Breedens, Murphys New Owners of Local Half-Century-Old Sporting Goods Businesses
by Gianna Morera Two young families with local ties going back generations have taken ownership of the long-standing fly shops bookending Lake City. New owners Mitchell and Krystal Murphy of Dan’s Fly Shop, located at the north end of town, and Peter and Mackenzie Breeden of The Sportsman, located at the south, grew up fishing the lakes and waterways of Hinsdale County. With fresh perspectives, updated offerings, and deep local knowledge, both businesses aim to welcome new audiences into the sport they love.Year after year, anglers in-the-know frequent Lake City in the spring and summer to fish the relatively untouched waters of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and surrounding streams and lakes. Both Breeden and Murphy see opportunity to invite underrepresented demographics to join in on the local fly fishing scene.There’s an intimidation factor that keeps would-be fly fishermen at bay, according to Mitchell Murphy. “A lot of people look at it as a difficult thing, even though it’s not, so they’re scared to get into it.”In addition to supplying customers with the high-quality gear, skills classes, and guided trips that they’ve come to expect from these mainstay businesses, both Breeden and Murphy have expanded their offerings to get more young people and women donning their waders for a day on the water.This summer, Dan’s Fly Shop will be launching a free two-day Kids Fishing Camp where attendees will learn the fundamentals of fly fishing on day one and, on the second, put their new skills to the test on Lake San Cristobal.“The Kids Camp is something new that Krystal and I really wanted to do,” says Mitchell Murphy. “We’ve got young kids and lots of nieces and nephews. There’s nothing more fun than getting a kid out fishing.”At The Sportsman, Breeden and his wife, Mackenzie, seek to connect with the fastest growing demographic in fishing: women. They’ve brought a skilled female guide onto their team and have updated their inventory to speak to the oft-overlooked fisherwoman.“Everybody thinks of fly fishing as an older man’s game,” says Peter. “We’re trying to modernize and provide a little bit more diverse retail for women who come in.”Peter, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, also emphasizes creating community for fellow veterans. He has partnered with organizations like the North Texas Patriot Anglers and Wounded Warriors to help former soldiers enjoy the serenity of fly fishing against the backdrop of nature in the mountains.Both Murphy and Breeden know from experience that Lake City is a singular place and, for them, protecting that legacy and uniqueness is central to the ethos of their respective operations.Both The Sportsman and Dan’s Fly Shop are storied businesses in Lake City. The Sportsman opened its doors in 1955 and Dan Hall — later joined by his wife, Marian Howard Hall — began tying and merchandising flies as a teenager in 1960 when his parents, Albert and Marge Hall, owned Pleasant View Resort in Wade’s Addition, making these two of Lake City’s oldest continually operating businesses.For Mitchell Murphy, Dan’s Fly Shop has been a part of his life dating back to childhood years when his grandparents, Tom and Midge Murphy, owned Lake City Market in Wade’s Addition and later family ownership of Lakeview Lodge at Lake San Cristobal.Murphy started teaching fly tying and casting at his family’s lake lodge at age 12 and began as a guide for Dan Hall at the ripe old age of 16. The history of Dan’s Fly Shop is in many ways his history, too. “Grandparents, parents and grandkids have all learned to fly fish at this shop and that’s something very special,” says Mitchell Murphy. “We’re gonna keep it as much of ‘Dan’s’ as we can while bringing it up into the 21st century.”Peter Breeden, who has traveled to exotic locales like Mongolia and Guyana on fishing expeditions, still counts Lake City among the best. “There’s a lot of rivers that get hammered by people and treated very poorly and luckily, with this area, it’s still mostly pristine. It’s just a really incredible thing,” he says.“I’ve been very lucky to get to travel a lot and Lake City is always my favorite place.”
