Bruce Concors
Wallkill River Adventures
Thruway Sporting Goods Store
Walden, N.Y.
With a son and daughter, and their families, living in Goshen, N.Y., I would take a little time out of most visits and drive up to Roscoe. Those trips were made all year round and it was during one of those visits in February a few years back that I received a welcomed surprise.
I usually stopped at Catskill Flies in Roscoe. Shop owner, Dennis Skarka, generally has a few guys sitting around talking about fishing and listening to those veterans provided a lot of valuable information. After a while I felt comfortable asking questions and getting involved in the discussions.
It was one of those dreary winter days that three of us were talking when a guy they all knew stopped by and engaged in the chit-chat. He looked vaguely familiar but I thought it was someone I might have seen before but didn’t know his name. After a while the talk changed from fly fishing to golf. Seemed we all played the game when we weren’t on a stream somewhere.
When the conversation turned to golf courses in the N.Y. Metropolitan Area I was in my element having spent over 25 years managing courses in that region. When the guy who arrived late mentioned he played Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. I asked who he played with. When he said he knew the course superintendent a light went on in both of us as we then realized we did know each other but hadn’t seen one another for over 20 years.
I had been introduced to Bruce Concors by a mutual friend. Being avid golfers it didn’t take long before we started playing on a regular basis. Bruce was a good player and I decent so our matches became competitive although I am sure we found ourselves on the same side occasionally.
Bruce’s family owned and operated the Thruway Shopping Center in Walden, N.Y. The businesses consisted on a large food market and hardwareand liquor stores. The complex also contained a sporting goods store that was leased by an outside company. There was also a pizzeria and restaurant within the complex. As Bruce suggests Thruway was Walmart before Walmart’s.
My wife and I shopped at the food store a few times but never went into any of the other facilities. I knew Bruce as a golfer and business owner but never knew of his other interests and my guess is that even if he mentioned his passion for fly fishing I would have shrugged it off as I had no interest in the sport back then. That was then, this is now. What’s most interesting now is neither of us plays golf much anymore.
Bruce tells me his friend Ron’s parents had a cabin on Wanaksink Lake, Rock Hill, N.Y. where bait fishing ruled. At about six years of age Ron’s grandfather tried teaching both youngsters the art of fly fishing. Ron had no interest but Bruce was hooked telling me he often went fly fishing with Ron’s grandpa while Ron stayed at the lake. It was also then that he started tying flies having been introduced to Harry and Elsie Darbee, fly tying legends from Roscoe, N.Y. He fondly remembers the first day he got his driver’s license he drove up to the Darbee Shop and purchased a Coachman Brown Rooster Neck.
It was during high school that golf became a priority for Bruce as his game improved and he was offered a scholarship at Alfred State University. After two years he transferred to Cornell where his studied veterinary science. Although he continued playing golf it was a couple of professors with a passion for fly fishing that rekindled his interest in the sport. He was not disappointed.
It was during this period that the sporting goods store in the shopping center was going out of business. Bruce convinced his parents to let him manage the store but the decision wasn’t easy as he would have to drop out of Cornell. As they say the rest is history.
In the last two years Bruce, and brother Les, have sold the shopping center to a developer but leased back the hardware, sporting goods and liquor stores.All are being totally renovated at present. When Bruce started managing the sporting goods facility it had 3,000 sq. ft. of sales space. Under his direction it grew to 12,000 and then to 24,000 sq. ft. with a huge section reserved for fly fishing and fly tying equipment. When the present renovation is complete the store will have over 60,000 sq. ft. of sales space with an inside shooting and archery range and conference room for sporting related meetings and seminars.
Bruce also operates Wallkill River Valley Adventures, LLC. This business arranges guided float fishing trips on all Catskills Rivers, guided upland and water fowl hunting trips and cabin rentals throughout the region.
When Bruce is not at one of his stores ( most of his time is spent in the sporting goods operation ) or arranging fishing and, or, hunting trips you can generally find him enjoying his passion on one of the Catskill Rivers. The first time I fished with Bruce it didn’t take long to realize his knowledge of the rivers, their insect hatches and the places to fish were second to none. I’ve floated the West Branch of the Delaware and waded the Neversink with him a few times and each trip saw us start and finish at different locations depending on the hatches. I’ve even put him to a real challenge asking to help improve my casting ability. He’s still working on that. There might be some things that just can’t be fixed.
Bruce is also an avid and creative fly tier. Not only can you find his creations at his store but on line at the Pacific Fly Group at: Under products go to flies, then “Flies designed by Bruce Concors”. Take a look. You’ll find some really neat examples of his work.
I encourage anyone going to the Catskills to stop in Walden and visit Thruway Sporting Goods and its outstanding fly fishing section. And it’s not out of the way at all. If you’re on Rt. 84 take exit #8 / Rt. 52 ( two exits after the Hudson River crossing near Newburgh ) toward Walden. After you’ve toured the store ask for directions to Rt. 17K which will connect with RT. 17. Get on going west and headto the Catskills. When you stop please ask for Bruce and say thanks for supporting TU 225 and our 2014 banquet. Bruce provided us with the use of a cabin on the East Branch of the Upper Delaware River just below the town of Downsville. And if you’re looking for a guided trip, a place to stay or some fly fishing equipment contact Bruce at: (845) 401-1807. You will not be disappointed.
Ed Walsh
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