Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

What Mossy Creek Fly Fishing does

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is a privately held, family-owned specialty fly fishing retailer and guide service founded in 2003 by brothers Brian and Colby Trow and headquartered in a restored historic building at 480 E Market St, Harrisonburg, Virginia. It serves individual fly fishing anglers in Virginia and the broader Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, with product lines spanning apparel (own-brand Mossy Creek Apparel plus Sitka, Simms, Skwala, Smith), full fly fishing gear (rods, reels, lines, waders, boots from Orvis, Sage, Scott, Abel, Hatch, Ross, Redington, Waterworks Lamson), comprehensive fly tying materials, and accessories. The underlying technology is a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront integrated with in-store retail operations.

The company monetizes through four revenue streams: (1) retail product sales both in-store and online, with prices ranging from ~$2.25 for individual flies to ~$1,850 for premium reels and free shipping over $75; (2) guide services including guided trout trips, float fishing trips, tenkara trips, and access to private trophy trout fisheries; (3) educational services via the official Orvis Fly Fishing School and in-house fly fishing and fly tying classes; and (4) gift cards redeemable across merchandise and services. Go-to-market combines a single physical retail showroom, a 24/7 e-commerce site, and a mobile fly shop that travels to breweries, clubs, and non-profits across Virginia, supplemented by a content-marketing blog with weekly fishing forecasts, YouTube, and organic social on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter plus a Constant Contact email newsletter.

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is differentiated primarily by its status as the first and only independent Orvis Endorsed Outfitter in Virginia (since 2013), its claim to be Virginia's largest freshwater fly fishing guide service, and unusually deep industry-leadership credentials for a 5-person shop — including a former AFFTA Chairman, an AFFTA senior board member, and a Project Healing Waters national board trustee. The company has remained independent with no external investors, no M&A activity, and no patents or proprietary technology assets.

Name

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

Legal name

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing

Website

https://mossycreekflyfishing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing is a privately held, family-owned Virginia specialty retailer and guide service selling fly fishing gear, apparel, and fly tying supplies via a Harrisonburg storefront, Shopify e-commerce site, and mobile fly shop, while also offering guided trips, Orvis-endorsed instruction, and classes to individual anglers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Sporting Goods Retail

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAMALAD

Fly Fishing Specialty Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Fishing & Tackle Retail

SECONDARYCRAMALAB

Freshwater Fishing Specialty Retail

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Fishing & Tackle Retail

SECONDARYTHAJAJAC

Fishing Charters & Angling Experiences (Deep Sea, Sportfishing, Fly Fishing)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Marine & Water Experiences (Boat Tours, Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing)

Keywords

• Fly fishing gear
• Guided fly fishing
• Fly tying supplies
• Outdoor sporting apparel
• Angling instruction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisonburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Product Sales: Sale of fly fishing gear including fly rods, reels, lines, flies, waders, boots, accessories, and apparel. Both in-store and online through their e-commerce platform.
2. Guide Services: Guided trout trips, float fishing trips, tenkara trips, and private water fly fishing. Professional guides provide personalized fishing experiences.
3. Educational Classes: Orvis Fly Fishing School, fly fishing classes, and fly tying classes taught by experienced instructors for anglers of all skill levels.
4. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available for shop merchandise and guide/lesson services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing operates a physical retail fly shop combined with an e-commerce store, selling fly rods, reels, lines, flies, waders, boots, apparel, and fly tying supplies. The business also offers professional guided fly fishing trips (trout, float, tenkara, private water) and instructional classes including the official Orvis Fly Fishing School.

Product overview

Mossy Creek Fly Fishing operates as a comprehensive fly fishing retail and service business, combining an online e-commerce store with a physical fly shop location in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The product portfolio spans three main areas: (1) Apparel including outerwear, shirts, hats, pants, shorts, rain gear, sunglasses, gloves, socks, and buffs from brands like Sitka, Skwala, Simms, and Smith; (2) Fly Fishing Gear encompassing accessories, flies, fly boxes, fly lines (RIO, Scientific Anglers, Orvis), fly reels (Abel, Hatch, Orvis, Ross, Sage, Redington, Waterworks Lamson), fly rods (Orvis, Sage, Scott, Redington), rod outfits, leaders & tippet, waders, wading boots, tenkara equipment, nets, packs, vests, luggage, coolers/YETI, used gear, and gift cards; and (3) Fly Tying Supplies including adhesives, UV products, beads, brushes, chenille, dubbing, feathers, flash, foam, hair, fur, hooks, rubber legs, synthetics, thread, tinsel, wire, tools, and vises. Services include guided trout trips, float fishing trips, tenkara trips, private water fly fishing, Orvis Fly Fishing School, fly fishing classes, fly tying classes, and a mobile fly shop. The company also provides fishing forecasts through their blog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mossy Creek Apparel: Company-branded clothing including shirts, hoodies, beanies, and accessories featuring the Mossy Creek logo.
• Mossy Creek Sunglasses

