The question being asked, is one that has appeared on every fishing forum at some stage. I think it might be difficult for some of the people who have accumulated a lot of tackle over many years. I personally don't think it has anything to do with how much tackle you actually need. After all we don't actually need to fly fish at all, and if that is the reality, we don't need any tackle at all. It's more about, what we want, and what we as individuals believe is going to enhance the pursuit that brings us so much pleasure. part of the pleasure for me, is all the stuff that I have accumulated over the years, and haven't got the heart to get rid of. Much of it does not get used anymore, but somewhere in the distant past, it might have had a significant role to play, in enriching my experience of this marvelous game. At the tender age of fifty, where I find myself now, and having flyfished for more than thirty five years, you can be sure that there is a lot of equipment stuck away in the "hardware archive" that is purely justified on the basis that it part of my own personal history.
I have never sold any of my past rods or reels, but I have given away many. Even my most expensive equipment, I do not view as a financial investment, but more as an investment in my own satisfaction, in knowing that, after all these years of sacrifice and and hard work, I find myself in a position where I am able to fully justify a little indulgence that feeds my very personal sense of deserving, to the point where I have accumulated a collection of high end fly fishing eqipment, that would make a small dealer jealous. Call it what you like, tackle tartiness, bling bunnyness, or whatever, but to me, every piece of equipment that I have has some meaning, if only to me, and I am happy with that. Another point that i have to mention, is that I cannot remember being able to "justify" any purchase I have ever made, and have given up trying. Now, when I buy something, regardless of the price I might have to pay for it, i do so because i want to, and I can. It's as simple as that.
For what it's worth, I like Sage, Greys, Abel, Simms, Renzetti, and a few other brands. Do I need them, of course I do, they make me happy. Do they make me fish better? probably not, but that's my problem.
Last edited by andreb; 05-10-2010 at 09:09 PM.
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