Testimonials

Not just a great shop but a great community, everytime I've visited HLS I've been met with professional advice and tips from Ray, and if he is unsure he will find out! For being a small shop the prices are reasonable and for the knowledge you recieve I rate it highly. I will always recommend Hook, Line & Sinker to friends, family and anyone needing assistance with starting their fishing addiction. Thank you Ray for everything you've done! October 27th, 2019. Hello Phill. Your kind words and support of the shop are greatly appreciated! We foster a no intimidation type environment and customers such as yourself who visit and share information willingly help us to do exactly that! Thank YOU Phill, and we wish you a great Fall Steelhead Season and hope to see you soon!  

This is by far the best fishing store out there! As a little kid my grandfather took me fly fishing ever weekend. With a dream of catching the amazing sought after resident brown trout or steelhead we worked very hard but were never successful. I took a break from fishing during university but recently started up again this past summer. I originally went to Ray’s store just to buy a couple leaders, however, I ended up staying and chatting about the art of how to catch a resident brown trout on the fly (turns out I was doing it all wrong). Ray made my passion for fishing resurface and I began visiting him once, twice, even three times a week to buy the appropriate gear and ask a plethora of questions. Ray has always taken the time to give me honest and real answers to my questions and has never forced a sale on me. With the help of Ray and his store I have now caught over 10 resident brown trout just this past summer and my first steelhead this past weekend. I can honestly say I could not have done it without the help from Ray. If you want a store with endless gear, that will answer all your questions and help improve you as a fisherman, this is the store for you! October 23rd, 2019 Hello Brandon. Thank you for the kind words, but it’s ALL YOU! Your passion for the sport is quite obvious - The combination of your dedication and natural ability is your asset and the results are evident! This works both ways - We learn every day from our customers, and the information you share weekly assists us in steering both you and others in a positive direction. Thank YOU for your continued support of the shop Brandon and for all the great stories as we live vicariously though YOUR hands on the water!  

Good Evening,

Thank you for an amazing day. This is a sport Lan and I will definitely be taking up! 

Cheers,

September 14th, 2019.

 

You are very welcome Kareem.

It was nice meeting you both and we will be here when you are ready to take this to the next level …. Maybe a Xmas gift for two ?? 

;-)    … Hint Hint …. 

See you both soon!

Ray: Thanks again for helping me pick out wading boots....Looking forward to testing them out this fall in our big rocky and very slippery rivers. Thanks so much for helping out with supplies for our programs over the years......your customer service is always the best!   August 17th, 2019.

Great customer service, great selection, and not condescending to beginners. Made the process of exchanging a reel surprisingly pleasant and gave helpful suggestions and tips with genuine enthusiasm and thought. It’s obvious these guys have a passion for fishing and want to share it with others. If you’re thinking about checking the shop out I encourage you to do so. July 17th, 2019.

Very informative, answered my questions, I couldn't expect more, I will be visiting again! July 17th, 2019. Hello and thank you Jay. We are happy we made a great first impression! We look forward to your next visit and to sharing all your “Catching” stories ... ;-)

Thanks for taking the time to help me with my waders tonight.  You took a lot of time to see to it I got the right fit and I really appreciate it.   I enjoyed visiting your shop and hope to get back soon thanks for the first class service.  June 29th, 2019

Thanks for getting me fit for my first set of waders on Thursday night they are amazing. Both Kathy and I were so impressed with your knowledge and patience. Your store is amazing and has so much inventory we were blown away by it and the top notch first class service! Got out finally early this morning and love the waders and also got my very first brown at 13 inches so thanks again and keep in touch. June 29th, 2019.

Thanks for your terrific customer service today Ray, it really stands out! June 14th, 2019.

Unreal service. Super friendly and knowledgeable. Always leave with a smile and in a better mood than when i went in. Great selection and stock!

June 1st, 2019.

 

Ray, It was a real pleasure meeting you. I really appreciate the concern you expressed. You are clearly a very decent human being.  I hope to see you again when I am in the vicinity of the Grand.

