About ATF Fly Shop

The ATF Flyshop came into existence based on Tom Prestidge’s concept of adding a branch shop in El Paso to compliment Norm Mabie’s shop in Las Cruces, The Angler’s Nook in 2002. It was going to be a “Fly Tier’s” shop and did not need to be a large operation; besides, how could El Paso support a Fly Fishing Shop? We don’t have any real water for hundreds of miles!

The dream of having the shop in El Paso almost died when Norm passed away, but after getting to know his wife Donna and helping her with The Angler’s Nook from time to time, Tom realized he should see the dream to fruition! Norm would have wanted it that way!

So in April of 2004, the ATF Flyshop was opened in El Paso; ATF—“Addicted To Flyfishing” was not only the name of the shop, but the entire concept of the operation. The shop would cater to Fly Fishers that were indeed “ADDICTED TO FLYFISHING”! About half the inventory of the shop is dedicated to fly tying. We also carried on Norm’s wonderful teaching of the art, using his course outline. It’s impossible to replace someone that had been tying flies for 65 or 70 years! A portion of the proceeds of each entry fee goes to Norm’s endowment fund, which was set up thru the Mesilla Valley Fly Fishers, Inc.

We are now a full service fly shop, with access to over 40 manufactures and products specifically for fly tying and fly fishing; we offer guide and trip services for fly fishers and teach fly casting upon request.

We still don’t have any water for hundreds of miles, but you can stop in and visit with us about fly fishing or tying.

This website is the next step in our evolution. It is not really intended to be a sales outlet, but more of an information station for anyone that loves to fly fish or tie flies. We will have a fly pattern of the month, update river reports for flows and fishing in our part of the world, give you links to others in the Flyfishing world, and try to give you a website that is a great reference for our wonderful sport. We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you in the shop.

Tom and Tim