Has Fly Fishing Gear Really Improved?

It’s a question that pops up year after year, and it’s one that seems to be fair game for both pundits and amateurs alike. “Has fly fishing gear really improved noticeably over time, or has our desire for newer/faster/better just taken us off-track?” A large contingent of pro cyclists have returned to single-speeds, and skiers are going nuts over telemark, so why don’t more fly fishers find inspiration in gear that scoffs at the modern? Phil Monahan finds several experts to cast their opinions in this week’s “Fine Lines” column.