Homegrown fly-fishing rods make national stage
Scott Hall selling his own fly-fishing rods at Grand River Outfitting and Fly Shop
FERGUS – Having his fly-fishing rods included in Fly Fusion magazine’s Ultimate Rod Review has been a boon for business and a boost to the morale of Scott Hall, who owns Grand River Outfitting and Fly Shop in Fergus.
He and his wife Tania have owned the shop for 12 years. But for the last three years or so, Hall has been designing, testing and perfecting his own brand of fishing rods with his new company Hall Rod Co.
He started with the Grand series and has since developed three others – Current, Tailwater and Elite Nymph series, which offer a range of styles, from entry-level rods to those with finer details for more experienced anglers.
They are designed in Canada and manufactured by a company in Korea willing to produce the rods in small batches.
“I got very lucky,” Hall said in an interview, noting most companies produce their products by the thousands and not by the smaller lots he needs right now.
But that could change as he’s already received calls from other retailers wanting to sell his rods in their shops thanks to the article.
“It’s a small industry and everyone knows everyone. But competing in the market – it’s unheard of for a Canadian company to do what I did.”
Fly Fusion magazine is the Bible to anglers and fishers and every year they review fly fishing rods.
Included in the review are usually the American heavy hitters like Winston, G. Loomis and Sage.
“There are iconic companies and then there’s us,” Hall said, still slightly bewildered at his good fortune.
“Just to be in a magazine like this is a huge thing for us.”
Hall said the biggest advantage of the his brand is the price point – starting around $275 – and the warranty.
Because the rods are Canadian, if something goes wrong, Hall is able to get the parts and repair the rod within days instead of the weeks or months it takes the bigger companies.
And a one-year warranty means there’s no charge for repairs or replacement parts in the first year.
Centre Wellington and the Grand River are hot spots for fishers, and they come from all over the world to fish here, Hall said.
“It’s a very popular fishing place. People fly in from Europe to fish here. We have guides for people who want to learn to fly fish,” he added.
Those who fish know the appeal, but for Hall, it’s the ritual of putting on the hip waders, standing in the river, and seeing loons, beavers, muskrat, and even deer on the water’s edge, that keeps him coming back.
“It’s very calming,” he said. “It’s all part of being part of nature. It’s about getting in the zone.”
Grand River Outfitting and Fly Shop offers more than just fishing rods. There’s clothing, lures, hooks and more at varying price points.
The shop is located in the Fergus Marketplace at 105 Queen St. For more information visit: ontarioflyfishing.ca.
