If the name Rat-faced McDougal means nothing to you, you may not be a flyfisherman. If it does, you may know it was once ‘fly of the week’ and that it was tied by a Harry and Elsie Darby or Roscoe, N.Y. many years ago. True flyfishers relish this sort of knowledge.

Still no frame of reference? That’s okay. Because you can learn about the Rat-Faced McDougal, Brad’s Brat, the Skykomish Sunrise, the Green Butt Skunk and and even the Egg-Sucking Leech when you visit the new flyfishing adventure shop, Emerald Water Anglers at 42nd and Oregon SW in West Seattle.

Opened just two weeks ago, the shop features high-quality gear for the adventure flyfisher. That is the top dressing of the shop. What lies beneath is an interest in guiding people seeking an flyfishing adventure here, there and everywhere.

The company was started 15 years ago by Dave McCoy, a West Seattleite who had a passion for flyfishing. He began by offering guide services. He gathered other like-minded young men and women and was taking trips with clients to places like Belize, Hawaii, Honduras, the Olympic Peninsula and other exotic locales in pursuit of fishes that bite flies.

Emerald Water Anglers also offers many short adventures within one hour of Seattle, to places like the Yakima River and Eastern Washington spring creeks.

Retail manager and professional guide Reid Curry said a lot of their business is educating people about fly fishing.

“One of our goals is to show people of Seattle opportunities that are a lower barrier to getting into the sport.” To do this, the shop will host community events, film night and show-and-tell with pro staff.

There are five full-time guides associated with the business. “We’re experts at guiding,” Curry said. “We do everything from start to finish.”

The ship features Patagonia outdoor wear for men and women, including waders. They carry Scott, Winston, Burkheimer, Echo and Anderson Custom Rods as well as Bob Meiser, Shamberg and Sweetgrass Bamboo rods. The reel selection includes Bauer, Hardy, Nautilus and Shamberg products.

Unlike most shop, they don’t sell tying materials but can order them. They do sell underwater cameras.

“Our goal, “said Curry, “is to emphasize getting people out on the water.”