the "myth" of the wealthy fly fishermen

[redietz]

Bob, I could afford to buy the best. I choose not to do so. I'm naturally frugal, which is probably why I can still afford to buy the best if I wished. I don't see highly outfitted newbies as trying to buy experience. I see them as trying to make sure their gear isn't getting in the way of the best result. Folks who could not afford to do this at the start had the opportunity to learn that the fish don't care what gear you are wearing and using.

I couldn't agree more. My only point was that you can't judge someone's affluence by the cost of their gear or by their apparent "snobbiness".