Our Story
Having passed our 20th anniversary, Tight Lines has continued to grow since its founding in 2001. Andrew Moy and Steve Taggert started with a clear mission to create a dynamic full-service fly shop. Along with the most diverse and abundant selection of fly fishing and tying supplies, Tight Lines now offers a full range of services including fly casting instruction in both single hand and spey, fly tying classes, local guided trips, destination trips, lodging, schools, outfitting and guiding along the Beaverkill and the Delaware river systems.
The time came for two friends to part their ways and since taking over in 2006, Andrew has continued to grow the business with support from his wife and a team of dedicated individuals all whom love fly fishing. Each employee brings a set of skills and a particular personality to the shop every day and they all are sincere in their passion and commitment to the sport.
In 2009 Andrew met his wife Nancy, the love of his life, and now they share the sport together through personal days fishing and also through schools, classes, trips and days at the shop.
The time came for two friends to part their ways and since taking over in 2006, Andrew has continued to grow the business with support from his wife and a team of dedicated individuals all whom love fly fishing. Each employee brings a set of skills and a particular personality to the shop every day and they all are sincere in their passion and commitment to the sport.
In 2009 Andrew met his wife Nancy, the love of his life, and now they share the sport together through personal days fishing and also through schools, classes, trips and days at the shop.
The Tight Lines Team
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Andrew Moy
Owner
Andrew began fly fishing at age 4 in Norway. On this trip to visit family he tied his first fly and spent an entire evening trout fishing with his cousin Geir Grevstad, a well known fly fisherman in Scandinavia. Needless to say this catapulted his passion.
Born and raised in Sloatsburg, NY near the Ramapo River, he spent many days and evenings learning the habits of trout, aquatic insects and alternative foods they feed on. This curiosity and drive to learn more encouraged him to extensively fish the tri-state, frequenting rivers with his father Ben, friends and on his own. Many of these rivers included the Housatonic, Esopus, Neversink, Beaverkill, Battenkill and Delaware. His first trip to the Salmon River in NY was in 1987. In 1999 he began his passion of spey casting. This passion has taken him to many places throughout North America and Europe including Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Gaspe', British Columbia, Montana, Norway and Sweden and the west coast of the US in pursuit of Atlantic Salmon, steelhead and trout. Andrew also pursues with a two-handed rod smallmouth, largemouth, striped bass and even bonefish. |
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Nancy Moy
Owner
Nancy, a former elementary school teacher and Ultrasonographer, is an outgoing woman who loves to travel with fly rod in hand. There is nothing she loves more than to share those experiences with others.
Born and raised in New Jersey, she fished for bluefish and trout while camping on family vacations. Always fascinated with the idea of casting a line, the opportunity presented itself in 2009 when she stepped into her local fly shop, Tight Lines Fly Fishing, and asked for a lesson. Andrew, who would later become her husband, gave her this lesson. In addition to casting, she discovered the camaraderie of a wonderful group of guys serving steak and onions fresh off the grill. She purchased her first fly rod then and in that instant, her life changed. Since that day, she has discovered the purposeful life of fly fishing and spey casting and together with Andrew has fished extensively for many species. Over the past 10+ years, Nancy has developed devotion for spey casting and fishing for Atlantic salmon and steelhead. She is always ready to share her enthusiasm and passion for the sport. |
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Dave Hess
Manager
An avid steelhead and trout enthusiast, Dave brings a world of knowledge to Tight Lines. As a devoted angler, Dave enjoys fly tying, entomology, fly and spey casting, and understanding the habits of the fish he pursues. He also has a love of antique fly fishing equipment.
As manager of Tight Lines, Dave fills big shoes by coordinating the back office, maintaining the daily shop activities and providing expert customer service, all while enjoying dry fly fishing in the Catskills, PA and Montana for trout and swinging flies for steelhead in the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest. |
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Erik BartonInfluenced by his father, Karl, Erik started fishing when he was four years old. When he first fished for trout at the age of ten, he couldn’t help but notice how effective fly fishing was for the fishermen around him. It was then that he asked his father for his first fly rod. Within a few minutes of getting down the basic fly cast, Erik landed his first fly caught fish. Erik started as a customer of Tight Lines when he was just about knee high.
