Well I guess I started this "think tank," so I'll finish it, at least for my part. Yes, change and progress are both, for the most part, good and inevitable. Who among us "great fishermen" would want to go back and fish with steel rods and an old Plueger baitcaster, without even a level wind. And I like my depthfinders and I love Yum dingers. But, change that takes us away from what we all in our hearts and minds know is the right thing to do, or the right way to travel, or just change for the sake of change is not how I want to go a long my lifes highway. And surely not how I want to meet the big guy on judgement day. Ike, Skeet, G-Man, actually I like and deeply respect each of their obvious talents and I truly think each is sincere in their work. It's just the way of the new generation. But because it is "the way," are we to embrace this brash, loadmouth, trashtaking as thew new norm. I truly hope not. Ram' your right, we desperately need the youngsters and the new blood in this sport and the new breed, like Ike and Skeet, are doing that to an extent. But tell me true, do we really need 5000 new Ike's out on the lake screaming and brake dancing all a round us. You know some of my best days on the water are when I come upon a creature of wildlife. A flock of turkeys, a young doe and her fawn, a nice buck, and I just lay my rod down and set there. Sometimes for up to 30 minutes, just enjoying the "meeting." I've made my day, and if I don't catch a thing the rest of the day. I consider that chance meeting a highlight of my day. You know, Bill Dance has been fishing for going on 50 years, and when I see Bill still get all excited over catching a good fish, (and he doesn't yell and scream)I remember why I still endure the sun burns and the skin cancers, the 4:00 early rises and that always long ride home. It's because there's just nothing in the world I'd rather be doing. Thanks folks for all your replies, I enjoyed reading each and every word.
Good Fishin Mates.