Wow! What a downer. I simply walked in to inquire places to fish and what he said had never made me felt so guilty or shamed in my life! This guy clearly despises anyone who fishes or anyone who is in the sport. I got a long lecture on how horrible the fishing conditions are, and felt that if I would be entertaining any fishing opportunities, I would be doing the fishing industry, a huge disservice. He was appalled that I walked into the store to purchase fishing tackle! I inquired about where to fish and felt obligated to buy something which only made matters worse! Not all fisherman are out there to "kill fish" as he suggested but to get out in nature and enjoy God's beautiful creation. I would never recommend going into the shop. The prices are high, the owner is a complete douche bag and if you want to feel like a complete tool for wanting to fish, this is your place. If I could give negative stars I would. read more

Have you seen the "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld? The owner will give you that same treatment in this dump. If I said this is was the worst treatment I've ever encountered in a store, I'd be underestimating how terrible the owner treats customers. To be humane about it, we wondered if he might have a mental condition that compels him to be rude. Typical, inadequate selection of overpriced items. You'd only come here in the most desperate of circumstances. By that I mean after you've asked every one else if they would loan or sell you what you may need. Please do yourself a favor - avoid. read more

I don't usually leave bad reviews, but after several bad experiences at this shop, I feel I need to warn any future fishermen who walk in here. Prepare yourself for any aggressive lecture and some shaming and scolding, regardless of what you do or say...and definitely dont take your kids in this shop. The shop is clean, organized, and has some really neat items in addition to fishing gear...unfortunately that is where the pleasant experience ends. Although he owns a shop that sells fishing gear and flies, he apparently loathes fishing and flyfishermen. Every time I have been in the store, completely minding my own business and respectfully looking through the fly options, he starts rudely quizzing me. I have heard him snap and aggresively scold other customers for opening the fly cases and not using his tweezers, so I am always extremely cautious to touch NOTHING until I want to make purchase. I am typically asked in an unfriendly manner what I'm fishing for, what flies I use, where I have been fishing etc. They seem like normal questions from a friendly fishing store clerk....WRONG. He then goes on to tell you that you shouldn't be fishing for certain species "because they are stressed from too much fishing", accuses me of targeting endangered species by whatever flies I am choosing/looking for (even though I fish in Montana/on the coast/Idaho/Oregon etc), assumes you wont pinch barbs or follow regulations, and then tells you that you shouldn't be fishing this time of year with water flows or temps, etc. I have been in there every season, so I find it comical that he has advised me to not fish in every season of the year. He has been rude to my experienced fisherman husband and has also rudely and boldly scolded my child (well behaved shy 8 year old who also regularly fly fishes) for touching just the packaging of something (nothing harmed/broken- nothing even removed from the shelf) to read the name of the product. She is now scared to go into that shop when we are in Winthrop. I want to support local. I have made my effort, but unfortunately he has lost my business and the business of all of my angler friends and family that used to shop there. read more

Probably the biggest ass I have ever met in retail how is he still in business we asked for a specific fly and he didn't carry it and made us feel stupid for asking. Very arrogant and rude. Really just tried to pick a fight with us. read more

Great outdoor and fly fishing shop. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable about local fishing opportunities and flies. Give ''em a try. read more

Terrible service - don't shop here. I wanted to buy a knife and looked at a few. The owner seemed nice at first but then told me he would only let me look at one more because he had better things to do than show me knives. He became absolutely rude and absolutely cost himself a sale. Customer service is completely lost in this person. read more

The owner Lance is a Great guy and a good resource for any information that you may need in this area. Just keep your kids out of the fly containers, and he'll take care of you just fine. read more

The Outdoorsman - Best fly shop in Washington. Best fly selection I've ever seen. - Sporting Goods Near Me - Winthrop, Washington

My last visit to this store was this week. The proprietor (he has to be the owner - no one would employ this person) is grumpy and unpleasant and actually goes out of his way to be a jerk. This time I was buying some streamers for fishing the Methow River. I use these to catch the large cutthroat trout and rainbows the Methow is famous for. And he is selling them of course. Does this stop him from being a weirdo? Of course not. He says to the whole shop "I guess you're targeting bull trout with those flies?" I already know this guys is not worth my time from my last visit. Last time my son touched a fly we were buying and he got all pissy. "Use the tweasers!" He makes you pick out flyfishing flies using tweasers..... He says: "You wouldn't believe the number of women who come in the store and paw through the flies getting all sorts of stuff on them." Actually, no I would not believe that. I have been in flyshops across the US and I have never heard of this "problem" and no one uses tweasers. But I digress. Back to the accusation that I am targeting bull trout with the FLIES HE IS SELLING: I say "sure." "Well they are federally protected you know." I have never caught a bull trout on streamers in the Methow. This was not even the end of it. He kept going. And going. I paid for my last purchase ever at this store. I fished and, you guessed it, caught cutthroats and rainbows with those flies. I would avoid this place at all costs. read more

AVOID! Wish I could give zero stars. My 5yo, who has been fly fishing for two years and tying for almost as long, and I went in to shop and the person running the shop repeatedly scolded my son for looking at, not touching or even opening the cases, the flies being sold. I tried explaining that my kid is an accomplished fly fisherman, and was shopping to buy, but I was interrupted so the person could bark at my son to stop looking at the tying materials (which he was looking to purchase). Left without spending a dime and we will never set foot in there again. read more