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Tony
Gehman - TCO President
Tony was and will
always be mesmerized by
water. From an early age
he passed many days walking
in creeks, turning rocks
and enjoying the energy
that only running water
can offer. Like the rest
of the TCO family, Trout
was the primary target,
but after exploring the
Bahamas, Florida Keys
and other tropical destinations,
Bonefish, Tarpon &
Permit quickly became
the main focus.
Tony can found in just
about any of the stores
as he travels to each
location weekly to oversee
the operations although,
his main focus is on the
internet business within
TCO.
Tony started this company
in 1990 with a 750 square
foot storefront and has
now grown to 5 retails
locations and over 25
different fly fishing
related websites.
Tony will never loose
the passion for fly fishing
or the anticipation that
lies in the next cool
location to explore!
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Favorite
Waders & Boots:
Wader: Simms
G3 Guide
Boot:
Simms
Guide Boot
Simms
River Sandal |
Favorite
Rod & Reel:
Rod:
Sage
ZXL Series,
Winston BIIX Series
Reel: Sage
6000, Abel
Super Series |
Favorite
Outerwear:
Simms
G4 Pro Jacket
Simms
Windstopper SoftShell
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Favorite
Fishing Accessory:
WJ
Confluence Chest Pack
Action
Optics Tactic Glasses
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Chris
Frangiosa - TCO Retail
Manager
Chris has spent the last
ten years immersed in
the fly-fishing industry.
Early on, he would have
been found leading clients
on excursions down Eastern
Beaches in New Jersey
and on North Carolinas
famed Outer Banks. Here
he operated a lodge catering
to hard-core anglers focused
on hunting down some of
the hardest to catch Saltwater
Game-fish on the planet.
Then he joined Orvis as
Manager of the Company
Store in Downingtown,
PA.
At Orvis Chris was able
to focus even more on
travel. Here he was able
to take clients even farther
and to more exotic destinations.
Chris is now the Retail
Manager for the entire
company.
We are pleased to have
him on our team, as his
experiences will most
definitely enhance our
store and travel programs.
He will undoubtedly be
hosting many of our Fly-Fishing
expeditions with fly rod
in hand and Nikon in tow.
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Favorite
Waders:
Simms
G3 Guide
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Favorite
Boots:
Simms
Headwater Boot |
Favorite
Fishing Jacket:
Simms G3 Jacket
Simms
Windstopper DL Jacket
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Favorite
Simms Accessory:
Wet
Wading Sock
Simms
Hard Bite Studs
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Paul
Weamer - Manager TCO State
College - Author
Paul was born in Altoona,
PA and taught to tie flies
and fish by his father
in Central PA's fertile
limestone valleys. Paul's
entry into the fly fishing
business was to manage
a fly fishing lodge and
shop along the Delaware
River in 1998. He left
that position to become
the managing partner of
the Border Water Outfitters
fly shop in Hancock, NY.
In early 2007, after spending
nearly a decade in the
Delaware River Watershed,
Paul returned to Central
Pennsylvania as the manager
of TCO State College.
Paul is a production fly
tier and has tied for
numerous shops including
the legendary Dette fly
shop in Roscoe, New York.
His flies have been featured
in the Pennsylvania Outdoors
Television series, the
Catskill Fly fishing Museum,
and Charles Meck's landmark
book The Hatches Made
Simple. Paul is a contracted
fly designer for Montana
Fly Company and the inventor
of the Weamer's Truform
series of flies. Paul
has teamed up with Daiichi
Hooks where he designed
the Daiichi #1230 Weamer's
Truform (tm) Mayfly hook.
Paul's first book, Fly
fishing Guide to the Upper
Delaware River, is
proving to be a must have
for anyone fishing the
Delaware! He has also
collaborated with Jay
Nichols on a Tying
Dry Flies book and
co-authored the Pocket
Guide to PA Hatches
with Charles Meck. Paul
is Fly Fisherman magazine’s
Northeast Field Editor
and his articles and photographs
regularly appear in the
magazine. |
Favorite
Fly Rod & Reel:
Orvis Helios 10' 5wt
Sage
TCX 9' 5wt
Winston BIIMX 9' 6"
5wt
Lamson
Litespeed
Abel
Super Series |
Favorite
Waders & Boots:
Simms
G3 Guide Wader
Simms
Guide Boot |
Favorite
Jacket / Outerwear:
Simms
Rivershed Jacket
Simms
Windstop Soft Shell hoody
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Favorite
Fly Line / Leader /
Tippet:
Sharkskin
Trout Taper
Rio Gold
RIO Knotless Trout Leaders
RIO
Flouroflex Plus Tippet
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Favorite
Accessories:
Thingamabobbers
Brodin
Gallatin Ghost Net
Magnetic Net Release
Simms
Dry Creek Rolltop Backpack
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Favorite
Clothing Items:
Simms
Essex Shirts
Simms Waderwick Crew Top
Simms
Waderwick Crew Bottom
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George
Daniel Jr - TCO State
College - Fly Fishing
Team USA
George began fly fishing
at age 6 while growing
up in Potter County, PA
and credits Joe Humphreys
for the bulk of his knowledge
along with many national
and international industry
professionals. George
has been seen on ESPN
and OLN while competing
in the Great Outdoor Games
and the Fly Fishing Masters.
