Neil,

I'm thinking I'm obsolete, no....not obese, obsolete. They had a war and didn't invite me to go along. After 23 1/2 years in the service of my country, I think they should have at least asked if I wanted to go.

As far as fly fishing goes, a lot of the flies I tie and use on a regular basis are over 100 years old, many much older than that. They work just as well now as they did way back when and have outdone more modern flies many times over.

Silk lines? I'd love to put a nice DT Silk line on one of my bamboo rods. Unfortunately, the initial outlay of cash prevents it at the moment. Fish in the morning, have a nice lunch and dry your line, apply some mucellin or other line dressing and then fish the evening rise, what could be better.

I think the reason so much is considered obsolete is our penchant for the newest, fastest, lightest, bestest thingamajig there is. It's gotta be better than the older thingamajig or there wouldn't be a new one.

REE