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Community Member Spotlight

Todd Tankersly

In our fly fishing community we have so many amazing people who grace the shop with their amazing energy. This month I would like to introduce Todd Tankersley, who is also an active member of our community. He has recently traveled with our shop to the San Juan river and is also an attendee of this year’s Fly Fishing Film Tour where we raised funds for Casting For Recovery and Trout Unlimited.

Todd is nothing but class when you get the time with him, he is very passionate about fishing and I hope you all have the same pleasure we have had! Thank you Todd!

-Jeff Swanson & Chris Rich

What does fly fishing mean to you? What about fly fishing offers you most satisfaction?

Before having children, I would regularly fly fish with my buddies all across the beautiful state of Arizona. When my kids were born, my fishing weekends were replaced with soccer games, swim meets, mountain bike races and camping. I wouldn’t change a thing! But now that I am an empty nester, I have returned back to fly fishing and have realized once again the joy I feel casting on the water, tying a fly to match the hatch, making a great presentation, and hanging with friends.

What does having AZ Fly Shop in the community mean to you? What do you like about AZ Fly Shop?

AZ Fly Shop’s moto is “The Friendliest Fly Shop in the WORLD” and this has been my experience. I have been to fly shops across UT, NM, ID, MT, and WY and no one comes close to service and making me feel as welcome as AZ Fly Shop does. Having been away from fly fishing for so long, the staff have been so helpful. I attended my first trip organized by AZ Fly Shop and really feel part of the community. I look forward to making new friends and memories with this group!

Tell us your most memorable fly fishing story

An epic trip to Lee’s Ferry where the perfect circumstances all came together. It was the first ever, high-water release out of the Glen Canyon Dam. As luck would have it, we had rented a boat to fish the base of the dam. With the high-water levels, there was surplus of food sources and the fish in a feeding frenzy. We caught so many great fish that day – we stopped counting. The critics had never given Lee’s Ferry a score of 10 previous to that day, that they gave it an 11! This story has been told so many times, my children can repeat it verbatim!

Is there any advice you would share with the fly fishing community?

If you have the chance, join one of the organized trips! It was such a great experience.

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