T. Hargrove Fly Fishing

I stopped by this establishment to pick up my brother in laws Christmas gift. He and my sister both love fly fishing and frequent this place. Hard to believe once you are in the door that you aren’t in a country fishing store because the feel of the place is definitely that. Very helpful owners and a store of friendly fishermen sharing some holiday cheer, and fish tales. If you like this kind of place and fly fishing, head right over!

This is the kind of shop you would expect in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies, or straight out of a John Gierach novel, but it just happens to be in the middle of St. Louis. It reminds me a great deal of my grandpa’s basement. The first thing you will notice when you walk in the door is the woodstove placed right in the center of the shop, putting off the warmth and orange glow that can heat you up instantly on a winter day. Next to the woodstove, you’ll see a card table covered with fly-​tying vices and spools upon spools of thread. Sitting at this table will be two to three old-​timers, sipping coffee, snacking on doughnuts from the Schnucks down the road, and gossiping either about current water levels down south, or the invasion of the Asian Carp up north. This fly-​tying table is set up next to the shop library, which has a surprising amount of volumes concerning fly-​fishing, fly-​tieing, tackle, safety, and how-​tos.
There is a wide variety of gear sold at T. Hargrove’s, and the prices are decent. There are several drawers of flies for sale, including dry flies, nymphs, and larger setups for saltwater fishing. If you are looking for anything, the friendly and knowledgeable staff can answer any questions about gear in the shop, or about streams hundreds of miles away from the shop. Unlike many fishing shops, all of the gear and tackle at T. Hargrove’s is surprisingly organized and easy to find.
Honestly, the staff are what makes this place so great. They are quick to give tips, but also quick to listen to your stories. They can offer advice on where and when to fish, but also will listen to your experiences all the same. They offer casting and tying classes, and more information is available on their website.
The shop is located just west of Brentwood Blvd. on Manchester. You’ll recognize it from the belly-​boat hanging out in the parking lot. It’s the perfect place to head to prior to a expedition, or a perfect place to waste some time during the winter, when it’s way too damn cold to go fishing.

One of the few fishing/​fly fishing stores in St. Louis. Great little store that has everything you need for fly fishing. They tie their own flies right in the store. Very cozy store with a helpful owner. I am a novice and just learning about fly fishing and my visit here taught me a ton.
They do have fly fishing lessons at the store. Tips and info on fishing holes and what «flies» to use.
I will be back.

This is an excellent shop for those interested in fly fishing, there is literally a pot belly stove in the shop where «the boys» gather around that talk fishing in the winter. For the novice they are patient and helpful. If your interested in fly fishing, avoid the big box outdoor shops and start here, you might pay a little more, but what you’ll learn, you can not get anywhere else outside of actually fishing in a stream.

I have bought lots of stuff at this store. This is a really GREAT place! It seems more like a club because the owner is truly friends with a high percentage of his customers. Tom encourages them to hang around and they do. A small place that is often packed and an owner that will go the extra mile and plenty more for his friends/​customers. Tom will share his knowledge and loves to trade stories… most of his customers feel guilty for taking up so much of his time but Tom seems to love it!
Potbelly stove in the middle of the room and a round table festooned with vices and flies in various stages of tying and sometimes crowded with fishermen laughing and swapping tales! Reasonable pricing and real nice stock and Tom will go to the wall for you to get you what you want or need! I have called him and ordered stuff over the phone as a trip approached and he would put everything together for me all loaded with line and leaders on short notice so that I could literally stop by on my way to the airport and pick it up! Fly shops do tend to be friendly places but Tom’s shop is in a class by itself!

Now I know nothing about fishing, let alone fly fishing, but it’s hard not to be intrigued when, on a busy Saturday, some guy is casting a line (is that how you say it?) in the middle of a parking lot off Manchester. It was funny. He looked at my friend and I as we snapped his photo across the street. What? Like you can expect to just stand there, pretend fishing, in the middle of a parking lot and not expect the paparazzi? Please.
Again, don’t know nothin’ bout no fly fishin’, so just go on in if you’re curious. Or join my new friend in the parking lot. There’s some live ones out there!