"Blew out my boots right before an out of town trip and my local shops didn't have what I was looking for. Found The Compleat Angler through the manufacturer and called the shop. Awesome friendly service, and two days later my new boots were at my doorstep. Couldn't be happier. Thanks so much."
Brian Cline
"The Best of the Best"
"I’ve been to hundreds of fly shops. When it comes to knowledge, service and product The Compleat Angler is the best of the best. Amazing group of staff, all passionate about the sport and willing to help with everything from tying, trips, gear, fishing spots, everything."
Hunter Huebsch
"The most knowledgeable staff I have come across"
"This is the greatest fly shop around! They had everything I was looking for and they even ordered me something I was looking for and got in a week! Great staff, atmosphere, and selection, especially if you want the best or hard-to-find in the industry. This shop has the most knowledgeable staff I have come across. Prices are very good as well. Great experience all around."
Jennifer Schafer
"Genuinely interested in where I fished and what I caught"
A great new store and staff with a LOT of gear. They are genuinely interested in where I fished and what I caught. A minimum of three guys are working all the time- usually Scott the owner, Bob, and Forrest. They provide personal assistance and unlimited time and attention every time I am there. Forrest and Scott (the owner) provide intel on the local waters and will sit with me at their desks and pull up Google earth to map out the best fishing spots. What a great resource less than 15 minutes from my home.
Gregg J
"They Earned A Customer For Life"
Top notch customer service. My husband asked for a set of Simms waders like I got last year for our first wedding anniversary. I had the hardest time finding his size. I found it through Compleat Angler but unfortunately sold out before my order was completed. Scott called me and told me he was sending me this years versions instead. A big company would have just cancelled my order. There really is something to be said for shopping at small business. They earned a customer for life. He got to use his waders today and he’s beyond thrilled. Can’t recommend enough.
We're a local shop, not a big box store or warehouse. If you see it here on our site, we carry it in the shop (we also don't do backorders). We ship orders daily so you'll get them in a timely fashion.
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! The biggest improvement this week is that flows have dropped to fishable levels on our local rivers and streams. Since they are still a bit high, consider streamer and nymph fishing until trout start keying in on Small Black Stoneflies during more average flows. In addition, a few more areas were stocked this week and in terms of fly selection these fish will be very forgiving. The Housatonic and Farmington are currently high, so consider waiting until the flows drop. On the Salmon River in upstate NY, Steelhead are in transition to drop back to the lake and are spread out throughout the river. They will be more aggressive after the spawn so consider swinging streamers. In the Catskills, anglers are seeing Small Black Stoneflies and Blue Winged Olives with more frequency. Consider fishing subsurface until flows drop and fish start to key in on these bugs. Local temperatures will reach the high 40s this week, so look for more bug activity on our local rivers and streams. Read on for more…
Hello Compleat Angler friends! It should be no surprise that flows are high from all our rain this week. We would advise waiting until conditions improve for safe wading and improved clarity. Fortunately, most of our local streams and rivers recover quickly, so keep an eye on flows. New York was no exception, as flows are also high in the Catskills and on the Salmon River. If you’re anxious to fish soon, flows on the West Branch of the Farmington River above the confluence with the Still are currently average. We’re expecting more rain Saturday evening both locally and in upstate NY. When flows do improve, a select number of rivers and lakes have been stocked recently, so a variety of flies should work, and there is still good holdover fishing in areas that haven’t been stocked yet. Many anglers are continuing to have a great Steelhead season on the Salmon River, and there are a good number of fish that have made their way to the upper sections. Read on for more…
Hello Compleat Angler friends! We’ve seen some good improvements in our freshwater fishing this week. The state of Connecticut has started stocking some select lakes, ponds, and rivers in anticipation for Spring. Areas that are stocked will be more forgiving in terms of fly selection, everything from streamers to Mops, Squirmies, and more imitative bugs will work until the trout become more educated. On other rivers that haven’t been stocked, fish are looking up and more regularly keying in on small Black Stoneflies in sizes #16-#18. One detail to note is that rivers are still high from this past week’s rain, but they are dropping quickly toward average levels. Some of our anglers are taking some early trips to the Delaware River and are catching fish on streamers and nymphs. Further north, Great Lakes Anglers are finding good numbers of Steelhead that are staged near the upper reaches of the Salmon River, and all the tributaries are fishing well. Read on for more…