I had a morning meeting in downtown Chicago yesterday, so I swung by Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters. I get to go to lot of different fly shops around the world due to my travels for work, but I have to say CFFO is a shop I’m damn glad that I live nearby. Imagine a fully loaded fly shop, but loaded with only the finest selection of products. It isn’t the random stuff you find at the mega fishing stores – but rather a careful selection of high quality, unique, and useful products. Every staff I’ve spoken to at CFFO knows their stuff inside out and they’re friendly & helpful in getting you onto the right products. It’s also refreshing that they provide frank feedback about the product they carry.
I had an opportunity to chat with Andy (owner) as he was helping me get fitted with a new pair of RX sunglasses. I asked about his recent 9 day canoe trip to Brazil, alligators and all. He showed me a few of the 10-20lb peacock bass he caught down there… imagine catching close to a 100 of these each day. By day 3, he was sipping beer out of a slinky straw as his arms were too tired from all that fish lifting. The trip looked pretty fancy, fancy with crazy fish with crazy outside camouflage on its teeth!
Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters is hardly a shop that needs any introduction, but I know my friends in Asia might enjoy hearing about them. CFFO has been around for 10 years and some pretty famous people have visited & spoke at the shop. Check them out on line, and if you’re in town – make sure to check out the shop. CFFO is also great with arranging overseas orders. Rather than me trying to write up something about CFFO, here is a excerpt from their website http://www.chifly.com/
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Andy and Jon founded Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters in March of 2001, with a simple premise: Everything fly fishing delivered with exceptional service, expertise and humility. We have outgrown 2 storefronts over the past years, and in 2008 moved into our present 3600 square foot home at 1279 N Clybourn Ave –smack dab in the Old Town/Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Located just 5-8 minutes north of downtown, we invite you to visit us, and see for yourself…
We have gained invaluable experience over the past 10 years traveling all over the world in search of fly fishing’s finest. En route, we have expanded our talented staff, and grown to be a respected source for all thing fly fishing for one of the most diverse fly fishing communities in the world: the globetrotting anglers that call Chicago home, and the world wide community that visits our incredible city. (Now, with our on-line growth, are providing the same service to our new clients on all four corners of the globe.)
We don’t have a big name trout river in our back yard. However, we believe the midwest does offer some the most diverse and we would say finest fly fishing opportunities found anywhere on earth -very close to our own back yard. Ranging from world famous steelhead and salmon tributaries of the great lakes to some of the most incredible small spring creek and freestone trout habitat in Michigan and Wisconsin, to arguably some of the finest smallmouth rivers found anywhere, we are always but a few hours away from great water and the next adventure. We are THE source for our diverse “home waters of the Midwest”.
We also cater to a customer base that travels near and far in search of fly fishing. Sharing in our customer’s adventures, having 2 international airports in town, and operating a robust travel outfitting component to our business, helps us practice what we preach. We have extensive first- hand knowledge of many of the world’s finest fresh and saltwater destinations, and the expertise to outfit you properly the first time. We won’t send you off to a trip of a life time without preparing you well!
Bottom line: We outfit for a broader range of angling adventures than most shops, and in turn, we have evolved as a shop. We offer our client’s a depth of product selection and on hand inventory that rivals most, and an experienced staff that shares your passion for all things fly fishing.
