[dropcap]U[/dropcap]rban Angler is synonymous with New York City fly fishing. Started in 1988 in a small space on 28th Street, Urban Angler has stood the test of time while growing into a recognizable brand that instantly brings to mind quality and experience. Having been a customer and then a manager and then a customer again, I have had the opportunity to peer behind the curtain a bit. What is behind it you may ask? Pretty much what you’d expect, no smoke or mirrors here. Management has adhered to the basic premise of field tested quality products at fair retail pricing. With most quality manufacturers in the fly fishing industry, dealers are bound to retail pricing. This protects dealers from undercutting each other and creates a level playing field in a business that has seen some turbulent times in the wake of a national recession that witnessed the closing of more than a few shops and manufacturers. But Urban Angler keeps plugging away with their tried and true approach to the biz.
New digs, same great style.
Now in their 3rd NYC incarnation, Urban Angler is newly re-located to a beautiful 2500 square foot space at 381 Fifth Avenue, between 35th and 36th streets. In it you will find the same friendly and knowledgeable staff and array of quality products including fly fishing, fly tying and spin fishing gear. Provided they are not insanely busy, the staff is always willing to take some time to show you how to tie a nail knot or Bimini twist. Their is always a tying station set up with a nice Dyna King vise for one of the guys to demonstrate tying that midge pattern you might have been struggling with. When I asked a veteran staff member to outline the UA approach, he said, “Our main focus is providing exclusive and unique products that cannot be found elsewhere in New York City, combined with world class customer service. In addition,” he added, “Urban Angler is expanding our travel department and offering more hosted trips than in the past. We specialize in exotic destinations and currently have trips scheduled for tiger fish in Tanzania (October 2013) and giant arapaima in Guyana (March 2014).”
People often ask, “A fly fishing store in New York City? That’s weird!” It has never seemed so weird to me. I
mean, for starters, Manhattan it is surrounded by water. The Hudson River is the second largest spawning grounds for the Striped Bass and the wonderful fishery that is Jamaica Bay nearly laps against the tarmac at JFK airport. Montauk, an actual mecca for saltwater anglers, is only slightly over a hundred miles away. The Upper Delaware river system is a world class trout fishery and only a stones throw as well. So it makes sense to me to have a world class fly shop located in the heart of the city. I recall casting rods in Madison Square Park one day when a somewhat dirty and disheveled man who may or may not have had a home approached me, “Hey! What kind of rods are those?” I tried to blow him off in hopes he would just move on so we could cast. “What kind of rods?”, he said. “Oh sorry, this is a Winston and and this is a Sage,” I said assuming he would have no clue. “Oh… I like Loomis,” he said as he shuffled off. Only in New York kids!
Great gear and great service.
So a location close to tons of world class fishing coupled with a sound approach to a tricky business and the support of many international anglers passing through the city has really helped Urban Angler weather just about anything that the economy or the industry has thrown at them over the last quarter of a century. Impressive indeed. So next time you are in or near the city, consider stopping in to peruse some very cool gear and rap with the gang their. Go cast the new Sage Method and Motive fly rods in Central Park when they arrive in August. Or sign up for a casting lesson to brush up on your double haul before hitting Montauk during this years Fall run. These guys have been doing it about as long as anybody and have traveled and fished the world over, from Prospect Park to Christmas Island and beyond. That reminds me, huge carp and bass in Central and Prospect Parks are a good reason to visit as well. Stop in and the gang at Urban Angler will set you straight.
