A Bit of Sadness

[Tony Buzolich]

This morning early I was listening to the Bob Simms Outdoor Show. KFBK #1530 from 5am-8am. After several of the fishing reports and duck hunting stories he got ahold of Andy Guibord from Kiene's Fly Shop and announced that Kiene's last day would be tomorrow.

I thought about that for a while and felt sad. Andy said the shop had been open for 35 years and he himself had been with the shop for almost 30 years.

You meet and make a lot of friends over those years that share the same love of fly fishing like we all do here. Some are regular customers and act like family. Some share stories about fishing with Bill or Andy or one of the other guides there. They're all good stories we hold and hope we can cling to down the road.

Any of us that have opened and run their own business for any length of time know the effort that goes into making a business successful. Kiene's was a successful business when Bill was around.

Bill, you earned that place under the sun in Florida. Being around family, doing the things you've always loved, and having great memories of one of the best fly fishing shops there ever was.

Stay well and enjoy life, Tony Buzolich

[Carl Blackledge]

I 2nd that feeling

Carl

[John H]

Very well said, Tony. That is a fitting way to think about the shop at the end. Thanks.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Carl, Tony and John, here in the above posts, all had a positive impact on my business.

I think about half of our customers were our good friends.

Marilyn and I really miss our old friends from the shop.






Tim Au-young (from the shop) and his wife Heide are here visiting with us in Florida, right now.

Tomorrow we will all drive south for about 30 minutes to visit Steve Potter in Vero Beach, FL.

Life is good, here in Sebastian, Florida.

[STEELIES/26c3]

This morning early I was listening to the Bob Simms Outdoor Show. KFBK #1530 from 5am-8am. After several of the fishing reports and duck hunting stories he got ahold of Andy Guibord from Kiene's Fly Shop and announced that Kiene's last day would be tomorrow.

I thought about that for a while and felt sad. Andy said the shop had been open for 35 years and he himself had been with the shop for almost 30 years.

You meet and make a lot of friends over those years that share the same love of fly fishing like we all do here. Some are regular customers and act like family. Some share stories about fishing with Bill or Andy or one of the other guides there. They're all good stories we hold and hope we can cling to down the road.

Any of us that have opened and run their own business for any length of time know the effort that goes into making a business successful. Kiene's was a successful business when Bill was around.

Bill, you earned that place under the sun in Florida. Being around family, doing the things you've always loved, and having great memories of one of the best fly fishing shops there ever was.

Stay well and enjoy life, Tony Buzolich

Well put... and so true. Kiene's was a much friendlier and more respected enterprise when Bill was at the helm; I'll just leave it at that.

[BobVP]

Well said.
I visited Kiene's a total of....drum roll please.... One time! but I got to talk with some good folks that were generous with their suggestions about where I was headed. I think I bought a few flies...too long ago to remember that part. The only reason I never returned was Sacramento was hardly ever in my travel route.

What you built Bill was an iconic shop and a great legacy. I am glad you are still "here".

[Ralph]

Well said.
I visited Kiene's a total of....drum roll please.... One time! but I got to talk with some good folks that were generous with their suggestions about where I was headed. I think I bought a few flies...too long ago to remember that part. The only reason I never returned was Sacramento was hardly ever in my travel route.

What you built Bill was an iconic shop and a great legacy. I am glad you are still "here".

I went to Keine's once. There are several great fly shops along the way, and the one time I went, we got lost going there and stuck in commuter traffic on the way out. No disrespect to Kiene's, it was simply very inconvenient from where I was coming from (Truckee/Nevada City). One of the "fly shops along the way" was Reel Anglers in Grass Valley. Tom just announced he is going out of business and has everything on closeout sale.

[Woodman]

I went to Keine's once. There are several great fly shops along the way, and the one time I went, we got lost going there and stuck in commuter traffic on the way out. No disrespect to Kiene's, it was simply very inconvenient from where I was coming from (Truckee/Nevada City). One of the "fly shops along the way" was Reel Anglers in Grass Valley. Tom just announced he is going out of business and has everything on closeout sale.

Reel Anglers was another fine shop. I think Creative Sports in the Bay Area closed the doors a couple of years ago also. Sign of the times. The shops that remain, even in destination locations are dependent on their online sales to stay afloat.

Say no to Amazon, Bass Pro Shop, and Sportsmans Warehouse. They won't miss the tiny fraction of their sales that come from flyfishers.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Over the years a lot of good people owned that fly shop in Grass Valley.

I was always a little jealous of the smaller destination fly shops, all over rural America.



Tim Au-young and his wonderful wife Heide have recently both retired.

One of the first things on their "Bucket List" was an amazing 8 month World Tour.

They have timeshares too and are in Orlando, Florida right now.

