Nice little fly box at ....

[flytire]

Wal Mart for only 97 cents.

Handy shirt or pants pocket fly box.

http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/090702.jpg

[petegas]

yup, i have a bunch of those, great to keep split shot and strike indicators in.....they make thos esame exact boxes for flyshops, thow the shop logo on em and charge $6

[StrBender]

No wonder they can't afford to pay the help!

[Tom Jutras]

If I could buy 2 trailer truck loads, I may be able to sell them for .97 Please support your local fly shops!!

[flytire]

Sorry but its very expensive to drive 140 miles one way to a "local" fly shop! :D :D

[StrBender]

Flytire, I drive around 120 miles round trip to Tom's shop. I try to get up there once a month. The information I get is worth the $20 in gas (F250) and tolls. I am luckey to also have two local shops that are also good and I also give them my $$$. Tom will tell you when I go to see him I bring a shoping list! LOL. The local shops are for the day to day items.
Unlike Walwort workers they make above welfare wages. At least I hope they do.

[flytire]

Flytire, I drive around 120 miles round trip to Tom's shop. I try to get up there once a month. The information I get is worth the $20 in gas (F250) and tolls. I am luckey to also have two local shops that are also good and I also give them my $$$. Tom will tell you when I go to see him I bring a shoping list! LOL. The local shops are for the day to day items.
Unlike Walwort workers they make above welfare wages. At least I hope they do.

To each his own! What floats your boat doesnt necessarily float mine! :D :D

[Hegel]

Flytire,

You say “to each his own” as if that sentiment were innocuous. It’s not. It seems to me that you’re not seeing the larger picture. I don’t think that the initial suggestion was that you purchase fly boxes in New Hampshire. You’re, apparently, a resident of Conn. I’m a resident of New York. I’m originally from NH. I agree that it would just be silly to drive for three hours to purchase a fly box. But certainly you’ve got local independent shops near you? And, don’t forget that the very people that have made FFinNH available to you are independent, motivated people, many of whom make their livelihoods working at small local shops. It’s the same for FFinMaine.

Of course you *can* buy your fly fishing gear anywhere you like. No one would disagree. That’s the free market, man. But the question is, after doing a little thinking, *ought* you?

[fessiewig]

Flytire "ought" to do whatever he wants. That's MHO. I support my local shop and urge everyone else to do the same, but once someone has made their choice, that's it.

[flytire]

Flytire,

You say “to each his own” as if that sentiment were innocuous. It’s not. It seems to me that you’re not seeing the larger picture. I don’t think that the initial suggestion was that you purchase fly boxes in New Hampshire. You’re, apparently, a resident of Conn. I’m a resident of New York. I’m originally from NH. I agree that it would just be silly to drive for three hours to purchase a fly box. But certainly you’ve got local independent shops near you? And, don’t forget that the very people that have made FFinNH available to you are independent, motivated people, many of whom make their livelihoods working at small local shops. It’s the same for FFinMaine.

Of course you *can* buy your fly fishing gear anywhere you like. No one would disagree. That’s the free market, man. But the question is, after doing a little thinking, *ought* you?

I truely do my share of supporting my "Local" fly shops with purchases even though most are an hours plus drive away. The Orvis shop in Avon, CT is an hour away, Upcountry Sports (on the Farmington River) in New Hartford, CT is an hour plus away, theres two more fly shops in western CT on the Housatonic River that are about two hours away. I support each and every one of them numerous times a year. Especially when I fish the rivers nearby. I have made major purchases of a Scott rod and a Bauer reel in one of them and tons of materials in the others. I support my "Local" fly shops. Not as frequently as others that have them around the corner. In fact all my rods are from fly shops, because you cant test them in a catalog.

When I lived in the Denver area a few years ago, I supported my "Local" fly shops. I practically lived in them during the winter. And boy did I drop some cash.

So one day I just happened to be in WalMart and found those little boxes and I bought two of them. $1.84 plus tax. It saved me some money! Luckily our WalMart isnt selling fly fishing equipment like other WalMarts do!

Had I purchaced one of those 7 day pill box/containers for $.97 cents at CVS or Walgreens or Brooks Pharmacys and said they make good little fly boxes for midges, nymphs and small dries for a day outing when you dont want to haul around the vest or chest pack, would I have gotten the same treatment I'm getting now?

Damned if you do and damned if you dont!

Sorry I vented! :D

[Hegel]

Fessiewig,

I couldn't agree more. That was why I remarked on the free market. But your "urging" others to support their local fly shops just is suggesting that they *ought* to do support their local fly shops. What else would "urge" mean? Of course flytire, or anyone else for that matter, *can* do whatever he wants. Suggesting that he ought to support local shops is merely urging him to do so. Suggesting that you *ought* to try this fly, for instance, wouldn't be odd would it? Then why the harsh reaction about shopping for fly gear?