Since that day, fly fishing has encapsulated Erik’s life. He has fished near and far, targeting a number of species ranging from Atlantic salmon in Scandinavia to striped bass off the Jersey shore. While he spends the majority of his time trout fishing in the tri-state area, targeting steelhead and other large fish on a swung fly is his favorite thing to do. Over the past few years, he has also taken up fishing the Northeast coast for striped bass and other saltwater species. Erik's on-the-water experience coupled with his uncanny knowledge of equipment make him a go-to for all species of fish around the world. |
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Mike AppelloMike, whose family has lived in Roselle Park for nearly 70 years, has been fly fishing and fly tying since he was a child. For a long time, Mike owned a Catskills cabin retreat. Of all of the trout streams he has fished, The Upper Delaware System (NY Catskills) and New Jersey trout waters are his favorites. He knows nearly every pool like the back of his hand!
Currently he and Sue, to whom he's been married to for 46 years, now live on a farm complete with grandkids, chickens, horses and a stream. An avid member of Trout Unlimited, Mike is a pro when it comes to tying materials and techniques. |
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Francis RyanBorn and raised in northern New Jersey, Francis began fly tying and fishing at an early age. Early on, nymphing kept him busy, learning his local rivers like the Rockaway, Musconetcong and Black River. As time drew on, Francis picked up a desire, and knack, of dry fly fishing and stripping articulated streamers for big trout.
In recent years he’s been honing his skills on the Upper Delaware system at every opportunity. Francis has been dedicated to figuring out the selective trout using multiple techniques, including mousing at night. In fact, you might have even caught a glimpse of his headlight in the darkness. Rain or shine, from spring to fall you can find him somewhere on the system chasing a hatch or beating the bank with streamers. In the fall of 2021, he attended Sweetwater Guide School on the Bighorn river just outside of Hardin Montana, to further hone his guiding skills and rowing drift boats in new and challenging river systems. Though he loves brown trout, the incredible opportunity to fish for migratory trout in the Great Lakes beckoned. Francis picked up Spey fishing and now spends his winters in pursuit of steelhead in many of the Great Lake tributaries. Tying tube flies has also become a new passion for him, finding the right profile and size to entice a grab on the swing! |
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Chris BarnhartOur relationship with Chris was initiated when he discovered us as his local fly shop. It didn't take long before we recognized him for his winning personality, eagerness to fish anywhere and desire to learn all he could. He is up for any day of salt or freshwater fishing, whether it is to swing, strip, float or drift a fly.
Along the way, Chris has uncovered another gift, he has developed himself as a fantastic local NJ guide, who takes true pride in seeing his guests have success. |
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Samantha SanchezBorn in northern New Jersey, Sam has spent much of her time fishing near her family’s cabin in upstate New York along the Salmon River. Tying steelhead flies with her dad at an early age, her interest and passion for the sport quickly grew. While targeting steelhead is her preference, she also enjoys searching for brook and brown trout in the small streams of the Tug Hill region.
Sam has begun shifting her focus to New Jersey’s local trout streams as well as the upper Delaware River system as she eagerly expands her knowledge of the sport. Her preference, of targeting rising trout on dry flies, has begun to hone in her skillful cast. She enjoys every moment of being on the water. When not fishing, Sam enjoys rock climbing, ice skating and spending time with her family. A new level of enthusiasm and confidence is evident in her time spent interacting with customers. Another warm smile and winning personality are welcome additions to the shop. |
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TippetTippet was discovered as a sickly pup in Texas and fortunately for her, was united with Kathy Wetmore of HoustonShaggyDogRescue.org. Kathy and her team (vet, trainer and groomer) rehabilitated Tippet and also taught her manners. Once ready to embark on a new life, she made the journey to the wintry cold north with Greg Mahler, the big-hearted man behind Rescue Road Trips.
Originally so matted she could not physically sit, she arrived with her lower half shaved and ‘ waist up’ left long. However, she was ready to learn the art of fishing. Just a few months after arriving in her forever home, she embarked on yet another journey. This time she headed west to fish the Oregon coast and visit places such as Mount Rushmore. She was a perfect travel companion and seemed to instantly understand what fishing was all about. Since her adoption in 2015, she has had the opportunity to greet all who enter into Tight Lines and be loved by most. She waits in anticipation for daily deliveries and has developed an infinity for the mailman. 2015-2024 |
