Fishing Tales Fly Shop

I am extremely disappointed with the service we received at Fish Tales Fly Shop today (Saturday, Feb 14 2026). We came in specifically to support a local business rather than buying online, and we were prepared to spend a significant amount of money. After selecting a pair of Patagonia waders and boots for myself, and Orvis waders and Simms boots for my son, our bill was already around $1,600. We were even planning to come back for a third set for my wife once we got started. As beginners to the Calgary fishing scene, I asked the salesperson for advice on some good spots to take the family. His response was incredibly dismissive. When I asked for a recommendation near, he simply said, “Fish Creek.” When I asked if he could point out a general area on a map, he told me, “It’s my secret spot, I can’t tell you.” This is exactly why people are moving away from local shops and buying online. When you spend $1,600 at a specialty store, you expect a basic level of mentorship and community support, not “secret spot” gatekeeping. There are plenty of fish in the river for everyone, and as a new angler, I was looking for professional guidance, not a brush-off. We decided not to complete our purchase and left. We will be taking our business to a different store tomorrow that actually values its customers and wants to help grow the local fishing community. I cannot recommend this place if you are looking for helpful service.

2 months ago

I stopped by to pick out some waders, the staff were so incredibly helpful. They helped me pick out a great pair and were super friendly. They even helped answer my questions in regards to a warranty issue with a piece of my gear. Highly recommend dealing with them.

7 months ago

I got into fly fishing last November decided to start out with learning to tie flies. The staff here are so friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful with my seemingly endless questions. They also have a few fly tying nights and seminars each month which are really informative and great for meeting new people. Go check out their massive selection of tying materials!

2 months ago

Great selection of fresh and saltwater flies and tying materials. Staff is super cool. We didn’t browse the apparel but looked like a good inventory.

4 months ago

I recently had a guided float with Daniel. I had fished the Bow many times but never like this. He was extremely knowledgeable and took care of us the entire day. The company and the fish were top notch. I would recommend this experience to everyone no matter your skill level.

a year ago