New fishing shop opens
By MIKE MCKENNA
There’s an old saying that “perfection is a myth.” While this may be true in most parts of life, it certainly isn’t when it comes to angling.
As any good, or even hack, fly fisher will tell you, there are moments that are nothing shy of perfection when you’re chasing after fish with a fly rod.
But you don’t have to believe me, just go ask Matt Curci at his new fly-fishing shop in Hailey.
Perfect Loop Angling Company opened in early July on the old “used car lot” on Main Street next to Power House Pub. As soon as the doors opened, folks started pouring in. Loads of locals, as well as lots of tourists passing through Hailey, have been asking for a fly shop for years. As one customer said as soon as he entered the shop earlier this week, “We finally have a real fly shop in Hailey!”
“We’ve been busy since day one,” Matt said. “There was definitely a need for an affordable and approachable place where there are no ‘dumb questions.’”
Matt has been a fishing guide pretty much his entire adult life. His first guide trip was for the legendary Bill Mason back in 1996. That’s why Matt knows as well as anyone that fly fishing can be an intimidating sport to get into and he wants to make sure his shop is here to welcome anglers of all abilities.
“I’ve been fishing my whole life and guiding for a long time. I’ve become really good at teaching and I like to help people,” Matt said. “At any level you’re at, I can help polish your game.”
Perfect Loop Angling Company offers just about anything you need to hit the water. The small shop is stuffed full of everything from nets, reels and rods—including the “Blue Ribbon Rod” Matt designed for Temple Fork Outfitters (TFO)—to tippet, leader and a solid selection of flies. And advice is always free.
“This town is full of the most humble, bad-ass people,” said Matt, who has worked for Sun Valley Resort for over 20 years, including the last 13 as a ski patrolman. “I’m a product of being around these amazing people and teams that love to make other people shine. It’s my time to pass it on and this shop is a great way to do that.”
Matt’s grandmother, Hannah Locke, was one of those amazing locals and one of America’s first great female skiers. She started carving turns locally in the 1930s. “Sun Valley was always highly spoken of in our house,” Matt recalled, and for him, it has been the perfect place to call home and raise a family.
No matter whether you call Hailey home, or your second home, or are just passing through and want to do some fly fishing, there’s a new shop here to help you chase after that perfect moment and that perfect casting loop.
Perfect Loop Angling Company is located at 512 North Main Street in Hailey and is open 10 a.m.–¬5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call (208) 309-2381.