Orlando Outfitters

On the way back home, we made a pitstop in Orlando. We checked out some Asian markets (big and full of produce, fish and dry goods like yummy gummy candies), and since it was along the way, the flyfishing shop servicing the Central Florida area - Orlando Outfitters. I picked up some materials that I have not seen in some of the other shops I've been to recently (and usually had to order online) and an Abel lube kit. This is a nice shop with a lot of character - definitely stop in if you are in the area.

One of the Few...

We spent Monday taking a look around the beach town of New Smyrna Beach. I specifically wanted to go to New Smyrna Outfitters - a fishing tackle shop that has a good emphasis on fly fishing. Friendly owner and shop folks, great selection of equipment, and they gave excellent advise on fishing in the area as well as where the cool spots to eat are. I'll make separate posts on some of the cool things I bought. Speaking with the owner - Eddie Oliveras - was tons of fun! Cool guy that offered tons of fly advice and his take on the job market (something that I could use some help on still). He did bring up that the number of fly fishing shops is decreasing. He did mention Black Fly up here in Jacksonville, but said that a few had recently closed their doors. I think having fly and spinning gear is a smart tactic to take - I know I use both, making decisions depending on the weather - and I can drool over lures or flies. Equal opportunity I say! Make sure if you are heading south on I-95, pull off and spend some time in this shop.

The Fish Hawk

So we are in Atlanta visiting La's cousins. If you watch enough fly tying videos on Youtube, you'll end up watching guys from different Fly Shops. I've seen a bunch of carp and warm water flies from the guys at the Fish Hawk Shop. Well - when in Rome, do what the Romans do; when in Atlanta, avoid the traffic and hop into the shops you see on the internet. La and I went to a quilt shop and then to the Fish Hawk. Lots of rods, reels, lines, flies and even the spin/conventional gear you'd want to save a trip. Lots of cool fishing art on the walls - but this gyotaku stuck out of the crowd. Makes me happy to know I do better work than the stuff hanging up on fly shop walls (hmmmmm).

A Sign of Whats to Come

On Monday I drove our Honda Odyssey down to my parent's house along with the things we'd like to use shortly after we get settled in our next local (still don't know where, but for sure, not up here - too $$$ to live here and accomplish our financial goals). These fishing shops were right next to each other - fishing is getting bigger down in Florida (I don't remember shops being packed so densely down in JAX before).