If you’ve done much fly-fishing around Missouri, you routinely hear the same names and places pop up in conversation. Tom Hargrove and his shop, T. Hargrove Fly Fishing in St. Louis, are two such entities.

Hargrove looks the part, too. With a bushy white beard and often a big cigar clasped between his lips, he resembles two other legends of the sport: former TV host Flip Pallot and fly-fishing author John Gierach.

Just like those two, Hargrove is a salt-of-the-earth fisherman with some fantastic stories. We caught up with him to discuss his angling origins, his dream fishing spot, and his top tips for new casters.

How did you get your start in fly-fishing?
When I was 13, my neighbor in Kirkwood had a fly rod and gave me casting lessons in the backyard. Then, all I had to do was cut his lawn for a few weeks, and the rod and reel were mine.

What’s your most memorable fishing trip?
Lightning Lake in the Beartooth region of Montana. It was a 15-mile hike, and we had to bushwhack through most of it to find the lake. We fished for a couple days and took a different route going back that led us to the top of Chalice Peak. It was absolutely incredible.

Do you have a favorite place to fish?
Yes. The little spring creeks around here, where you can catch some wild trout and not see another person the whole day.

(Courtesy of Tom Hargrove)

What inspired you to open your fly shop?
After college, I went to work for Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri, in the fly-fishing department. I would build [owner] Johnny Morris’ rods and reels for all his fishing trips.

After Bass Pro, I worked at Outdoors, Inc., mainly tying flies. At that time, there weren’t too many places to buy fly-fishing tackle, so I thought, “Instead of making money for someone else, I could tie flies and make money for myself.” So I took out a loan, started T. Hargrove in 1987, paid the loan off in a year, and haven’t had to borrow any money since.

You made a good decision.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’ve had a lot of people believe in me and support me, and it’s allowed me to follow my passion. I’m not a millionaire, but there are some things money cannot buy.

What makes T. Hargrove stand out from other fly shops?
We’re like an old general store with the wood stove and the cracker barrel over in the corner. My grandfather was a part owner of a general store called Schaeffer’s in Lesterville, Missouri, for a while.

I grew up listening to stories about it — sitting around the wood stove BS-ing, and there would be a machine with glass soda bottles for sale for a nickel, neat things like that. It’s the kind of place you don’t see anymore, and that’s what I wanted.

(Courtesy of Tom Hargrove)

What’s your best advice for new anglers?
Practice your casting. You don’t need the best gear. You just need to be able to cast accurately and with a delicate presentation. I still practice in our backyard every morning and again after we close just to stay sharp. Finally, fish with confidence.

What’s the best setup for a new angler?
A nine-foot, five-weight fly rod is a good starting point. You can get a really wonderful rod and reel for under $200. It could last you a lifetime if you take care of it and don’t forget it on top of your car.

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Tom Hargrove’s Essentials

BEST LOCAL PLACES TO FISH: “There are lots of little getaways where you don’t have to waste a lot of time to have a good time. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles, Jefferson Lake at Forest Park, Walker Lake in Kirkwood Park, and Tilles Park in Ladue are all great.”

BUCKET-LIST FISHING TRIP: “New Zealand. But I can’t go without my wife. We’ve been married for 40 years. She has seen it all happen and has been very supportive. So she’d have to come with me.”

FAVORITE PIECE OF GEAR: “My Victorinox Swiss army knife. It can do anything. I’ve even used it to do automotive repairs.”

Author: Kyle Wayne Stewart is a frequent contributor to Terrain.

Top image: Courtesy of Tom Hargrove.