Agreed.

It's hard to beat their customer service, and it has been my experience that they will 100% stand behind what they sell. I try to pop in at Tailwaters whenever I'm downtown, but living a block from the Plano Orvis store means that's where I usually go when I need something. Great group of people over there.

Plus, they sell one heckuva dog bed

One note on Orvis - read the fine print on their coupons. A lot of them exclude fishing products such as Tippet, flies, and gear. I own several Orvis products and I personally know the Plano fishing manager. Tailwaters is still the only place that will allow product testing on site. And obviously, you can find stuff other than Orvis there. Both are great retail shops.

It's really the staff that make the trips to Tailwaters worth going back. The first time I walked in it had been 10 years since I did any fly fishing. I talked to Ron about getting new line, which I didn't need. Not only did he not pressure me in to getting something I didn't need but he even told me the name of the shop I got my reel from over 25 years ago. Ever since then there has been a Tailwaters decal on the back of my FJ.

Orvis on the other hand just seems like another chain store no matter which one I go to. I have been to Orvis stores in Austin (both the original store on 183 and the new one), Plano, Dallas and Chicago. Most of their sales staff either doesn't seem interested in helping or doesn't know much about what they sale.

Just out of curiosity, have you ever had an issue using a coupon there for fishing gear? I only ask because I have used those $25 coupons on fishing gear exclusively for years and have never had an issue.

I do know they won't take them on Yeti coolers.

Thumbs up on Tailwaters. One of the few places where you can find Simms gear %50 off a few times a year.