Staff Profile
Mike Mercer is The Fly Shop's Sales Manager. He oversees all of the daily workings of the Fly Shop's in-store and catalog retail operations. A well traveled angler, Mike has fished many of the world's fly fishing dream destinations. Mike is also one of the West's leading fly designers. He is an Umpqua Feather Merchants contract tier and many of his fly designs are being used successfully around the world. Mike has been with The Fly Shop for 20 of the 21 years we have been in business. Starting as a stock boy in the first store he has now climbed the ladder of success and is in-charge of all retail employees.

Mike Michalak is one of the owners of the Fly Shop, along with his wife Bertha. When not extolling the virtues of our world-class Travel packages to prospective customers, Mike travels to several locations each year to personally experience each of the quality fly fishing destinations.

Duane Milleman is responsible for creating one of the finest private water programs in the country. Having lived in the Redding area since 1963, he is intimately familiar with most places trout might call home in Northern California. Duane is continually finding new and exciting waters to book for our Private Waters program.

Tim Fox is the Inventory Manager for the shop. He is an outdoorsman who came to us from the Chico area. Tim handles all the purchasing. When not on the computer or working retail in the shop he may be found chasing fish and game in Northern California and several other states.

Sandy Watts has been a friend and employee of The Fly Shop for many years. Prior to his becoming an employee, he was a long time friend of Mike Michalak. Sandy is one of our most popular retail staff members. This upcoming year will be his 8th year with The Fly Shop. On the days he is not working he's likely to be found drifting nymphs to the wild Rainbows of Northern California's Pit River and Trinity River.

Retail Salesman Woody Woodland has been working with The Fly Shop for many years now. Prior to his working full time here he came in during our rush months to lend a helping hand. When not working in the shop, he may be found chasing trout in Northern California and Southern Oregon's spring creeks. Woody has traveled to several places in the world including some of our travel destinations. Woody has recently returned from a week long trip to Central America. He caught his first Permit, caught several nice Bonefish and also had the chance to catch a Tarpon. If you're planning a trip and have a few questions, please feel free to call and ask for either our travel department or Woody.

Pat Pendergast is our Director of Travel Sales. Pat has been a part of our Travel department for 3 years. Coming to us from Santa Rosa via Alaska, he has a solid understanding of our local fisheries. Pat has traveled to the majority of our travel destinations including Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Venezuela, Bahamas, Belize, Christmas Island,Canada... Pat was a fishing guide in Alaska for five years, and before joining The Fly Shop Team, managed a sportfishing camp on the Alaska Gulf Coast. Pat is an avid hunter for big and winged game. His other interests include Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, hiking, photography, mountain biking, boating, canoeing... When Pat isn't visiting one of our exciting destinations or chasing winged game with his dog Maggie, he can be found on our local fisheries catching the many native trout that reside in our area.

Cory Williams is The Fly Shop's Fly Tying and Casting Instructor. He came to us from Yuba City and has been here almost three years now. Cory is also a part of our excellent guide staff and has spent two years guiding in Alaska. He is a certified casting instructor through Mel Krieger's International School of Flyfishing. Cory also gives private casting lessons when he is not working in the shop. This is a one-on-one lesson in which he can take you through the basic fly casting techniques or improve your already formed casting stroke.

Rachel Connery is the Director of our International Schools and our Kids Camps. When not instructing at one of our schools or camps she is here helping with retail and reserving positions for anglers in our schools. Rachel always seems to find a way to do a little fishing herself. She came to us from Arizona and is fairly new to the local fisheries. However, she has spent the majority of her free time learning these new rivers and streams.

Shane Kohlbeck is The Fly Shop's Director of Guide Staff. He oversees all of the daily workings of the Fly Shop's Guide Service. Shane has been with The Fly Shop for three years. He came to us from here in Redding and has fished all of our local waters for many years. He has fished most of Northern California and Southern Oregon. Shane has and still does guide for us in his free time.

Terry Jepsen is our local Web-Master. Recently, Terry has taken on the role of Web-Master for The Fly Shop. Previously he worked in retail and receiving. Terry has also guided in Alaska for the past two summers. He grew up in Oregon and has lived in Northern California for the past eight years, thus giving him knowledge of Northern California and Southern Oregon fisheries as well as Alaskan fisheries.

• STS 904/4 Favorite dry fly rod for Hat Creek, the Fall, Pit, McCloud, and Sacramento rivers
• G 883/3 for all small streams and light dry fly situations
• HP 888/3 Favorite all around light saltwater rod
• HP 8812/3 Belize tarpon rod
• SES 905/6 Great travel rod for trout anglers
• SAS 906/3 This is the first rod we recommend to newcomers who fish a variety of our local trout waters