I'd love to be able to give the nod to a local shop but the problem is.......we don't have one! Maybe I'm getting off on a tangent a bit here but "the local shop" is becoming an endangered species. In Aberdeen, the last full blown sporting goods store we had was Failor's about 10 years ago. I know of 4 other small shops in the Aberdeen/Hoqiuam area since then that have tried and failed. Reasons for failure ranged from restrictive seasons, a poor economy, to poor service(unknowledgeable and/or giving TOO MUCH info. for areas that can't handle the pressure-true secret spots.) Even Olympia doesn't have much in the way of multi-technique, specialty fishing shops.

Sorry to ramble off base but it is a true frustration. I litterally have no vote for a semi-local place based on customer service alone because all my options are of the wal-mart variety locally. But....I always find tough to find items at Sunbirds in Centralia...great selection!