By MELANIE JOHNSON

for the Sun
What do you get when you combine a fascination with fiber arts and a love of fishing and house it in a welcoming, but quaint, retail shop? Sounds like you’ve just stepped into the recently opened Rod & Reel Wool & Wheel in downtown Cloverdale.

A creation of the husband-wife team of Jim and Grace Mick, the small shop is now welcoming the community to share in their vision.

Perhaps the logo says what the store is about in the most concise way. Grace designed the graphics for it, which features a fishing pole and a spinning wheel. Jim formatted the lettering.

Like the business itself, it was a team effort, he said. The result of their combined interests is a store that is “a she shed and man cave — where we sell stuff,” Grace said.

Along with her own spun yarn, the store sells goods from other Oregon vendors including Cedar Creek Farm & Fiber in Canby; Columbia Custom Carding LLC & Fiber With A Twist in St. Helens; and Yarnia in Portland. Strong warp yarn for weaving, wool, fleece, roving, and embroidery floss line the store’s shelves. Plus you can find dyed locks, which crafters often use for doll hair.

The man cave part of the business features Jim’s handcrafted and custom ordered fishing rods, select tackle and bait. And handcrafted is different than a custom rod.

“A custom rod is like a custom suit; it’s made to your measurements,” Grace says.

Jim also repairs and refurbishes rods. Eventually he hopes to sell previously owned rods — with one caveat. He says it must be something he would use himself.

The impetus for turning their hobbies into a business was the proceeds from the sale of land in Nebraska that Jim’s father left to him and his brothers. 

“We figured we better re-invest some of it really quick, so we don’t end up with a huge tax liability,” Grace said.

At the time, Nestucca Valley Sporting Goods store in Hebo had just closed, so the local tackle store was gone. As an avid fisherman, Jim had been building fishing rods as a hobby for years, embellishing rods with rod weaving, using fine threads to make decorative patterns that make each rod unique. With the sporting goods store closing, the couple saw an opportunity to open their own place.

When they saw that the building that most recently housed Meg’s 101 was for sale, the couple decided to explore that option. In addition to a building and ample parking, the listing had a second parcel that was a buildable commercial and residentially zoned lot. 

“We saw (it) as a good investment,” she said.

With Grace’s interest in spinning and weaving, she lamented the fact that so many of the older generation that knew how to do it have passed. With the opening of the store, she saw the opportunity to encourage a fiber arts community by incorporating that into the business.  

The couple registered Rod & Reel Wool & Wheel, LLC, on July 27. On Sept. 10, they opened the store. Grace retired from Chesters’ Markets the same month. Jim put in his last full day of work with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in October.

Grace has many plans for the shop. She wants to offer classes and demonstrations at the store. She’s already collecting names from those who are interested in lessons on fly tying, she said. Wednesday is Spinner’s Day outdoors in the store’s enclosed patio. About five ladies currently take part, she said. She’s been buying spinning wheels so she can teach the skill to more people. 

The fiber artist also wants to offer classes in using a drop spindle, crocheting and simple weaving. 

As for Jim, looking ahead to the store’s future, he’s sure he will have enough work to keep him busy, he said. 

“Fishing styles change like women’s fashions,” he said. “Fads for fishing, rods, reels and everything… it changes at least once a year.” 

He joked that his only hope for the business is “that it can sustain itself and doesn’t become a money pit.”

The unique shop is located at 34445 Highway 101 S. in Cloverdale. For more information about the store, its merchandise or services, contact Jim or Grace Mick at 503-392-3277 or visit the Rod & Reel Wool & Wheel Facebook page. 

Photo by  Melanie Johnson