Garry Evans is a veritable institution. These South Wales emporiums have been the heartbeat of anglers for as long as I can remember. Garry and his team are utterly selfless in their support for local clubs and indeed, people entering the sport for the first time. The two shops are hubs of knowledge – and more: rarely do I visit and not see a few kids extracting information, bait or buying bits to fish in the varied waters that surround both the Newport and Cardiff stores.
Like so many stores throughout the country, it is the willingness to encourage a future generation which is their hallmark.
Fishing for Schools is proud to be associated with this magnificent operation – if you want really sound advice, be that sea, coarse or game, you will find it at Garry Evans. And you might, if you play your cards right, get a cup of tea too. CJ
*****
Established 54 years ago, the Garry Evans Tackle Centres in South Wales are much more than just places to buy fishing tackle. Over the years, the business has become a vital part of a thriving South Wales angling scene.
With two large specialist shops they cater for an extraordinary breadth of fishing, from fly and game fishing to coarse, carp, lure and sea angling, with the oldest store located on Whitchurch Road in Cardiff and another long-established store set in Newport.
What really gives Garry Evans its importance in South Wales is the vast wealth of knowledge and experience available behind the counter. These are shops where customers can call in and talk about the local rivers, fisheries and sea fishing marks with people who actually fish them.
Perhaps the most important role of any local tackle store is inspiring the next generation, something that Garry and the staff have always prided themselves on.
For a young person picking up a fishing rod for the first time, there is absolutely no substitute for walking into a ‘proper’ tackle shop. Seeing the variety of rods, reels, baits and lures first hand, while talking to friendly, helpful members of staff - and other anglers - can help to turn curiosity into a lifelong passion, much more so than any faceless online sale could.
But the appeal is not limited to the newcomer. The experienced match angler, the dedicated fly fisher, the long weekend carper, the sea angler needing the very best baits and the hardcore lure angler– all are welcome.
This is perhaps the greatest strength of Garry Evans: since 1972 they have been bringing all generations and every different branch of angling together under one roof.
In an age when so much tackle can be bought with a few clicks online, the value of physical places to ask questions, share stories, discover opportunities and encourage new anglers has arguably never been greater.