Best wishes,

 

May 13th, 2019.

 

 

Hooray the Renzetti has arrived 😁 You guys are the 💣 Cheers and tight lines - Sincere regards - A very satisfied Barbara. April 25th, 2019. Fantastic.! What a pleasure to purchase from your store. I'm fairly novice as fly tying goes and your expertise in identifying what I was looking for was superb and very friendly. Thank you, Sincerely (a very excited) ... 😁 April 24th, 2019. Hello Barbara.

Your enthusiasm for the sport will go a long way and help you tremendously with your learning curve.

Please remember that we are always here to help!!

Hello Ray:

It was a pleasure to meet you today.

You have a most impressive store, and I could not be happier with the custom painted jig heads. I wish I didn't live so far away, otherwise I imagine you would see me quite often.

April 24th, 2019.

I have never dealt with HLS up to 4 days ago. I ordered a replacement CNC spool for my vintage Cardinal C4, 6lb Gama line professionally spooled up and a spool spacer for my vintage Garcia Mitchell 300. This was done very efficiently on the phone and the parcel was recieved a day before it was promised. Exactly promised and exactly delivered. So much so I have already inquired on additional odd ball equipment requests to be sourced. Thank you for treating my business and requested that have exceeded my expectations. Very Refreshing...."I'll be back" Thank you! April 21st, 2019.

Thanx. I received the spool and spacer. What a great precision CNC piece. Fits perfect, looks "reel" great...

 

April 19th, 2019.

Thanx for the super fast shipping. I know where you are located now. "I'll be back” ...

April 17th, 2019.

Ray,

I would like to send you a huge thank you for your personal service you gave me. You stayed back and helped me out thoroughly (even on hump day). 

Your attention to detail and ability and ease at which you shared your knowledge with me was extremely appreciated. 

That goes along way mate. I was saying to another friend last night that in my 18yrs of living in Canada I had not had customer service like that ever! 

So thank you from the bottom of my heart. April 11th, 2019. Hello Clayton.
Once or twice a month I have a new customer that I can see is so keen about learning that I KNOW they will do well!
... You are that customer! Your enthusiasm for the sort is contagious and you were a pleasure to assist! Thank you for taking the time to drive to my shop and if I can ever help again, I will be more than happy to help in any way!
 

Thank you for your help today Ray. I appreciate your attention to providing excellent service. Barb can’t wait to see me in those waders! March 26th, 2019.

Thanks again for accommodating my purchase. I will definitely be passing your information along to others and be making the drive to Guelph for my fly fishing equipment needs! 

March 22nd, 2019.

 

Many thanks!

After the great job you did repairing the drag on my St. John Spey Reel, I trust no-one else ... (especially myself)

 

March 14th, 2019.

Hi Ray, Thanks for welcoming me on Sat and sharing your insight and knowledge. I love your store and could sense how close your relationship is with your customers/friends! It was nice to meet Ethan and Phil!

March 4th, 2019.

Hi Ray, Great speaking to you ... You’re making a dream come true for an old duck and she’ll love it ... Thankyou. December 4th, 2018.

I searched for a certain product everywhere and could not find it. I took one trip to Hook Line & Sinker and was able to order the product on the spot, get more information on the product and it arrived 4 days later, ready to be picked up. Kind, helpful, knowledgable and extremely fast service! December 1st, 2018.

Ray,

Thank you for all the assistance helping me pick my boots. Wish my back had have been better but you managed to fit me out.

Our first time in your store, it is unbelievable how much quality equipment you have thoughtfully arranged around the place, everything was easy to find.

I listened to you and your staff helping other customers. You guys know your stuff share your knowledge and listen to the customers. Big box stores do not provide this kind of service we will be back and for sure will pass this positive experience onto all our friends.

See you soon (fshdave)

 

October 10th, 2018.