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OrviscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2013Mossy Creek Fly Fishing has been an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter since 2013, the first and only independent fly shop in Virginia in this prestigious program. Orvis has over 150 years of history in fly fishing and outdoor sporting traditions, focused on conservation and restoration of fly fishing habitat. The endorsement signifies meeting high standards for service and fishing quality.
• Project Healing Waters Fly FishingminorOthersBrian Trow serves on the national board of trustees for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, giving back to veterans through the sport of fly fishing.
• Trout UnlimitedminorOthersBrian Trow has a passion for restoring local waters and is very involved with Trout Unlimited. The shop is dedicated to improving, restoring, and enhancing fishing in and around the Shenandoah Valley.
• Fly Fisher's of VirginiaminorOthersAndy Slawson is past President of the Madison Fly Fishers. Colby Trow serves as Technical Advisor for Fly Fisher's of Virginia.
• American Fly Fishing Trade AssociationminorOthersColby Trow is former American Fly Fishing Trade Association Chairman. Tom Sadler is senior board member of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association.
• Marine Fish Conservation NetworkminorOthersTom Sadler's day job is Deputy Director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trident Fly Fishing: Online-first fly fishing specialty retailer with curated rod, reel, and fly inventory plus destination travel booking. Closely comparable to Mossy Creek's e-commerce and gear advisory motion, though it lacks the physical retail and guide service footprint.
• Blue Ribbon Flies: Pennsylvania-based independent fly shop and guide service operating in the Mid-Atlantic. Directly comparable retail + guide service mix to Mossy Creek in an adjacent geography with overlapping trout fishing customer base.
• Madison River Outfitters: Montana fly fishing outfitter combining a retail fly shop with full-service guided float and wade trips on the Madison River. Comparable to Mossy Creek as a destination-anchored fly shop + guide service hybrid in a different region.
• The Fly Shop: California-based fly fishing retailer and outfitter offering gear, guided trips, and travel destinations. Most comparable to Mossy Creek because it pairs a deep fly fishing retail catalog with a multi-guide service operation across trout and steelhead destinations.
• Front Range Anglers: Colorado fly shop offering retail gear, guided trips, and classes in the Boulder/Denver region. Closely mirrors Mossy Creek's bundled retail, instruction, and guide service model in a different regional market.
• Driftless Angler: Wisconsin Driftless region fly shop and guide service focused on trout and smallmouth. Comparable independent retail + guide operation with a similar freshwater specialty profile to Mossy Creek.

Broad incumbents

• Backcountry: Online outdoor retailer carrying premium fly fishing brands (Simms, Sage, Orvis) alongside apparel and gear. Directly competes with Mossy Creek's e-commerce channel on selection and shipping economics for the same premium gear customers.
• Orvis: Heritage fly fishing brand and retailer with company-owned retail stores, mail-order business, and the Endorsed Outfitter program in which Mossy Creek participates. Competes with Mossy Creek on the retail side while also serving as a supplier and partner.
• Bass Pro Shops: Mass-market outdoor sporting goods retailer with broad fly fishing inventory and national footprint. Overlaps with Mossy Creek's product assortment but at much lower specialty depth and without the guide/education focus.
• Cabela's: National outdoor retailer (now under Bass Pro) carrying fly fishing rods, reels, apparel, and accessories. Comparable as a broad-based competitor for the same discretionary angler customer, though without specialty expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mossycreekstore
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mossycreekflyfishing
• Facebookfacebook.com/mossycreekflyfishing
• Instagraminstagram.com/mossycreekflyfishing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mossy-creek-fly-fishing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mossy Creek Fly Fishing