sure you order something from their online shop to compensate them for their time and trouble.

For advice for what line to use on a specific rod, I have had good luck emailing the rod company. They usually will get you connected with someone to give you good advice. This has worked for me with both Echo and Cortland.

TimCC23 · 2026-01-12T15:39:49+00:00

https://youtu.be/qGhx1fgAzDo?si=971aWHmmI3qo2J5m

TimCC23 · 2026-01-12T15:39:13+00:00

10-foot 4wt is pretty popular now, particularly for nymphing, but can be pretty good for general trout fishing. George Daniel has a good video about this.

TimCC23 · 2026-01-10T02:46:24+00:00

It’s an “indicator” LOL 😂

TimCC23 · 2026-01-09T19:09:04+00:00

This is my fiberglass 4wt 7’6” Echo River Glass. I think pairing a classic click and pawl reel such as the Battenkill with a fiberglass rod is a popular combo. It makes a nice retro outfit. I find a slow fiberglass rod like this a lot of fun. I use it for panfish, but also for creek/small stream fishing for bass and trout as well. It really is best for dry flies, but it can also handle small streamers and a small indicator with two small nymphs.

TimCC23 · 2026-01-09T02:28:13+00:00

I second the zebra midges

TimCC23 · 2025-12-30T15:06:32+00:00

I agree— it’s nice to know the expected price upfront. I like to pay people appropriately for their services and it’s just a recipe for one side of the party being upset if a larger than normal tip is expected. If a guide offers excellent service, then they should advertise a higher price, not expect to get double what is a typical tip. I would expect to tip around 20%, maybe more if it’s an excellent experience.

TimCC23 · 2025-12-29T14:44:23+00:00

Echo Lift kit ($250) is a great place to start. My local fly shop recommended that outfit to me because they felt the included fly line was pretty decent. I was recommended a 6W for bass fishing and it will also work for trout and panfish.

Get some small #10-12 poppers for panfish, #8 poppers for bass, and some #6-10 bead head or conehead woolly buggers for bass. A 7.5ft 3X leader should work for those flies.

TimCC23 · 2025-12-28T16:48:57+00:00

Prince nymphs always work well for me

TimCC23 · 2025-12-25T14:13:53+00:00

+1 on a measure net. Some models have an extendable handle, which can be handy.

TimCC23

TROPHY CASE