Rivers of a Lost Coast

North Coast Legends

Grant King

Grant King, the Russian River fly shop owner, was famous for ‘holding court’.  Quick to share a cup or coffee or pour a drink, Grant loved to ramble with his fellow anglers. In the 1950s, a key element to the allure of the Russian River was a stop at King’s News and Tackle.

Grant was a prolific fly-tier who, over his 40-year career, created dozens of original patterns. Today, he is best remembered for refining Virgil Sullivan’s Boss Fly; a classic American pattern.

As much as King’s News and Tackle was a selling point for the Russian River, so to was the legend of Bill Schaadt. During the 1950s, Grant’s enthusiastic stories helped proliferate the amazing antics and accomplishments of the elusive angler. Veteran Russian River angler, Frank Bertaina remembers as a kid running off to King’s in hopes of catching a glimpse of the larger than life fishing icon.

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