CLN Q1. Please tell our audience about The Fly Shop® and the impact it has on the town of Redding.

Bryan: “The Fly Shop® has been outfitting fly fishers in Northern California and around the world for more than 45 years. We guide the local rivers and streams primarily for Rainbow Trout including the Sacramento River right here in town, and many fly anglers have caught the fish of a lifetime right underneath the Sundial Bridge launching at the famous Posse Grounds boat ramp right next to the Redding Rodeo Grounds. We bring nearly 5,000 people annually to Redding and the surrounding areas to fly fish with our guides alone, and countless others who stop by the shop to fish all of the great places we have here in the north state.

A funny story, we are currently doing some improvements to the building of The Fly Shop® and had to take one of our signs and our giant metal rainbow trout off so that we can replace the siding on the freeway side of our building. The day those were removed, we received over 20 calls asking if we had gone out of business. At least 10 of those callers stated that The Fly Shop® is more iconic in Redding than the Sundial Bridge.”

CLN Q2. How does it feel to be partnering with the Redding Rodeo? What makes this partnership unique?

Bryan: “The Fly Shop® is and has always been very supportive of the Redding Rodeo. Many of our staff and friends here in town attend the Redding Rodeo annually. The owners of The Fly Shop® attend the pancake breakfast every year as well as purchase a box for the Thursday night event. We even reached out to them last year as we noticed they were a sponsor short and inquired about becoming a sponsor.

Given its iconic status, and being right next to the most prolific Rainbow Trout tailwater in America, many who come for the rodeo may not be aware they have an opportunity to fish a Blue Ribbon trout stream and land a trophy Rainbow. Mid-May is one of the best times to fish as well, so we’d be happy to steer anyone out here for the rodeo in the right direction to any of the great streams in our area if they would like to wet a line. We have also had discussions with the leaders of the rodeo to offer discounts to the participants for guided fly fishing trips during their time in Redding.”

Photo Courtesy of Redding Rodeo

CLN Q3. What are some of your personal favorites that The Fly Shop® has to offer?

Bryan: “We literally have everything you would ever need here in the shop to fly fish for trout, bass, salmon, tuna, or literally any species of fish you could think of. We also book and outfit fly fishers for international trips to chase exotic species of fish in South America, the Bahamas, Africa, and many other places around the globe.

The Fly Shop owner, Mike Michalak, chose Redding to start his fly fishing company due to the amazing opportunities for fly fishing in the area. But, for us, a guided trip on a drift boat for wild Rainbow Trout here on the Sacramento River is as good as it gets. You can hook a lot of fish, and seeing the river up close and personal on a drift boat while an expert sets up your rod is super fun. And these fish can fight! Better bring your A-Game!”

CLN Q4. Are there any closing thoughts you’d like to share regarding The Fly Shop® and the Redding Rodeo?

Bryan: “We welcome the rodeo fans each year and look forward to this particular event every single year. We love our town and one of the reasons we all live here is the fishing and the amazing outdoor opportunities here in Northern California. It really is a special place!”