We have a small shop that just opened here in Cincinnati and I REALLY hope this guy can make a go of it. There are two other shops in the area and a Bass Pro with a fly section.

But these small shops offer something that online buying or from the big box places can't. They give local advice, they know the local waters and often times they've gone out fishing before they opened their doors for the day.

The downside is that they can't make it on selling flies alone...they also need to sell the other gear as well - and those that want the small shops around will buy their new waders through those small shops despite the fact that they might get them cheaper online. The same goes for buying everything else.

When those small shops go, we lose an important part of the fly fishing world.