Rays Sports Shop Closing

[rcturner99]

I just wanted to pay homage to the guys in the fly shop at Rays Sports Shop in North Plainfield which recently closed. There were three guys in particular that were extremely helpful and friendly. Ron, Dennis and another fellow from Hillsborough who 's name I unfortunately never got. I've only been FF for a few years and they were so instrumental in helping me get started....from pointing out places to go, tecnhniques, equipment...you name it. I loved to go there and just browse around and listen to conversations. I could always count on getting sound advice and learning something new. And the recent hatches were always up on the board.Its truly a loss to the FF community. I dont know if any of those guys are on this site, but if you are, you should know you did one hell of a job at Rays and you will be sorely missed by me , and I'm sure many others. I'm still at a loss as to what will replace it for me.

Rich

[lufcus]

that's sad man...
Ron introduced me to saltwater,what a great time I used to have with those guys, when I got at the front door a gentleman said that they closed, I took some 1979-1980 issues of Fly Fisherman that were on the table...

[MR.MCR]

With Rays closed many of us in Union County now have to drive 30 -45 minutes to get to a fly shop/ fishing store......closest are Effingers or Ramseys...........Ron was always very helpful ....maybe hell wind up at Cabelas if they open in Secaucus...........

[AKSkim]

I took some 1979-1980 issues of Fly Fisherman that were on the table...

Ah the old five finger discount.

[biggerthomas]

Rays was a nice shop, I enjoyed Ron quite a bit--we always seemed to hit it off. And I think the guy's name from Hillsborough you mentioned is Shawn/Sean. He was great too.

Anyone buying a Nissan?

[dcabarle]

What ever happened to, "Jerry"? He was an older guy who used to enjoy telling me about his trips out west with Ron. He was a nice guy.

[AKSkim]

Rays... Effingers..

You know I heard about Ray's and Effinger's for years and I have to tell you, when I went in there I was very disappointed.

If you people think they are such good fly fishing shops...

You need to get out more often.

I know, I know.. I can just hear the whines now...

STOP IT. Suck it up.

They are what they are and that is no more than a sportings goods Wally-Mart.

I was in Effinger's yesterday afternoon... walked through the fishing materials section... 18 feet later I was in rifles.

In New Jersey check out Tight Line Fly Shop up on Rt. 46.

In Pa try AA Fly Shop in Blakely or just down the road The Evening Hatch.

[MACFLY]

I'm Surprised they closed as they had a great location and beyond the sportshop the pistol range was always packed (is that still open or did it close). It wasnt a great fly shop but it was very convenient for all those UC anglers heading west to fish the South Branch and Musky.

[bkill]

I'm Surprised they closed as they had a great location .

Exactly...The Real Estate was worth more than the business...

[Fly Guy]

That was a great place to go shooting. I shot my first handgun there at 13. I never shopped a there fly shop. I agree with AK, I go to Tight Lines. They are very helpful and really know there stuff.

Jeremy

[AKSkim]

You know I am a bit surprised that none of you bleeding heart liberals haven't been hooting about the employees as much.

Come on they were just common people sitting behind a counter.

Like yesterday when I was in Effinger's (since 1909) as I passed down the fly tying "isle" I got to the end and there was a man sitting behind the counter thumbing through some magazine. He looks up says hi, I return the greeting and was in the gun section before I knew it.

But I got to thinking, not at the lack of... everything in the fishing section, no not at all, I got to thinking about the guy behind the counter and if he ever asks himself, "I once stayed up for two days cramming for a trigonometry test for this?"

Oh well, like the job application proudly proclaims, Everybody is somebody at Wendy's.

[klg neighbor]

I have to agree with "That Effin' Place", was never very impressed with the service. However, it is what it is, a sporting goods store with easy access off the road I use to travel down.

Ray's was the place to go to as I grew up in the area. Wasn't into FF at the time. Again, a sporting goods store that has to cater to all the sport areas they handled.

Tightlines is a good store, lots of materials. Shannons is also good and convenient. All good guys and they are mainly or strictly fly fishing.

Comparing Effingers and Rays to Tighlines and Shannons is like comparing the A&P to your local butcher shop. Can't walk more than 10 feet and find yourself in baked goods.