Good afternoon, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for sharing your advice and local information. I did fish Guelph Lake for a couple of hours but no luck (neither did anyone else even get a nibble). The “island” is closed thru July and they told me that’s where the best fishing happens, instead I needed up fishing from the floating dock. Once again, thank you for your warm welcome. July 27th, 2018.

  Thank you Ray and Peter for such a great experience in fly fishing! Ray, you better not tell that underwear story too much. Lol! We got the pictures and they were great. The sisters will recommend you and Peter to anyone! Have a wonderful day and maybe will be back your way someday. 

July 16th, 2018.

Hi Ray. 

Just a short email to say thank you to yourself and Arron...

Both Don and myself had a wonderful day.  Arron really did get over his points clearly and efficiently.. it was so easy to comprehend.  Thank you for everything.. your attitude towards the sport has been one of the main reasons I took it up.   I'm a relative novice, however, you treat me like a pro.  I look forward to seeing you again soon.. and hopefully Don gets out fishing when he gets back to Alberta...

Have a great weekend.. and a great fathers day. 

Take care.

June 16th, 2018.

 

Hello Stephen.

Thank you for the kind words, but students / customers  like yourself are the reason why I love my “job” daily …

You make all the long hours and stress that comes with owning a small business worthwhile!

Your passion for the sport is clear, and with your attention to detail and ability to absorb the small details, you will clearly do well!

I hope this sport gives you as much satisfaction in your future years as it is giving me daily!

Ray.

Hey Ray...

Hope you're having a great weekend. I look forward to coming up and wasting your time again... You've been awesome to deal with and you've made my journey into fly fishing extremely worthwhile. 

Take care my friend!

June 3rd, 2018.

 

 

 

Ray,

Thanks for the pic of my repaired Hardy reel....looks amazing. I'm excited about getting it back.

Again, my thanks, Ray, for an excellent job.

I'll certainly recommend you to any of my friends who have Hardy Reels in need of repair!

Cheers.

May 30th, 2018.

 

 

Probably one of the best tackle shops I've been to. Wide variety of lures and soft plastics that frankly you cant find a lot of at any other store. Cant believe I never made it there sooner as it's a must to go to place! I'll be back soon. May 29th, 2018. Happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit Jeremy, and if there are products you see or use that we did not inventory, please don’t hesitate to let us know - If you’re looking for something, someone else might be as well. We take pride in staying on top of current industry trends, and with your help and continued support, we will maintain that standard. Tight Lines this summer!  

A buddy and me took a shot at this place the other day, driving 45 min to go to the shop without any prior knowledge. I am fairly new to fly fishing and the level of direction I received was spectacular! Very helpful and apparent that he took interest in teaching to the "new guys". I will definitely be returning whenever passing through the area! Highly recommend! April 25th, 2018.

Hi Ray, the reel showed up on Friday.  I put the fly line on yesterday.  It looks gorgeous with the orange backing!  The sun is finally out and the ice is melting on the lakes, just itching to get out and try this reel! I will definitely  be back to get whatever new toys I would like in the future.  Thanks for the great service and quick delivery! April 22nd, 2013.

Hello Ray it looks perfect!  You guys do awesome work!!😁😁😁 April 22nd, 2018.

Honestly the best place around for all your fishing needs! Ray is very helpful, especially if you’re looking to get fitted for some waders or boots. April 9th, 2018.

I've been a regular customer of The First Cast fly fishing store for several years and my visits to the store have always been a pleasure. If you need anything that is not in stock then Ray is happy to order the item in for you, he goes out of his way to make visiting the store enjoyable, and his willingness to share his vast fishing knowledge helps you to make the correct choices easily. Definitely my favourite fishing store! April 9th, 2018.

The trick you showed me has been the best thing for my wading boots. I’m on the river now and my feet have never been comfier (and warm) ... Thanks for the great sizing and help with the waders for Hailey and I ... with happy feet come great steelhead!

April 9th, 2018.

Hi Ray, Thank you for the help with the rod choice this morning and for generally sharing some of your knowledge, it all helps me significantly. I'm really happy with my choice, I wasn't totally sure that the loomis Dredger was what I needed. See you on Saturday. April 5th, 2018.