George is a certified
FFF Fly Casting Instructor
as well.
Some of George's accomplishments
include:
3rd place 2003 Fly Fishing
Masters, 1st place Casting
Competition 2004 OLN Fly
Fishing Masters.
Team USA Medals
Include:
Bronze Medal 2005 Oregon
Trials, Bronze Medal 2006
Fresno Trials, Gold Medal-2006
Michigan Trials, Gold
Medal Team -2006 National
FF Championships
Team USA Individual
Achievments Include:
8th Place 2006 National
FF Championships
5th Place 2006 World FF
Championships, Portugal
George competed in the
2007 World Fly Fishing
Championships, Finland
where the USA Team finished
6th out of 23 Countries.
George was among the Coaching
Staff for the 2007 Youth
World FF Championships,
State College, PA
He Won the 2007 OLN FF
Masters! |
Favorite
Fly Rod & Reel:
Winston BIIMX
9' 6" 5wt
Lamson
Litespeed
Abel
Super Series |
Favorite
Waders & Boots:
Simms
G4 Pro Guide Wader
Simms
Rivershed Boot |
Favorite
Jacket / Outerwear:
Simms
Rivershed Jacket
Simms
Windstop Soft Shell
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Favorite
Fly Line / Leader /
Tippet:
Sharkskin
GPX Taper
Rio Gold
RIO Knotless Trout Leaders
RIO
Flouroflex Plus Tippet
|
Favorite
Accessories:
Thingamabobbers
Brodin
Gallatin Ghost Net
Magnetic Net Release
Simms
Retractor
WJ
Confluence Chest Pack |
Favorite
Clothing Items:
Simms Waderwick Crew Top
Simms
Waderwick Crew Bottom
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Wes
Osborne - TCO Reading
- Internet Manager
Wes grew up in the outskirts
of Atlanta and spent much
of his youth chasing large
mouth bass on conventional
tackle. In his teenage
years he began fly fishing
for trout in the North
Georgia Mountains. His
true passion for the sport
started in college (University
of Georgia) and has not
relinquished one bit to
this day. A one year resident
of PA Wes has invested
a lot of time from one
end of the state to the
other to learn our trout
streams intimately. The
only thing better than
fishing to Wes is maybe
some good southern BBQ
and a tall glass of sweet
tea (and of course talking
about fishing) When Wes
isn't fishing you can
usually catch him looming
about record stores searching
for rare vinyl. |
Favorite
Waders:
Simms
G3 Guide
|
Favorite
Boots:
Simms
Guide Boot |
Favorite
Fishing Jacket:
Simms G3 Jacket
Simms
Windstopper SoftShell
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Favorite
Simms Accessory:
Simms
Waderflex Jeans
Thirsty Trout Bottle
Opener
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Steve
Spurgeon - TCO Bryn Mawr,
Philadelphia
Steve Spurgeon is a new
addition to the TCO team
and works out of our Bryn
Mawr location. Steve came
to us from the Outdoor
industry. He was a rep
for Etnies and DC shoes
and covered lots of ground
with these 2 companies...
sometimes even finding
time to fish!
Steve holds a wealth of
knowledge about the local
fresh and saltwater fisheries
and is always available
to help customers with
local hot spots and exciting
nearby fishing
opportunities.
In his spare time, Steve
can be found chasing Bonito,
False Albacore and Stripers
on Long Island Sound or
fishing for dry fly sipping
trout on the West Branch
of the Delaware River.
Stop by the Bryn Mawr
store to visit with Steve
and tap into his extensive
fly-fishing knowledge
and enthusiasm. |
Favorite
Waders:
Simms
G3 Guide
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Favorite
Boots:
Simms
Rivershed Boot |
Favorite
Fishing Jacket:
Simms G3 Jacket
Simms
Freestone SoftShell
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Favorite
Simms Accessory:
Dry
Creek Camera Bag
Simms
Hardbite Studs
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Jake
Villwock - TCO Reading
& Bryn Mawr
Jake is a college
graduate from High Point
University in NC with
a degree in Entrepreneurship.
After his graduation he
spent the next 2 years
in Alaska as a guide fishing
the remote rivers and
streams of Sitka AK. When
he wasn’t guiding
clients to the Alaska
Grand slam (all 5 species
of Pacific salmon) you
could find him testing
his skills against King
salmon and chum salmon
on Saw mill creek with
his 8wt. When the weather
turned for the worst you
could find him on the
back of a dog sled mushing
dogs in Two Rivers AK.
