Hendersonville Outfitters is now open in downtown Hendersonville

HENDERSONVILLE - Two former summer camp counselors are reeling in a dream to open a fly and tackle shop in the county where they first met.

Dave Bergman and Ambre Mehenni, once on the staff at Blue Star Camps in Hendersonville, opened the doors to Hendersonville Outfitters at 144 Third Ave. W. on Aug. 19. A grand opening will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony, food, beer, raffles and possibly live music.

As a full-service outfitter, the business offers everything from freshwater and saltwater fishing gear to guided trips and lessons in local streams and rivers for people ages 10 and older. Inventory includes equipment, clothing and more, from rods and reels, flies, lures and leaders and tippets to belts, neck gaiters, sungloves and wading booties.

“I always wondered why there wasn’t a fishing shop in Hendersonville,” Bergman said. “There’s plenty of people in the community that need that resource, and we’re happy to provide that.”

The shop caters to any interest or skill level, with a welcoming energy and a focus on education.

“My motto here is, there’s no gatekeeping,” Bergman said. “Anyone can get into this sport no matter time or money.”

Bergman was a fishing instructor at Blue Star, where Mehenni was a fine arts instructor. Bergman moved to the area in 2008 from Toms River, New Jersey, to attend Brevard College, graduating in 2012.

His resume includes guiding for nine years and working at an outdoors shop in Charlotte for five years. He’s worked in environmental education, and was a hiking guide in Alaska.

But of all his outdoor pursuits, fishing is his greatest love.

“I’ve been fishing since I was a kid. I’ve always loved fishing,” he said, adding that after 12 years of fly fishing, he realized what he needed to do. “The answer was right in front of me the whole time.”

Mehenni came to Blue Star in 2015 from the Netherlands, where she had also been exposed to fishing since childhood. She became interested in pottery while working at the camp and said the area has been an inspiration for her art.

She plans to create nature-inspired ceramics in the basement of the shop, which will also offer artwork for sale from local artists.

Bergman said he knows the area and what’s needed, although they cater to all types of fishing. The shop has both freshwater and saltwater gear, good for “anything that swims and you can catch,” he said.

Perhaps the most unique thing the shop offers is a muskie section. The large fish found in local waters are hard to catch, but the shop has lures, flies and other equipment to help anglers land the elusive prize.

Bergman sees continued interest in the sport. Fly fishing can seem daunting at first, he said, but it doesn’t have to be hard. He hopes to offer help and support to those wishing to try their hand.

No skill is required to learn or take a trip, and his outings are focused on learning. Bergman said his goal is to encourage new anglers and make the sport easy, convenient and cost-effective.

Even for experienced anglers, there is always something new to learn with fly fishing, he added.

Until the grand opening Sept. 8, the shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. After the grand opening, the shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday as well.

For more information, call 828-595-3550, visit hendersonvilleoutfitters.com or find Hendersonville Outfitters on Instagram or Facebook.