I’ll be sure to send along some pictures and spread the word along the river of the great service I’ve received! April 4th, 2018.

Good morning,

Just wanted to let you know I received my package yesterday in the mail.   Thank you VERY much!!   Everything was well packed. Also, thank you for the gifts; the notepad has a new home on my tying desk and the fly will be fished in the Miramichi river in the coming weeks. Thanks again!!   I’ll be sure to refer friends to your shop!

Cheers!

April 4th, 2018.

Hi Ray,

Thank you for your help and information to choose the right waders. This is exactly what I expected from a specialized store - Really appreciated and for sure you have a new customer! Please add my email to your list.

Have a nice day,

PS - I managed to dodge with my wife the question about the cost and didn't have to sleep with the dog...

March 30th, 2018.

Hi Ray, Here are a few pictures of the reels with the great handles that you made for them.  They turned out great and I am very pleased with both your personal service and the custom product. Thanks, March 26th, 2018.

Hi Ray:

Back in NS and have fly lines and gear scattered all over the living room in preparation for re-spooling.  The rest of the family has grown accustomed to this springtime domestic activity...but still can't help but comment on the clutter.

 

Glad we were able to finally visit you and your comprehensive shop (your home away from home).  Way too much to see there, really, in one visit.  I never know where to start in most fly fishing shops, there's just so much stuff in little packets pasted all over the walls, like 3-D wallpaper.  And the First Cast shop was as densely stocked as the best of them !!

 

Felt doubly lucky that we also serendipitously arrived just in time to take in Larry's fly tying session -- that was a real pleasure and I picked up a LOT of tying and fishing tips from his session.  Your shop definitely is an unjudgmental refuge for  fishing junkies and fly tying nerds, of which I include myself.  Only people of a particular temperment can remain in that shop for more than 10 minutes without becoming confused and/or disinterested; conversely, the fanatics never want to leave.. 

 

Hope to get back to the shop again in the future during the fishing season and also wet a line in some of the rivers in the nearby vicinity.

 

Keep smiling,

 

March 19th, 2018.

 

Hi Ray, You’ve created a great atmosphere there! It was good for my first visit!  February 20th, 2018.

Hello Ray, Just have to say thanks for the excellent service yesterday - you took the time to explain much as possible in between dealing with myself and other customers. Wicked store every and anything one can think of! Your store would be my new favourite!  Thanks again! December 10th, 2017.

Excellent store, staff knows lots and there is an immense selection of fly fishing and spin fishing gear. Definitely worth checking it out! December 9th, 2017. Hello and thank you for the kind words Mark! We are very happy that we made a good impression and it is with your help and continued support that we can maintain and expand our level of innovative product selection. I hope Santa Claus is good to you!  

Thanks as always for your expertise and guidance! November 25th, 2017.

Hello Ray. It was good to meet you today. As I mentioned today, I recently was introduced to fly fishing in July and have immediately fallen in love with it! I have a lot to learn and am trying to absorb as much as possible. Looking forward to stopping into your haven again. Sincerely, November 25th, 2017.

I always wanted a vintage Hardy reel for the salmon and grilse fishing I do in the Atlantic. Finally found a reel that sounded and looked fine upon first inspection. However when I attempted to use, it became clear there was an issue. I brought it to my local fly shop in Halifax who recommended Hook Line Sinker and The First Cast Flyshop as a possible repair solution. After some quick and friendly email exchanges I sent the reel to Guelph. Within a week a missing integral retainer ring was machined and installed. Fantastic service and will look for future opportunities to support this great shop! October 20th, 2017.  

Hi Ray. I was very impressed by your service and knowledge. I will definitely pass along my experience to others ... I should of picked up some gloves and one of your cool hats ... Thx again and good luck on the river . September 28th, 2017.

Hey Ray it's Gord , just unwrapped the GLX , beautiful, love it !! PS you run a great little shop there , wish I had one like this close. Mucho gracias!