Hack's tackles 25 years

For 25 years, Michael "Hack" Patterson has been the trusted name when it comes to tackle, flies and guiding. Right up front, Hack will tell you that he is probably a little too honest and that his language won't be the definition of professional. According to him, though, that's probably why he has been in business for two-and-a-half decades: some people like his frankness.

"I'm a pretty straightforward type of person," Hack said.

Before going into business, Patterson had already been working on tying his own flies and selling them wholesale. One day, in 1993, he took time during his lunch...