I'll have to jump in on behalf of our store here in South Florida. As a beginner I've found the staff to be extremely friendly and helpful. The free casting & knot tying lessons have been very helpful. The $10 tying lessons enabled me to get started right away and learn techniques from different people. The atmosphere is very comfortable and the selection is decent (at least for my needs so far). I've been to a local fly shop and the selection of tying materials was indeed better but it was also a little more intimidating for a beginner (at least me). I won't get into the price differences because I understand retail pretty well (both massive stores and boutique stores). Suffice it to say, for a big chain store the little "white river fly shop" in the Dania Beach, FL BP/OW has a very low key, homey feel. I'm sure as I gain more experience I will find the selection more limiting (for some things I already have) but I don't foresee having any complaints about the staff. Many of the people on the staff are guides, some of the quite well known (at least in South Florida). Their advice has been working so far! ;-)
On a somewhat related note, I haven't purchased tying materials online yet (I'm still learning what a lot of them are/are used for) but when I do Line's End will be the first place I look! Thanks for a great list Byard, I've been on it for a few months now and I'm looking to become a member soon. Ken (FL) [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.snorkelsite.com
