Sounds like a lot of you have a great relationship with your local fly shops, answering your questions, giving you the info on what to fish or even offering you a cup of fresh coffee. Wanna know about my local shop?? The folks that work there will not give you the time of day unless you have money falling out of your pocket. When you ask them a question they look at you like you just shot their dog and there answers have nothing to do with what you just asked. They act like it is some big secret when you ask what the fish are hitting and heaven forbid if you ask anything about subbing one material for another...they act like it's a sin to sub materials. Their prices are by far the most outrageious I have seen. Up until about 5 weeks ago you could buy a 25 pack of hooks for about $5, that was OK, but now they have decided to stop carrying 25 packs to carry 50 packs and charge you $12 for them. A small Thompson hair stacker will cost you almost $10!! A Whitting bronze neck $85, Danville 8/0 thread $2 and a one day guided trip almost $600. I could go on but I am sure you get the idea, I am surprised they don't put a gun to your back as you walk in. The worst part is they are the only shop in town, of course the is a Dick's Sporting Goods a few miles up the road but they do not have much of anything...so basically I am "forced" to find materials elsewhere, like most of the rest of you are. I don't see anything wrong with buying materials from where you choose, just as long as you are happy with the end result. Just my nickles worth.
Bart
