Andras Outfitters, in a sense, was established in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1995. Jim Andras answered the phone at the Compleat Flyfisher to hear Rachel Connery ask for directions on the other end. Rachel, a native of North Carolina, had followed her heart out West and needed to know where she could wet a line. After highlighting stream access usually reserved for family and friends, Jim wished her well and good luck. Upon returning to work after the weekend, he found Rachel at the counter, only this time standing on the other side. Turned out, she made a first impression that extended beyond the hired help and started both a friendship and a career.
After working together a short time, Jim headed south to guide in Chilean Patagonia, where one season quickly turned into two. Meanwhile, Rachel continued to impress fly fishing professionals and personalities opening the door to move from managing a fly shop in Arizona, to directing Mel Krieger schools and camps for The Fly Shop in California. While Jim traded the sun and southern cross of Patagonia for the rainbows and northern lights of Alaska, Rachel immersed herself in the overall operation of arguably one of the nation’s most successful fly shops. In the summer of 2000, a departing guest offered Jim his good word to a shop owner in Redding, California and Jim followed up.
Rachel practically ran out the back when she watched Jim walk through the The Fly Shop’s front door. Thankfully, it turned out to be more a reaction of surprise than of aversion, and the day ended with a guiding gig and a rekindled friendship. Over the next four years, Jim balanced building a local clientele, two summer seasons in Kamchatka, Russia, and courting Rachel. Fortunately for him, she continued to expand her summer programs, dove into the travel side of the business, and wrote love letters instead of Dear John letters. Finally, in the spring of 2004, Jim and Rachel wed with the shore of the Intracoastal Waterway at their feet.
With the wedding in the books, Jim and Rachel looked forward to winding down and enjoying their new life together. However, Rachel’s success in travel sales drew the attention of Fly Water Travel, a growing fly fishing travel company in Ashland, Oregon. Still an easy drive to the Redding area, steelhead fisheries just minutes away, and a community eager to discover fly fishing, the move made sense. In the summer of 2005, the house sold, and the cars packed, the Andras’ headed north. Committed to providing an exceptional guide/instruction service from the first contact through the last cast, in March 2009 they put their name on it.
Andras Outfitters PO BOX 1387 Talent, Oregon 97540 530 722 7992 andrasoutfitters@me.com
Southern Oregon and Northern California Fly Fishing Guide Service
