If you walked into the Milton Square building in St. Paul a couple of years ago, you'd find a place that felt more like a living room than a retail store. Wood floors. The smell of cedar and head cement. Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop wasn't just a place to buy a 5-weight Sage rod or a handful of Parachute Adams. It was the geographic center of the Twin Cities fly fishing universe.
But then 2025 happened.
Rumors flew around the Driftless area. People heard the shop was closing. Others heard it was moving. Honestly, the truth is a bit of both, and if you're looking for the old storefront on Carter Avenue, you're going to find a "For Lease" sign. As of early 2026, the physical doors in St. Paul have officially closed, but the name—and that specific, obsessive culture—is still very much alive.
The Thorne Bros. Takeover: Why It Matters
In January 2025, Thorne Bros. Custom Rod & Tackle in Blaine made the move to acquire the brand. For some purists, this felt like the end of an era. "The oldest fly shop in the Cities is gone," they'd say over a beer. But that's not quite right. Thorne Bros. didn't buy it to kill it; they bought it because Robert and Rhea Hawkins, the previous owners, were ready to actually go fishing for a change.
Thorne Bros. is a powerhouse in the muskie and bass world. By bringing Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop under their roof in Blaine, they basically created a fishing mecca. You've now got the technical fly knowledge of Bob's crew sitting right next to the custom rod-building expertise Thorne is famous for.
Is it different? Yeah. It’s not a quiet little nook in a historic St. Paul neighborhood anymore. But you can still get your Renzetti vises and those specific streamers that Robert Hawkins used to swear by.
A Legacy That Started with 3M
Most people think Bob Mitchell just opened a shop because he liked trout. The real story is weirder. Back in 1976, the "shop" was actually a rod-finishing facility for 3M’s Scientific Anglers. It was all industrial.
Bob Mitchell bought it in 1978 and turned it into a retail hub in Lake Elmo. He was the guy who taught a generation of Minnesotans that you didn't have to fly to Montana to find good water. Then Mike Alwin took the reins, followed by Robert and Rhea Hawkins in 2013.
Robert was a Montana guide. People thought he was crazy moving from Bozeman to Minnesota. But he saw something most people miss: the diversity of the Upper Midwest. He helped pioneer the idea that fly fishing isn't just for trout. He chased 50-inch muskies on the fly, and he did it with the same technical precision most people reserve for #22 midges.
The Driftless Connection
If you frequent the shop, you know the "Driftless" isn't just a region; it's a religion. Southeast Minnesota and Western Wisconsin are home to some of the best spring-fed trout streams in the country. Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop has always been the gateway to those waters.
Even now, with the shop operating out of the Thorne Bros. location, the educational side remains the core. The fly fishing school is still a thing. You can't just buy a rod and expect to catch a wary brown trout on the Kinnickinnic River. You need to know:
- How to read the "seams" in the water where fish actually hold.
- Why a 6x tippet is necessary when the water is gin-clear.
- The difference between a "caddis" and a "mayfly" hatch (trust me, it matters).
What’s Actually Different Now?
Kinda everything and nothing. If you want the old-school vibe of St. Paul, you’re out of luck. That specific physical space is history. But if you want the gear, the transition has actually been a net positive for inventory.
The Thorne Bros. umbrella means they have more buying power. You’re seeing brands like Grundens, Echo, and Fishpond in higher quantities. Plus, the custom rod options are insane. You can basically spec out a fly rod that’s tuned specifically for the Mississippi River smallmouth or the tight-canopy creeks of the Driftless.
Why People Keep Coming Back
It's the community. Simple as that. The shop has always been a "third place"—that spot between home and work where you can just be a fisherman. Even in the new Blaine location, you'll see the same faces. The guys who remember the Lake Elmo days are still there, arguing about whether a pheasant tail nymph should have a bead head or not.
The Mayfly Project, which Bob Mitchell's has long supported, continues to be a bridge between the shop and the community. They use fly fishing to mentor foster kids, and that soul is still very much at the heart of the brand.
Your Next Steps to Getting Fish on the Fly
If you're looking to reconnect with the shop or start your journey, don't just wander around St. Paul looking for the old sign.
- Head North to Blaine: The physical hub is now located at Thorne Bros. Custom Rod & Tackle. It's a bigger space, so give yourself time to look around.
- Check the School Schedule: If you’re new, don't buy gear yet. Take the Bob Mitchell’s Fly Fishing School class first. They’ll let you try different rods so you don't waste $500 on something that doesn't fit your casting style.
- Follow the "MNFlyShop" Socials: Robert and the crew are still active online. It’s the best way to get real-time hatch reports for the Root River or the Rush.
- Think Beyond Trout: Ask the staff about "warm water" fly fishing. The Mississippi River is right there, and chasing smallmouth on a popper is arguably more fun than squinting at a tiny dry fly in the weeds.
The shop has survived moves, ownership changes, and the death of its physical St. Paul roots. It’s a testament to the fact that in Minnesota, fly fishing isn't just a hobby—it's a lifestyle that doesn't need a specific zip code to thrive.