45

[RiverRat]

Forty Five local fly shops have gone out of business in California the last two years

That's a huge number

Don't know what else to say. The numbers speak for themselves. Buz's fly shop in Bakersfield closed last year. Every Friday for lunch, I bought tying supplies instead of food. Not much but something. Over 40 years in business. Gone just like the others.

I'm very thankful that my home water, the Kern, has a fly shop.

Please whenever you can, Support your Local whatever your location!

Shane

[Bernard]

Amen. Gonna go hit my local shop today in fact.
B

[khuzhong]

Buz's shop closed down in Visalia a few years ago... All I have left is stinkin Sports Chalet..

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Totally agree, it's nice to be able to physically walk into a shop! Internet has some great deals but I do what I can to buy things from shops themselves. I miss Buzz's!

[Sierra Fred]

I knew of Buzz's and Reno Fly Shop. What are the other 43? I guess it would be 44 cause Reno Fly Shop is in Nevada. Oh yea we lost one in Bishop the Owens River Fly Shop. So back to 43.

Tight Lines ... Fred

[WanderingBlues]

I wonder how much is the economy, how much is a shift in purchasing trends (internet), and how much is that the guys who were running shops out of passion for the sport, have decided to move on to other things.

Either way, it does not replace what is loss.

[fflutterffly]

don't cry for the loss of the Owens River Fly Shop. It's been replaced by a much better and more knowledgeable staff at Sierra Trout Magnet.

[RiverRat]

The number came from the Federation of Fly Fishers meeting last month. Maybe they meant our region as a whole and I misunderstood. Two central coast shops closed last year.

The shops that embrace internet sales are getting bigger. BUT the huge problem is the loss of true local knowledge for out of town fisherman. We all love to travel and fish but how many times have you not had the right fly and a local shop saved your trip? Ted Fays fly shop saved my butt once by selling us his go to flies. It looked close to what we were using, but something was different.

Same thing happened at the Trinity Fly Shop when a lady hand drew us maps to really good spots. Can't replace that knowledge with the internet.

Buying five year old tippet at Walmart or the James Store/MiniMart really sucks when you unexpectedly run out too...the list goes on.

shane

[NorcalBob]

Well, mine was one of them!!!!

[sweatboy]

Shane,

"Every Friday for lunch, I bought tying supplies instead of food. Not much but something."

I've been trying to figure out a way to get myself on a diet. Your fishing gear instead of food plan might just work out for me.

--Mark

[Artin]

It's a sad story, I shop @ my local (Fishermens Spot) as much as I can. It's cool to have a place to walk into once in a while. Even If i'm not buying anything. I know that there are sick deals online and some are to good to pass up, but the fact that I can walk into a shop and hang out from time to time and shoot the $#!^ with the guys is awesome.
Support your local!
Not only are a store for me to go to try out things and look at different materials, rod's and reels, they are also my friends.

So support your locals guys!

Artin

[csimcox]

Back when I lived in Denver, the cause of store closures seemed to be the inability to compete with big box stores, even though the inventory wasn't of the same quality. The same thing happened in my home town of Memphis when the local shop couldn't compete with Bass Pro & Sportsman's Warehouse.

That said, I've always supported locals. The service when compared to a big box or online can't be matched. Yes you pay more, but you're getting more out of the shop so the $ to value ratio is the same, if not better.

[fflutterffly]

I try to support the two local shops in my area with in 20 miles of my house. Orvis and Fishermans spot. 95% of my $$$ is spent at FS since it is completely a fly fishing store. I feel Orvis is supported by mainstream clients due to the famed clothing. I rarely drive down to Bob's, since the 5 is a horror story!