Here’s what we think about fly-fishing buying trends in 2025 thus far:

And thank you, Trackfly…

1. People are still fishing, because fishing is fun, cool and an escape from the norm. For example, the Texans still spent a good part of the summer in Colorado (trust me). One local shop reported record Lone Star-based business this year sent dozens of guided trips into local waters over the July 4 weekend, which was a record.

2. Nationwide participation data suggests a flattening or even a dip amongst the “newbies” who found fly fishing during the pandemic. But the core is still the core, and the core still fishes. Some of the newbies stuck, and some of the old base aged out. That’s natural.

3. Travel is still up. But those who don’t have the means to go exotic, are fishing “regionally.” They’re buying racks, loading up the rods and venturing by roads to scratch the itch. Those who do have the means to travel afar are choosing their trips very carefully, but they’re still going.

4. Not sure there’s enough excitement in the market to get the average Joe to buy a high-end rod or reel. Some really cool “big stuff” items were introduced in the last couple years, specifically when it comes to rods and reels (especially those that look really cool), but what’s the splash now? This is a cyclical thing, and the next company to come out with the next big deal when it comes to a 9-foot 5-weight will do okay, and things will rotate from there.

5. The market is still picking around the edges when it comes to fishing for species other than trout (which still command roughly 75% of the SKUs when it comes to fly fishing). Saltwater fly fishing is more bad-ass than ever, but that costs money.

I guess the lesson is: focus on the small stuff. Show the DIY angler how to fish well. Make them part of the tribe. The water matters, and that’s where opportunity lives.

I think 2026 will be a much better year, and I’d buy “futures” on the fly-fishing scene in America in 2026.

Of course, we’ll see.