Farewell to The Legend

Randy Stetzer

Of all the essays I've written for our blog/newsletter over the last 14 years, this is the hardest to pen. I don't know where to start. I guess, like ripping off a band-aid, I'll simply lead with, Randy is retiring.

Randle Scott Stetzer has been a fixture in the fly fishing industry since before it became an industry. Before Bead Head Flies, Gore-Tex waders, that famous movie, and Skagit Lines, Randy was guiding, teaching, and selling tackle to anglers from all walks of life. From bankers to trout bums, rockstars to 4-star Generals, Randy treated them all to some of their best angling adventures, outfitting them with his experience and the best gear available. His skill as a fly tyer pulled him deeper into the sport and soon produced a fly fishing best seller, Flies, The Best One Thousand.

This book and a call from Randall Kaufmann one fall afternoon while I was hooking up my drift boat brought us together, eventually forming a friendship that has lasted 24 years and counting.

While I won't dwell on the difficulties we faced with our former employer, I want to emphasize the enduring nature of the friendships we made, including those with many of you. Randy has always had my back, and in the end, our friendship and those we made have endured, erasing the pain of what was a very troubling time in our careers.

Randy ended up at Angler's Workshop in Woodland, then Rajeff Sports in Vancouver, before landing at Burkhiemer Rods in Camas. Meanwhile, on the encouragement of others, I hammered away at the business plan that would become Royal Treatment Fly Fishing, with the unspoken goal of one day working again alongside my friend.

On March 2, 2021, 11 years after we left Kaufmanns' Streamborn, Randy Stetzer joined the team at Royal Treatment. It was the realization of a goal I had set for the business and myself. It was my way of thanking him for having my back many years ago, but more importantly, it was offering him a place to do what he loves and help people enjoy the sport of fly fishing.

When I hired Randy, I knew it wouldn't be forever. We were both on the backside of our working careers, but I knew that for however long he would be here, he would be an incredible asset to our customers and the business. I was right.

So now we approach the end of an era, the retirement of one of the most respected individuals in the fly fishing industry. While we'll be sad not to see him in the shop during the week, I'm sure he'll find his way back from time to time to fill in for a day or two, maybe take a seat at the Tyer's Table, or pick up some tackle for his next fly fishing adventure. This isn't goodbye; it's congratulations on an incredible career of doing what you loved, with, and for the people who love and respect the wonderful man that you are.

Randy's last official day in the shop is September 26th, but we'll be having a birthday/retirement party for him on September 14th, with cake and a very special fly tyer at the Tyer's Table, Brad Burden. Please make plans to join us!