Before he left the east
coast headed for Alaska
he has spent his whole
life roaming the Chesapeake
Bay where he called home,
doing everything from
commercial fishing for
stripers, harvesting Chesapeake
Bay Blue Crabs and throwing
an 8wt for stripers around
the jetties and rock plies
that make up the bay with
his father. Aside from
working full time at TCO
come spring he will begin
to guide the local rivers
throughout PA |
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Wyatt
Bowman - TCO State College
Wyatt grew up in the heart
of Pennsylvania just east
of State College. Even
at a young age he was
fascinated by the outdoors,
spending much of his time
on Fishing Creek, Clinton
County and other water
within biking range. However,
his love of the outdoors
took a back seat to sports
as he got older. Wyatt
became an accomplished
high school football player
for Cumberland Valley
HS and then on to play
at Penn State University
as an offensive lineman.
After several knee injuries,
Wyatt chose to end his
football career, but with
his newfound free time
rekindled his outdoor
passion. He attained a
fondness for the simple
beauty and purity that
is fly fishing and the
attempt to fool nature.
He is also an avid musician
that plays anything from
folk, bluegrass, to rock
and of course the Grateful
Dead. |
Favorite
Waders:
Simms
G3 Guide
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Favorite
Boots:
Simms
Rivershed Boot
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Favorite
Fishing Jacket:
Simms Classic Guide
Jacket
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Favorite
Simms Accessory:
Simms
Thirsty Trout Bottle
Opener Simms
Wet Wading Sock
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Gavin
Robinson - TCO Reading
/ Guide
Gavin has been fly fishing
for the last 12 years
pursuing anything that
swims from shad to stripers,
bluegills to carp. His
real passion lies in chasing
trout year round on our
local PA streams.
Gavin enjoys tying flies
as much as the fishing
itself.
A few years ago he learned
the art of building bamboo
rods and hand crafted
nets. One of the most
enjoyable aspects of fly
fishing for Gavin is finding
new water or a new species
then tying piles of flies
and slowly solving the
puzzle for each new fish.
I guess you could say
that Gavin has an almost
fanatical love for the
sport and the outdoors.
If you want to book Gavin
for a day on the water
chasing anything that
swims, call the TCO Reading
shop at 610-678-1899 or
email
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Favorite
Waders:
Simms
G3 Guide
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Favorite
Boots:
Simms
Guide Boot Studded |
Favorite
Fishing Jacket:
ExStream
Insulated Jacket
Simms Rivershed Jacket
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Favorite
Simms Accessory:
Thirsty Trout Bottle
Opener
Simms
Dry Creek Duffel
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Henry
Ramsay - TCO Reading
Henry joined the TCO
staff in 2007 after
spending the previous
few years teaching our
fly tying classes. Henry
mixes his time helping
clients at the Reading
store, teaching our
fly tying classes and
working as a streamside
instructor and guide.
For
some people fly tying
and fly fishing serve
as a hobby or a diversion,
for Henry it is a way
of life and he ties
flies nearly every day.
He has been a fly tyer
and fisherman for over
thirty five years. Over
the years Henry has
had the opportunity
to meet, and learn from
many notable fly tyers
from Ernest Scweibert
to Paul Schmookler and
many others who have
influenced his own work
at the vise. Henry has
also been a custom fly
tyer for over twenty
five years; supplying
trout and Atlantic salmon
flies for destination
anglers traveling from
Alaska, across the U.S.
and Canada and to the
rivers of Russia’s
Kola Peninsula.
For
Henry, the art of fly
tying is about developing
new ways to imitate
nature with the flies
he creates as well as
expressing his own creativity.
He ties nearly any type
of fly from very old
traditional flies using
natural materials to
modern flies using synthetics,
to classic and artistic
full dress Atlantic
Salmon flies.
Henry’s
work has appeared in
a number of outdoor
publications including:
“The Art of Angling
Journal”, “The
Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing
Guide”, “The
Atlantic Salmon Journal”,
and the “Game
Journal”. We
are proud to have Henry
as part of our education
and retail team in Reading.
Through out the year
he will schedule a variety
of fly tying classes
for different interests
and skill levels as
well as teaching private
lessons. Call the TCO
Reading store at 610.678.1899
or email
to book a fly tying
class, private lesson
or guided day with him.
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Favorite
Waders:
Simms
G3 Guide
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Favorite
Boots:
Simms
Guide Boot |
Favorite
Fishing Jacket:
Simms Rivertek Jacket
Simms
Windstopper DL
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Favorite
Simms Accessory:
Simms
Backsaver Belt
Simms
Underwear
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