The thing that has changed the most is the amount of guides we have in the area now. Twenty two years ago when I became a guide, I was the 17th in the Eastern Sierra. Now, there are over 50 and most of which I do not know.  The influx started when the Mammoth real estate started to boom. It seemed like everyone wanted a piece of the pie and looking for the good life.  Or, they were just looking for a fast buck!

Brock’s has been an established business for over fifty years. When I purchased it in 1989 it was a general tackle shop. In 1997 I transformed it from Brock’s Sporting Goods to Brock’s Flyfishing Specialists. At that time it was Bishop’s only exclusive fly shop and remains an exclusive fly shop. There is approximately 1000 square feet of retail space. The monthly rent is $600 with an assumable lease with a little over 2 years left. It is located at the intersection of Main and Line Street, a major intersection in Bishop on US 395 with 6 million cars passing through the intersection annually.

Brock’s has established accounts with leading flyfishing manufacturers, i.e., Sage, Simms, Winston, Abel, Rio, Redington, Scientific Anglers Mastery, Galvan and more. Becoming a dealer for these companies is in high demand and it is difficult for new shops to obtain dealerships. These brand names are secured with the sale of the business.

Brock’s has excellent web exposure. We appear in the 1st or 2nd spot on the first page of the major search engines, as well as numerous pages there after. (Yahoo ”Bishop Flyfishing”).

There is world class fishing year-round on the Lower Owens River Wild Trout Section, the Upper Owens River, Hot Creek and the East Walker River, as well as numerous creeks, streams and lakes during the regular season. Additionally back-country opportunities abound with numerous trailheads that provide access to pristine high mountain lakes and streams. The Eastern Sierra offers one of the most diverse angling experiences in the west for any angler.

If you have ever dreamed of owning your own fly shop in a beautiful location like the Eastern Sierra, opportunity is knocking at your door now. I want to retire and move on so I am motivated to sell. Please call me at 760-937-2067 or email at gary@brocksflyfish.com to start your dream come true.

When people come in and ask what is happening on a certain body of water and you steer them in the right direction with their fly choices or even how to set things up.

Many of them came back with smiles on their faces and thank you for the good advice, as they caught more fish than anticipated. It always made me feel like I was doing my job.

While on a drift trip on the Lower Owens I came across a calf that was stranded at the rivers edge and unable to get up the side of bank as it was to high. The mother was standing on top of the bank mooing her head off and I am sure, wondering how she can help her little calf. My clients and I drifted on by and about 200 feet down river my conscience got the better of me.

I dropped my clients off and rowed back up to see if I could help the littler feller. I anchored the boat and as I was approaching the calf I thought to myself that he is going to go ballistic on me. In stead he just laid there. However, mom was still mooing her head off and as I approached, she backed up and charged me.  Needless to say I jumped back into the boat.

I get out of the boat and try it again. This time the calf just stood up. While I was approaching, the mother backed up again in preparation for another charge. Once again I jumped back but not in the boat. The look in the mothers eyes was of fire. It reminded me of a cartoon when the fire is coming out of the bulls eyes.

I thought I would give it one more shot. Keep in mind that the mother is still mooing her head off. This time when I approached the calf, it went wild. At this time the calf was trying to get his front legs on top of the bank. I grabbed his butt and shoved him up onto the bank. Once the calf was on the bank, what do you think the mother did? You guessed it, she backed up and charged at me again.

That's the thanks you get from a cow when you are trying to help their offspring. It reminds me of some people I know. This all reminded me of one of the "City Slicker" movies where they recued the calf from the river.

The key to success on either body of water is to get an absolute drag free drift.