So i couldn't sleep last night and was going through my DVR trying to find something to watch. I decided on an episode of "The best and worst of Tred Barta". At the end of the show he was ranting and raving about how he was going sell all of his fly fishing gear because fly fishermen were a bunch of elitist who think they are better than everyone else. I picked up my first fly rod about a year and a half ago and the only people i have met that fit this bill are the fly shop staff at Tackle Box Outfitters in San Antoino. Everyone else i have met either in the fly shop or on the water has been nothing but great help, especially the staff at Tailwaters in Dallas, Gruene Outfitters in New Braunfels and the fly guys at Cabelas in Buda.

Am i lucky to have good experiences with fly fisherman or is tred just blowing hot air.

What are you guys experiences?

He's a blowin'!

With a name like Tred, well no need to say more.

I'm a complete snob. If the propeller on your fly fishing beanie spins counterclockwise, prepare to be mocked.

In truth I have met some fly fishermen who are pretty stuffy - but they are pure troutholes who only fish dries on mountain streams and who turn up their nose at anyone who rigs up a dropper. Mention streamers to these folks and they will tell you without the barest hint of a smile to go home and get your spinning gear or a baitcaster.

These folks are few and far between even in the mountains, in my experience, and I just haven't found any of them (yet, anyway) here in TX.

He sells biz jets and likes to show off on his own TV show. Methinks he doth protest too much.

I find that when I am guilty of the some "crime" in some area of life, that I tend to get a lot more bent out of shape by others' similar "crimes" than when my own nose is clean in said area; whatever that area may be.

I think Tred's nose ain't so clean in the area of elitism.

My first experience with another fly fisher in the same stretch of water was on the Ausable in Upstate New York. Surely hallowed fly waters from all I had read. Showed up and a gentleman was fishing a nice hole at the base of a riffle. Gave him his space for about an hour. I headed upstream and outta his sight by 1/2 mile or so. To my amazement after that hour he and his golden retriever not only came up and found me to tell me I could have his fishing spot but what exactly he was landing fish on. Pattern, size, everything. Even offered to loan me a few of the flies he used. I thanked him and moved down to his nice spot as he headed out. That guy had no idea I had only been fly fishing for 2 weeks. Nor did he have any idea when he said blue wing olive size 22 that I hadn't the foggiest idea what he was talking about, but it sure made an impression on me.

This scenario in general has been my experience with most all fly fishers I have encountered in the WILD.

Tred's fishin out of a wheel chair these days, who cares what he (or any other TV fisherman) sez: they are all a bunch of self-promotin' blow hards, now 'scuse me I have to de-lint my wool jacket & wax my fine bamboo rod.

LOL on the rod waxing!

Big Dale, Brimbum says it best in his signature, "have fun with this stuff"

While you are de-linting your jacket and waxing your rod (surprising that mentioning that sort of thing doesn't get you sent to the WOS), don't forget to press your tweed underwear. I think we can all relate when I stress this: NO STARCH.

Keeping a stiff upper lip is one thing...

Tred is just jealous of the cool prop beanies that elitist fly fisherman wear....

Lookit the blade pitch on this bad boy, no wonder Tred whines!

when pressing your tweed undies, make sure to press the orvis label flat,,,so everyone can see it

I think fly fishermen and conventional fishermen are like the army and the marines. We do the same thing just differently harder and funner. We shouldnt be stuck up. Were all trying to catch fish. Just like marines and army are both just trying to help our nation. Were the few, the proud, the fly fishermen.

I've met all knids of snobby anglers.
It most definately is not limited to fly fishing.

If I see someone else fly fishing, I'll usually wander over and strike up a conversation. These brief interludes almost always end with an exchange of flies and a discussion on what's working and what isn't.

I think our positive results are a bit confounded by the fact that someone whipping a fly rod around down here is relatively rare. When you see someone else engaged in doing something "weird" that you're also interested in, you will oftentimes find yourself in a pleasant conversation with the other weirdo. I'm guessing that if you were combat fishing one of those famous trout streams in the middle of some special hatch that you'd experience a completely different outcome.

I'm not surprised that ol' Tred did something like throwing his gear away. He's always been a pretty expressive fellow. Back when I got the channel his show was on, I usually watched him if for no other reason than he was good about showing himself in a less than flattering light. Seeing him miss a bow shot at a deer, or make a bad hookset always made me feel better.

By the way, BassBug wasn't joking, Tred really is in a wheelchair now. Apparently he had a spinal cord stroke. You can read about it here: http://letmeget.com/blog/tred-barta-paralyzed-recovery-updates-tred-returns-tv

Is this the video in question?