Not tryint to tread on anyone's toes here. I'm not suggesting radical revision of one's lifestyle or anything like that. But, when it comes to something as incredible as fly fishing, I think that it's important to support those people helping to do things like maintain the effort to create and maintain sites like this one.

Again, didn't mean to toe stomp - really, not at all.

[fessiewig]

Methinks we've just had a little pre-spring vent here. Nothing to worry about. :D

[Steve H.]

My situation is this: my employer, while not paying the highest salaries in the region, instead compensates it's employees with lots of time off.

I have a lot of time off to fish (no wife or kids). My opportunities to fish are largely limited by my disposable income (which is almost completely budgeted for fishing!!). The more money I can save on gear, when it's sensible to do so, the more money I will have for gas, lodging, and other expenses I incur while on fishing trips.

There's a finite amount of money in my budget for fishing trips, I would imagine this situation is similar for others as well. When possible and when practical, I try to maximize the numbers of trips I can take (ie, amount of time on the water) by minimizing expenses elswhere.

No slight to any fishing gear retailers intended.

[fessiewig]

Steve you're going to have to tell me who you work for sometime. :D Here's my take on this; local fly shops are as much a part of the resource as the trout are. It's helpful to remember I've been at this for quite some time and "in the beginning" ( :D ) before we had the home computer and the internet at our disposal there was the local fly shop. Sure there were catalogue houses, but nothing could replace the local shop. We depended on the shop to keep us up to date on the latest in flies, rods, reels, and lines along with all the other trinkets will fill out vests with. So now, with the pressure the internet and large retailers are bringing to down on the local shop, I see shop after shop disappearing and I see the loss as unfortunate as the loss of habitat we're also experiencing. So, yes! you do have priorities that make sense to you and I have no problem with that. All I wish is we don't abandon the local shop completely. If you check real close I don't think you'll find the price differences all that grate.

There . . . . . I'm done. :D

[Steve H.]

To add to my above post, I don't mean to imply that I do not patronize local fly shops or always purchase the cheapest product. If I see something at WalMart or elsewhere that looks handy, I may or may not purchase it there.

But when it comes to items such as a new 7 wt., I'd be more inclined to save money by purchasing a Redington or TFO rather than a Winston or Scott, the savings being put toward an opportunity to fish with said 7 wt. And it is this purchase that would definitely be made at a local fly shop.

[Hegel]

Fessiewig,

Thanks for the reply. We've all got a bit of cabin fever. I think that we're on the same page though. And, as for the "flare up," the thing about fly fisherman, I find anyway, is that we're a pretty patient bunch. The sport selects for patience. So, when we have a forum flare up, I think, for the most part, we can count on the fact that the majority of us are patient reasonable people eager to hear what others have to say. This is what's so cool about FFinNH.

Hope all is well.

[SaltH2oFly]

I always love the "frequent your local fly shop" debate. It always ends up heading in the same circle.


I do have one question though...does anyone know how Cabela's or LLB got started? :lol:

[fessiewig]

Somehow I think they BOTH started pre-computer. You know, back when everyone supported their local shop. :D

[Tangled Tippet]

Anyone know whats happening to the Opeechee Trading Post? I stopped by there a couple weeks ago and the place was empty. Really miss seeing Barbara on the other side of the counter.

[HarryM]

I'm pretty sure it's open now. I was there about a week ago and picked up some goodies. The owner's name is Jim and he's a real nice guy. By all means call or stop by. He has a website [ www.opecheetradingpost.com ] 603-524-0908. While I'm sure we all miss Barbara, Jim has done a lot with the little store, and it takes time and a lot of work to get it to where he wants it to be, so be patient.

Anyway, Jim's Dad (Manny), who I knew quite well was a Master Maine Guide and NH Guide. He had a place up in the Rangely Lakes where he guided hunting and fishing for years. Manny also founded several of the current marina's around Winnipesaukee. Manny passed away a few years ago at the age of 78, and I for one was deeply saddened with his death. He was my mentor. Through his father, Jim has aquired a wealth of knowlege and he is happy to share - a good guy to know.

[fessiewig]

It's great to hear the OTP lives on!

[Boneylegs]

Ditto on OTP! Mert & Barbara were the ones who perfected my addiction to tying and flyfishing in the early 80's. Even helped me write up a series on flyfishing for the local radio station I used to work for. It's great to see that their legacy continues. :D

[Tangled Tippet]

Just checked out the OTP site.Wow! the place looks great.Cant wait to check it out the next time Im up that way.