The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I have mixed feelings about Orvis. The only Orvis store I patronized was at Tyson's Corner, VA, when I lived in the East. It was the closest to my home.

I have a Battenkill cane rod that has served me well since 1969. A Battenkill reel is still going smoothly after 30 years. Various other products are of equally high quality. One pair of waders was replaced with no questions asked. No complaints about their products or the service on those products.

I quit patronizing the VA store because of the staff. Most were young and inexperienced, though eager. They knew all the techno-jargon about flex #s and graphite modulus, but they didn't know fishing. Some didn't know a caddis from a mayfly. Fishing reports were always "excellent" in spite of rivers being blown out because of torrential rains. They seemed more interested in selling me a new high-end rod ("this new graphite will make you a better fisherman" or some fancy new clothing so I will look the part. No thanks.

Granted, this was only one store in a very affluent neighborhood. I guess I wasn't an Orvis kind of person.

Good luck.

El Rey