That interview was quite a few years ago and I think there are many less expensive and serviceable outfits available now. I think the spinning reel and spin cast reels are really most responsible for fewer fishers. Let's face the fact that most people just want to catch fish and don't care how they do it.

For those who want to fly fish, my opinion is that it has never been cheaper in constant (inflation adjusted) dollars to buy a rod/reel/line and that outfit will be way better than the ones of 50 years ago at that same inflation adjusted price. I submit that the Echo Base at $89 is way better than the original Fenwick HMG or the original Sage RP and is a fraction of those rod's cost in constant dollars. Similarly, you can now get a Cortland 333 that used to be the best fly line at its time for a fraction of the original constant dollar price.

https://www.yellowstoneangler.com/in...ream/echo-base


Gear Review: An entry level rod? Yes, but far more, it turns out | Fly Life Magazine


$89 ECHO Base turning heads, dropping jaws | Hatch Magazine - Fly Fishing, etc.