"riverman" wrote in message ...
I'n not even sure what 'elitist' means in this context. I know that, when
I'm going flyfishing, and loading up my gear, I secretly hope someone seees
me and that they think "wow, he's a flyfisherman! That's something!" I
know that I feel that way when I'm loading up, and I feel it even more
when I'm gearing up. Putting on the vest with all those doo-dads that I know
the use of, assembling the rod and stringing it up the right way, tying on
a fly using one of those special knots that I had to learn. I posted once
about watching a salmon fisherman in northern Norway tying on his salmon
fly, and watching the care and pride he displayed as he tied on a surgeon's
knot, then cut it off because it wasn't *just perfect*...I know he was
feeling that 'special feeling' that I get when I'm fishing.

Thing is, most of we 'run-of-the-mill' flyfisherman don't know if
you're using a $50.00 flyrod or a $500.00 flyrod. So what it boils
down to is; one elitist flyfisherman trying to impress another
elitiest flyfisherman. I guess you could, like Minnie Pearl, (you
probably don't remember her.) leave the price tags on.

feeling it in another context: when I'm rigging my raft in the Grand Canyon,
knowing where every single strap and buckle is, where every single orange,
bandaid, hex key, carabiner and raisin is in the boat. Knowing all the moves
in all the rapids, all the places to camp and hike, being able to accurately
predict the water levels the next day as well as the temperatures that
night. It's not elitism, its just a definate, warm, innate pride in knowing
how to do something a little bit technical, something that takes a touch of
skill, a touch of luck, and a touch of perseverence. It's not elitist,
because anyone is welcome to be there with me.

We should all know our gear, inside/out; expensive or inexpensive.
Makes the difference between a good trip and a bad one.

"Good fortune is infatuated with the efficient." (Persian proverb.)