Throughout his life, Tulowitzki lived in New York, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia and Wyoming before eventually moving to Grapevine, he said. He later decided it was time to open a fly-fishing business of his own.
“I knew there was a need, especially for a shop that carries a lot of fly-tying material, because that was lacking in the places here,” Tulowitzki said.
Grapevine Fly Fishing officially opened for business in February 2021, Tulowitzki said. A lot of misconceptions surround what fly-fishing is, and Tulowitzki explained that the bait mimics small insects, such as flies, which is where the name “fly-fishing” comes from. He said any fish that can be caught with a regular rod and reel can be caught with a fly rod and reel.
The shop sells a wide variety of products crucial for fly-fishing, ranging from reels and rods to all sorts of fly-tying materials, such as thread, beads, hooks, feathers and much more, Tulowitzki said.
What sets Grapevine Fly Fishing apart from other similar businesses, Tulowitzki said, is that the shop is not corporate, which means Tulowitzki can order whatever a customer wants without having to jump through hoops.
In addition to the store itself, Tulowitzki said he loves hosting fly-fishing events at the shop, such as a monthly fly-tying event, where people come in and learn how to tie flies.
Tulowitzki said his favorite part about owning Grapevine Fly Fishing is getting new people involved.
“I tell people all the time—fish don’t live in ugly places,” Tulowitzki said. “Even if you’re not catching fish, you’re outside, you’re having a fun time, and it’s beautiful.”
Most importantly, Tulowitzki said the sport of fly-fishing has evolved and opened up more to people who may not fit the stereotype of a fly-fisher.
“[Fly-fishing] is always viewed as a bunch of old, white men,” Tulowitzki said. “But there’s more women involved now than there ever has been. There’s more minorities involved than there ever has been. And that’s a good thing. It’s a great thing for the sport, but even more importantly, I think it’s a great thing for humanity.”
Grapevine Fly Fishing, 122 N. Main St., Grapevine. 720-453-6878. www.grapevineflyfishing.com Hours: Tue.-Fri. 3-7 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun.-Mon. closed.
