The Adirondack Sport Shop - Wilmington, NY
- What: The shop is the largest fly-fishing shop in the North Country. However it is most famous for Fran Betters' fishing advice, original fly tying Patterns, and custom rods. He is also know throughout the fly fishing community as the creator of AuSable Wulff, Haystack, Usual and Mini Muddler flies.
- Where: Route 86, 9 miles from Lake Placid, Wilmington, New York, Essex County.
- When: 1963 - Present
- Contact: The site is commercial property and open for standard business hours. Fran Betters / Adirondack Sport Shop / P.O. Box 125 / Wilmington, NY 12997
- Phone: (518) 946 - 2605
- Web: http://www.adirondackflyfishing.com
- Click here to add your own memory of the Adirondack Sport Shop to our guestbook.
“Where are they biting today, Fran?” is the question asked hundreds of times each fishing season at this modest red-and-white building that sits comfortably beside Route 86 near Wilmington and next to the Ausable River, legendary as one of the nation’s best trout streams. Part of that legend is Fran Betters, known widely as a fly fishing guide, teacher, storyteller and champion creator of flies for bait. In this shop, Fran makes over 20,000 flies each year, among them his own inventions with intriguing names like AuSable Wulff, Haystack and The Usual, which he ships all over the world. Fran and his wife Jan sell top quality fishing supplies, including his own custom fly rods, and dispense information and opinions about local fishing free of charge. They also conduct fly fishing seminars periodically during spring and summer months.
Additional Photos
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Exterior of Adirondack Sport Shop
Roadside sign for Adirondack Sport Shop on Route 86
Fran Betters ties flies for fishing in his workspace
Fran Betters and his wife Jan teach the fundamentals of fly fishing in regular classes at their shop
Fran Betters casts a line into the Ausable River, a fabled Adirondack trout stream near his shop
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