Staff

David Olson

Managing Partner

David Olson is part owner, and the Managing Partner of The Fly Shop of Fort Lauderdale, and The Fly Shop of Miami (formerly Biscayne Bay Fly Shop). Both retail operations were purchased a few years ago by avid fly fisherman Rick Derrer, president of Cummings Construction.

Olson is a veteran of the fly shop business with over 25 years experience, and his management skills were what Derrer needed to get both shops operating on all cylinders. Almost overnight, Olson transformed both stores into the epicenters for southeast Florida's fly fishing community. He expanded inventories, improved selections, improved the fly tying departments, and created an interactive atmosphere that encouraged customers to stop in often. For example, on any Saturday there are FREE fly tying lessons with tyers of note - Chris Dean and Bob LeMay. On another weekend he'll have a FREE boat show featuring the newest products from Hells Bay, Dragonfly, or East Cape. On some weekends, there are meet the legends with FREE lunch included. Most recently that has included Chico Fernandez and Flip Pallot. Too, there could be a casting exhibition with world champion Steve Rajeff.

In the spring, David arranged to bring the 2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). He also created a series of weekend fly casting and fly fishing techniques seminars that feature Chico Fernandez, Flip Pallot, Capt. Joe Gonzales and David himself as instructors. David also has plans for all inclusive, hosted and sponsored fly fishing trips to the Bahamas to try out their version of Albula vulpes and other scaly flats dwellers. And don't forget to sign up for the FREE and on-going fly fishing tournaments that features a winter backcountry version, and a spring-summer big three rendition (tarpon, bonefish and permit), and the prizes are world class!

As an aside, David Olson is a also a fly casting tournament champion, UMPQUA Contract Tyer, and Master Rigger.

Capt. Dave Goldberg

Store Manager

Capt. Dave Goldberg has worked at The Fly Shop of Fort Lauderdale for over 12 years. Goldberg is a master rigger, and recognized as one of the most practical fly tyers in South Florida. Dave's guiding experience began in the mid 1970's with a chance meeting with Nate Ragland, a legend in the mold of Jimmy Albright, Stu Apte and Bill Curtis. Dave says that Ragland showed him everything there was to know about fly fishing the Keys and Biscayne Bay; when to go, where to go and even how to go, as well as how to tie flies and when to use each one, and most importantly - how to swim them! Dave still gets out to fly fishes the Parks (Biscayne Bay and Everglades National Park), as well as the Keys - so if you have questions about anything fishy in South Florida, see Dave Goldberg.

Chris Calvano

Sales

Chris Calvano is a high energy guy with a lot of fly fishing experience, talent and savvy. If you were to look up helpful, cheery and knowledgeable in Webster's Dictionary you'd find Chris' name.

Chris is The Fly Shops' encyclopedia when it comes to walk-in fly fishing opportunities in southeast Florida. He knows the canals from Palm Beach to Miami, Alligator Alley and Tamiami Trail, as well as the impoundments, lakes and Atlantic surf. He'll show where, when and how for Chinese grass carp (try 50-pounds), peacock bass, largemouth bass, small tarpon, and Florida pompano, bluefish and snook in the surf.

Chris is particularly helpful with newcomers to the art of fly angling, especially when it comes to choosing rods, reels and equipment, as well as rigging and picking the best flies for the type of angling folks can expect to be successful at.

Jorge Martinez

Sales

In Miami, being bi-lingual is an essential ingredient of commerce. And George, which he prefers to go by, is both fly shops' conduit for our extensive Mexican, Latin American and South American clients.

As a marine fish artist, his on the water time is also his resource studio for his art and fly tying. His paintings are always a top prize in the big Keys fishing tournaments, and they're also recreated as fish species etchings for the NAUTILUS reel company's entire collection. George's fly tying also has a stand-alone art quality - and they do catch fish. He's been tying commercially since he was a teen.

George fishes both Biscayne Bay and the Upper Keys regularly, and does so almost as much as some professional guides. He's made The Fly Shop of Miami a focal point for the twenties something fly enthusiasts.