Gig Harbor Fly Shop

Blake Merwin started Wilderness Angler online in 2004, opened the brick-and-mortar Gig Harbor Fly Shop in March 2009, rebranded, and relocated to the current Harborview Drive space in January 2011. The shop runs an education-first model — ten distinct classes and clinics, including a two-day Spey School on the Olympic Peninsula, a Winter Steelhead Clinic, a Puget Sound Beach Clinic, and a Kayak Fishing Clinic.

Co-instructor Michael Behrens is a Professor of Marine Ecology at Pacific Lutheran University. Merwin himself runs the signature Hood Canal kayak trips for sea-run cutthroat and the hosted Montana trout weeks. Doug Foust manages the floor; Aaron O'Brien and Justin Tenzler are the licensed guides.

Kayak and SUP rentals, plus tropical hosted travel for tarpon, bonefish, and permit, round out the operation. See the California tackle directory. See also: Puget Sound Fly Co. in Tacoma and John's Sporting Goods in Everett.