HOOKED A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FLY-FISHING GEAR Text & Photos DAVE PATTERSON
S
tanding in the shadow of the ghostly brick mill along the banks
Portland. Over the soft hum of an
of the Presumpscot River at Mallison Falls, I watch a cold breeze
electric line spooler, owner Josh Thelin
blow over the water’s surface. The cool air, along with the
40-degree river water flowing over my waders, is a welcome surprise on this unseasonable 88-degree day in early May. I’ve waited all winter for the chance to drift my fly line for trout in one of southern Maine’s tapestry of rivers; the electric anticipation of each cast makes my fingers tremble.
was talking to a customer about an upcoming fishing trip he planned to take to Labrador, Canada. This July, Thelin will celebrate one year of being open on Route 1. To say his shop is small doesn’t quite capture the closet vibe of All Points. Despite the cramped feel, the walls and shelves are loaded with fishing
the rod, reel, line, and tackle necessary
gear that Thelin has carefully curated
catch the biggest brown trout of my
for fly-fishing can sometimes
for trout fishing in Maine. In addition
life.
overwhelm beginning anglers.
to the storefront, a portion of his
I don’t know it yet, but I’m about to
Let’s rewind three weeks earlier to
But, let it be my mission to demystify
a raw day in April. As the snow banks
the world of fly-fishing gear and get
in Maine receded this spring, my
you on a river in Maine catching trout
mind naturally drifted from skiing to
and salmon this summer and fall.
fly-fishing. That’s when I start talking
On a dreary afternoon, I escaped the
to anyone who will listen about the
cruel April rain and stepped inside All
transcendent nature of this sport. But
Points Fly Shop + Outfitter in South
20 summer / fall | 2018
business comes from Internet sales and guided fishing trips. Thelin grabbed two chairs from a back office, and he and I sat in the middle of his quaint shop to talk flyfishing.