Support Your Local Fly Shop

I spent some time in several local flyshops over the holidays. I had a great time checking out new gear, talking fishing, and building relationships with the local shop owners and guides. I was sad to hear that White River Angler's #1 competitor is the Orvis catalog which is too bad because WRA (an Orvis retailer) can order any Orvis product they do not have in the store for at least the same price as Orvis will sell it directly to the fisherman. The store benefits from ordering for the fisherman and the fisherman benefits because he still has a flyshop to go to (which comes in handy before fishing outings as well as when your wife is hosting a third or fourth baby shower of the year in your home). Many flyshops have to work dang hard moving merchandise, tying flies, teaching fly tying lessons, and guiding out on the river just to keep their doors open. So go support your local flyshop (there are three in NWA and I visit all three) and refrain from ordering online--just one more way the internet is raping our society.