Curtis Fleming Named Expert Fly Fishing Ambassador for Outdoor Recreation Retail Giant, Cabela's
By Julie Perine on June 25, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
What do Luke Bryan, Jim Shockey and Bridgeport’s own Curtis Fleming – founder and star of the Outdoor Channel’s Fly Rod Chronicles - have in common?
They’ve all be named experts in their respective fields and represent the outdoors superstore Cabela’s as ambassadors. A marketing approach that’s been in place for several years, Cabela’s identifies what they consider to be the best of the best in their respective fields such as fishing, hunting, archery and other specialties.
The niche that Fleming fills – fly fishing - represents the humble beginnings of the national multi-billion-dollar retail chain.
“They’re trying to get back to their roots – when Dick Cabela started selling flies literally out of his house,” Fleming said. “So essentially, Cabela’s started as a fly fishing business.”
Currently general manager of the Louisville, Kentucky Cabela’s store, Ryan Hutson was instrumental in putting the wheels in motion for Fleming’s ambassador appointment.
The two met a couple years ago when Fleming took part in the Wild and Wonderful Weekend, hosted by the Charleston Cabela’s under Hutson’s direction.
We brought in Joe’s Flies, RockyBrook Sinkers and other local stuff to show what our state has to offer,” said Hutson, a Doddridge County native who has opened several stores for the national chain.
He and Fleming discovered they had much in common; sports, their love for the outdoors and adventure – and their loyalty to their West Virginia roots. Both were in agreement that Fleming would be an ideal first-time fly fishing ambassador so they put a plan in motion. Hutson said he picked up the phone and contacted folks from corporate. One thing led to another and those with decision-making powers loved the idea. Fleming eventually was contacted.
“They said they had done their research and wanted me to be their expert fly fishing ambassador,” he said. “I was humbled, honored – all those words. I mean, this is a dream come true.”
Fleming said he literally used to sit in the classroom at Bridgeport schools, dreaming about being outdoors.
“Cabela’s is like the Nike of fly fishing. They’re the biggest and the ‘baddest’ – the best around,” he said. “To be a part of that really hasn’t totally sunk in.”
Fleming said there are so many deserving individuals out there and he truly appreciates the nod of confidence.
“This is a big deal for us,” said Fleming about himself, his family and his FRC family.
Ironically, the superstore is also part of Fleming’s early years as an outdoors enthusiast.
“Through the Cabela’s mail order business, we used to gear up for our fishing trips with the outdoor club when I was at Bridgeport Junior High,” he said. “
And it was like a dream, looking through those magazines and picking out your birthday and Christmas gifts. It’s just crazy that this many years later I’ve been picked as one of their ambassadors.”
Fleming remembers his first visit to a Cabela’s store.
“It was in the fall of 1981 – at the store’s headquarters in Sidney, Nebraska,” he said. “I was a sophomore at Bridgeport High School and I had the chance to go on a hunting trip with my dad out to Colorado in between football and basketball seasons. We went to Cabela’s in Sidney to gear up for the trip.”
Fleming has worked in a professional capacity with Cabela’s, making a few on-site appearances at the Charleston, West Virginia store.
And he stops in to visit the retailer every chance he gets. Included was a stop at the Wheeling store as he and friends were traveling to Wheeling for the West Virginia Class AA high school football championship in December.
“We left early so we could do some shopping and there were a lot of Bridgeport people doing the same thing,” he said. “It was cool seeing all those arrowheads and red shirts on people who had the same idea. It was pretty memorable.”
Fleming is in good company with the ambassador program. Luke Bryan, Justin Moore and Lucas Hodge are country music ambassadors and among hunting ambassadors are Jim and Eva Shockey (“Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures”), Lee and Tiffany Lakosky (“Crush with Lee & Tiffany) and Steve Ecklund (“The Edge”). (See the full list HERE.)
As part of the professional relationship, Cabela’s has come on board as an official sponsor of The Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming.
“And so we have some deliverables. I’ll wear their gear and promote their products; everything from product placement in the show to product testing,” he said. “And now we are discussing different categories of doing Curtis Fleming license agreements through fly fishing.”
Hutson said Fleming is an ideal fly fishing ambassador for Cabela’s – the world’s foremost outfitter of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear.
“Cabela’s is a great company based on family values and great traditions and Curtis represents that well,” Hutson said. “He’s always professional, always does the right thing for his team and his community and never forgets where he came from. That fits perfectly into what Cabela’s is.”
They have similar success stories; based on a love for the outdoors and persistence, Hutson said. It was in 1961 when Dick Cabela purchased some fishing flies at a furniture show in Chicago and decided to sell them by running a classified ad in a Casper, Wyoming newspaper. After receiving only one response, he revamped his business plan.
“The first try wasn’t too successful, but the second try developed into what we are today,” Hutson said. “That’s pretty awesome.”
Fifty-five years later, the unique outfitter is known for its 82 touristlike stores across the U.S. and Canada featuring showrooms filled with museum-quality displays of taxidermied wildlife, aquariums, indoor mountains and archery ranges.
Tune into the Outdoor Channel to follow Fleming's fly fishing adventures throughout West Virginia and the world. (See air times below.) Visit the FRC Web site HERE.
Editor's Note: Pictured from top are Fleming, at Cabela's and on a West Virginia trout stream; with Ryan Hutson; with a recent catch - caught on a cicada fly; with West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and daughter Autumn; with WVU Football Coach Dana Holgerson and with (from right) wife Shelly and daughters Autumn and Laken.