So they came down to Sebastian, Florida and visited us for a few days.

Yesterday we all drove a little south from here and visited Steve Potter and his lovely wife Linda.

Steve was from Tracy and is a famous spinner of deer hair and Tim worked for us and manages the fly tiers at Cal-Expo.

We all had a wonderful visit, chatting about many subjects.

Tim and Heide will come back for a week and then Steve can take us fishing in his new 18 foot Hewes Redfisher skiff.





Life is so good in Florida, fishing in fresh water, brackish water and salt water.

[Bob G]

Hi Billy -

I can still remember when you and I visited the Grass Valley Shop to "High Grade" through a large selection of dry fly necks for your Shop.

Please give Tim my best regards.

Best, Bob

[Carl Blackledge]

Bill, When I sold you shad flies by the thousands, I never did worry about when I would get paid. However that wasn't the same case with the modern shop. many others feel the same way. Bill the gentleman was always on time :)

Carl Blackledge

[Woodman]

Don't know that there's a need to throw the current shop under the bus, especially in light of the recent passing of the owner.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Bill, When I sold you shad flies by the thousands, I never did worry about when I would get paid. However that wasn't the same case with the modern shop. many others feel the same way. Bill the gentleman was always on time :)

Carl Blackledge

Carl is the fastest, high-quality fly tier I know.

[Carl Blackledge]

John, I wasn't trying to disrespect the dead, however him passing doesn't change the facts.

Carl Blackledge

[lee s.]

Bill,
YOU are still ONE of the FEW!
Steve ain't far behind....
.....lee s.

[TaylerW]

It feels like just yesterday I wasn’t old enough to drive, and convinced my parents to drive me to Kiene's and American Fly every chance I could. Will never forget buying my first rod from Al Bunch, or the time Jim Christensen helped me out with a vice when mine got stolen coming home from Alaska. Sad to see things go the way they did, but so thankful for the memories and friends.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Bill,
YOU are still ONE of the FEW!
Steve ain't far behind....
.....lee s.

Yes Lee,

I am so lucky to have Steve Potter only 20 minutes south of me now in Vero Beach, Florida.

Steve bought a new Hewes Redfisher 18 and I got the smaller water boat, a new 15' shallow water skiff.

A bonus is that Steve ties all our flies now, yahoo.

19597

On the Central East Coast of Florida we have amazing fishing for almost all tropical salt water gamefish species.

We even have lots of big Permit and some Bonefish but no shallow flats to chase them on.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

It feels like just yesterday I wasn’t old enough to drive, and convinced my parents to drive me to Kiene's and American Fly every chance I could. Will never forget buying my first rod from Al Bunch, or the time Jim Christensen helped me out with a vice when mine got stolen coming home from Alaska. Sad to see things go the way they did, but so thankful for the memories and friends.

Thanks Tayler

We are so happy for your continued success in life and appreciate your valued support on our fun little Forum.

[Rich Morrison]

Always a bummer to see a good shop close. Too many good friends from this fly fishing world passing on lately. Thankfully we have a great shop here in Rapid City that is doing well. I always stop in and buy the things I need locally. So important.

[hwchubb]

Add me to the list of long time fans of yours, Bill. I was a newbie to the west coast when I walked into your shop in early 1986, and it immediately became a haven in a foreign land. I made a number of friends that remain so to this day, and it almost felt like walking into Cheers (in contrast to another shop not too far from you). I have so many great memories that were built around, or were at least somehow involved with, your shop. While I’m another one of those who drifted away from the more recent versions of Kiene’s, I was sorry to see that the run that the name had was coming to an end.

Thanks for continuing to be a presence here, Bill. May you and Marilyn enjoy retirement for many more years, and hopefully I can share a drink and / or the water with you sometime soon.

Wayne

[hwchubb]

Add me to the list of long time fans of yours, Bill. I was a newbie to the west coast when I walked into your shop in early 1986, and it immediately became a haven in a foreign land. I made a number of friends that remain so to this day, and it almost felt like walking into Cheers (in contrast to another shop not too far from you). I have so many great memories that were built around, or were at least somehow involved with, your shop. While I’m another one of those who drifted away from the more recent versions of Kiene’s, I was sorry to see that the run that the name had was coming to an end.

Thanks for continuing to be a presence here, Bill. May you and Marilyn enjoy retirement for many more years, and hopefully I can share a drink and / or the water with you sometime soon.

Wayne

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Wayne.

Marilyn and I really miss the great friends we had who came into the shop over the years.

[steveg137]

Double down on what’s been said.
Bill you’ve clearly contributed so much to the local fishing community.
Your life in Florida sounds wonderful.
Losing Kienes and Cal fly Fisher is a real shame.