I picked up these habits early in my fly fishing life when I started going into Jack’s Rod and Fly Shop in Roscommon, Michigan around 1977. The other day I was thinking about those first years and how I miss going in to talk to Jack (deceased in 1985). You always knew, before you walked into the door, that you were in for an experience that you would not forget. After your first or second visit, you would prepare yourself before you walked in in his door, but for what you didn’t know. You see, Jack was quite a character – in a really good way, and a lot of fun. So I figured out quickly that it was a special kind of treat to go visit his shop, never guessing what would happen. There are those who have way, way more experience with Jack than I and are infinitely more qualified to talk about him. Rod maker Mark McKellip always has me rolling on the ground with his stories. Everyone knew Jack and his wife Ann who tied all the flies for the shop. There was an article about them in Fly Fisherman magazine, probably in the early 80’s or late 70’s I am guessing if you want to search. This is just my way of reminiscing about the good old days and giving some respect to an early mentor.
I will mention a couple of things here I remember from those early years. Jack was quite a joker. I remember a bow saw hanging on the wall of his shop with a bike chain attached to the ends with a sign underneath that said “Irish Chain Saw”. I am pretty sure Roscommon had a lot of Irish in those days. Also on the wall was a pair of heavy duty boots, like logger’s boots, with the sole tied on backwards. When he saw me staring at them he told me they were for walking into a secret spot so that if someone saw the boot prints they would think it was a trail leading out, not in. I really should have taken pictures of all the funny things he had hanging on those walls. The article in Fly Fisherman talked about the two Orvis rods for sale on the rack, one with and one without the Orvis name on it (he rubbed it off), otherwise identical. He had some customers test the “Orvis” rod first and then test the un-named Orvis rod. When he asked them which one they wanted to buy, they would typically reply they wanted the Orvis rod as that rod was a much superior rod to that terrible off-brand rod. His reply was something about a fool spending an extra $400 just for a name – in a joking way of course – I think. You had to have thick skin around Jack at times but it was all in fun. It appeared the smarter you talked in his shop the more he zinged you. That must be why he really never got me too bad as I was always looking for any information I could get out of him, not dishing it out.
Jack made his own leaders and fly dope. To my knowledge he actually made the leader material and it was an olive green color. I especially liked them for the way they turned over and stretched. I moved to Montana in 1983 and Jack made me up a bunch of leaders that I used for years. At some point I decided to save what I had left for special occasions (pictures below). He had a separate workshop out back of the fly shop and we would talk there for hours while Ann ran the fly shop. Maybe Jack and Ann were a throwback to the fly shops of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s that were such a creative bunch. Nothing against the fly shops today, but I sure miss Jack and the experience of visiting with him.
So if you have a special fly shop you like, stories, experiences about them you want to share, please do so.
Some links to Jack and Ann Schweigert.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/article ... 100830.php
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/feature ... /part2.php
http://hatchesmagazine.com/blogs/Hatche ... deschaine/
