Lilley's Riverside Fly Shop

[Flysmallie]

Preface: I have been planning on doing some simple gear reviews. I've made a decision to get a lot more dedicated to fly fishing this year, and I have spent a crap ton of time and money getting regeared. I'm not saying that I'm smarter than anyone on any of this. But I have tried out a lot of different things and visited a lot of different places putting hands on what's available (which is a lot harder than it should be). Even if I do make it to a town with a decent fly shop they are either closing by the time I get there or they don't have any of what I want. It's not their fault. There are so many options, in every category, that no shop could ever carry everything. So I've contacted a lot of shops to see what they had available and all that. It's been a journey that is just about complete. My wife would appreciate that. 😁

So that brings me to Lilley's Riverside Fly Shop, and in particular, Shop Manager Darin. Before Christmas I was shopping for rods. I made a decision on a new 6wt. A Redington EDC.

So I went on a search to find the right reel for it. Now, if you know how I am, you will understand that this reel had to look a certain way. I wanted a certain color. I wanted it to look a certain way in pictures. I even told Darin, "I know this sounds stupid". But it's how I am. I'm not carrying all that heavy camera gear to not do it the way I want. Anyway I ran across an Redington Rise reel in Amber that I felt would look great on this rod, but they were discountinued. While looking for something else I ran across a fly shop out west that still had a couple. So I did a google search to see if anyone else had one. Lilley's Riverside came up in the search. 

 

I emailed the store and they told me that they had one and they put me in touch with Darin. What a great guy he is to deal with. He held the reel for me and we discussed getting me a couple of rods. We struck out on one, it was a long shot and not his fault. But he did order me an EDC and I picked them up today. More to come on the rod and reel once I get a chance to fish them. But Darin is the man. We have spoken on the phone and I have pestered him with emails, and every single time he is as nice as could be. I was short on time and did not get to spend a lot of time in the shop, but immediately spotted some hackle that I had been to two other fly shops to buy with no success. 

Give this shop some business and you won't be disappointed. In the beginning I had asked Darin if he could get me a Sage rod along with the EDC. Sage shot us down, they aren't an authorized Sage dealer. I haven't decided what I'm going to do for the second rod. I guess most people would just go grab the Sage someplace else. I think I will just find something that Darin can get me. 

[fishinwrench]

Rod blank construction has improved, overall, to the point that IMO there's no longer an advantage to owning ultra high-end rods.   Ditto with reels.

Line, on the other hand...... not so much.   You still have to spend 100.00+ to get a truly decent line.  

[Flysmallie]

20 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Line, on the other hand...... not so much.   You still have to spend 100.00+ to get a truly decent line.  

Rio Gold baby! To be honest I don’t know how much it was. I’ll have to find my receipt. Probably should burn that one before it turns up in the wife’s hands. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

12 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Rod blank construction has improved, overall, to the point that IMO there's no longer an advantage to owning ultra high-end rods.   Ditto with reels.

Line, on the other hand...... not so much.   You still have to spend 100.00+ to get a truly decent line.  

Fact! I always tell people you can have a cheap combo and if you put good line on it you'll be just fine. SA Amplitude and Sonar for me.

[tjm]

Differences of opinion; the several <$20 lines that I bought a couple years ago to use on grass sure surprised me in how well they cast and they catch fish too. On the other hand, the $130 Rio line I bought last spring was a total disappointment that I resold at $90 after very little use. Lines that I prefer are still about $70-80. If I were buying a new rod it would be in the $7-900 range of fiberglass. Or much higher in bamboo. 

[fishinwrench]

4 hours ago, tjm said:

Differences of opinion; the several <$20 lines that I bought a couple years ago to use on grass sure surprised me in how well they cast and they catch fish too.

 

Lines that cast good, and lines that fish good can be two separate things.  

Piscifun has a 30.00 line that casts and floats like a dream..... but it is as stretchy as a rubber band.  Ok if all you do is fish glo-balls at the outlets in the trout park I suppose......but a definite hindrance otherwise. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

4 hours ago, tjm said:

Differences of opinion; the several <$20 lines that I bought a couple years ago to use on grass sure surprised me in how well they cast and they catch fish too. On the other hand, the $130 Rio line I bought last spring was a total disappointment that I resold at $90 after very little use. Lines that I prefer are still about $70-80. If I were buying a new rod it would be in the $7-900 range of fiberglass. Or much higher in bamboo. 

It's not really a difference of opinion at all. It's a fact cheaper lines don't fish well and don't last. Better made lines do. If, like Wrench said, you are actually fly fishing and not outlet dunking. You can use a cane pole with nylon for that. 

@Flysmallie do yourself a favor and stick with the Rio Gold! It'll last years and you'll be happy with it. 

[Flysmallie]

4 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

@Flysmallie do yourself a favor and stick with the Rio Gold! It'll last years and you'll be happy with it. 

Yep. It’s on almost every rod I own. 

[Phil Lilley]

Darin is a blessing for sure.  He can't wait for the day I turn him lose when the new shop is built.  We'll have lots more room.

[fishinwrench]

Here are the RIO weights, if anyone is curious.