[boone]

I will have to side with paul on this topic. I do not post here often but i do, as does paul, enjoy reading and learning from the site. I dont think that paul was at all slanderous or out of line with his comments. I do understand that the person he was adressing is a more prominent figure than he but that does not mean that paul can not voice his opinion, no matter what that opinion may be. The fist post was confusing and i too thought that it was the original posters point of view. It also seems that it has been cleared up between everyone. I just dont think that it is right to come down on paul when he was just defending a group of people. If someone did not know me they may think of me as a trout bum. I attend a university drive a land cruiser and other things but... i have a job and support myself through school. I, not my parents. As i said at first i was offended as paul was but after further reading i believe that it was sufficiently sorted out.

Kudos to paul for taking a stand.

[BigCliff]

I suppose I could now be extra offended, cuz I now drive a Subaru, in addition to fishing a Sage attached to a Ross and wearing Simms. And I got a hell of a deal on all four.

I plan on continuing to take advantage of great deals on stuff that works really well outdoors.

[mikeo]

Like Big Cliff, I fish with stuff I got great deals on -- some bought through forums like this from people who thought they'd "try out" fly fishing and then found out it wasn't for them (CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT!!!!!) -- I remember when THE MOVIE (yes, I mean A River Runs Through It) came out years ago how so many decided fly fishing was exactly what they should be doing and then how many great deals there was shortly after on very slightly used equipment -- but I digress -- I have a Thomas & Thomas rod with an Abel reel I just picked up from a "slightly used" owner (think he casted the rod twice) -- by the way, I also wear a Patagonia vest I picked up in closing out sale of a fly shop -- and I have driven a Land Rover (in UK) and a few times a Subaru -- even wear an Eddie Bauer hat (kind of went for the "Indiana Jones" style just to really "look" the part) -- any way no matter whether I'm a Trout Bum or Trout Trash; whether I fish with great equipment or not; drive the latest SUV or a broken down pickup; no matter what age I might be (chronologically as well as mentally); whether I'm on some major trout river in Montana or Utah or Colorado or Alberta or just some nameless (on my map any way) tiny little creek that "must hold" trout > I'll continue to fly fish as I always have --occasionally even catching a trout or two -- but always definitely looking good doing so -- especially in my hat
Mike Ormsby

[tbrillinger223]

Greetings all,

I joined this forum back in april of last year for the simple reason that the members here DO NOT attack each other or ridicule their fellow forum members. I personaly have not met Steve, but I have had several keyboard conversations with him and other members in this forum. And would like to say that the main reason that I joined this "family" as FSHFANATIC called it was for the knowledge, and suggestions that can only come from a group of people that truly love their sport.

What would you call a guide that has started in his 20's, earned a living doing what he loves, had children that he sent to college when he was in his 40's and retired to the keys in his 60's to hire guides to take him fishing?

As far as being a fly fishing classification, I would say I am just a bum!!!

ON another note: I think how ever you obtain your gear is up to you, as long as you love the sport