In 1994, my parents bought me a Scientific Anglers 5/6-weight fly rod and reel combo. We didn’t have much money, but it was what we could afford. Thirty years later, I still own that rod.
Growing up in a commercial fishing family, I learned every method imaginable. Fly fishing eventually became my passion because of the challenge, craftsmanship, and satisfaction of fooling a fish with something I created myself.
I didn’t get into fly fishing to be better than anyone else. I got into it to become a better fisherman.
After three decades in the sport, I’ve watched that mentality change. What once revolved around patience, practice, and earning your abilities increasingly revolves around expensive equipment, social media followers, and marketing.
My disappointment with R.L. Winston’s apparent association with OnlyFans creator Lamar Gatz represents exactly what I believe is wrong with the modern direction of this industry.
i have no problem with adult content creators enjoying fly fishing. But having a massive following from adult entertainment doesn’t automatically qualify someone to represent a sport built on generations of knowledge, discipline, and craftsmanship.
What message are we sending young anglers when social media popularity appears more valuable than actual fishing ability?
We’re teaching the next generation that you don’t necessarily need to put in the work. You just need enough followers to attract sponsors, receive free equipment, and gain recognition.
To me, Winston’s apparent approach looks more like a marketing strategy designed to generate attention and sales than an investment in the future of fly fishing.
And that’s a tremendous disappointment coming from a company with such a long heritage.
There are countless accomplished women and men who have dedicated decades to guiding, casting instruction, fly tying, conservation, and supporting local fly shops. They earned their credibility through experience, often without recognition or financial reward.
When companies prioritize an influencer’s audience over an angler’s accomplishments, they’re rewarding popularity instead of proficiency.
The old-school way was to learn the craft, make mistakes, practice, respect the resource, and earn your place over time.
The new-school approach increasingly seems to be buying the image, building a following, and expecting the rewards before developing the skills.
In today’s fast-paced social media world, I’ve noticed a pattern of people entering fly fishing enthusiastically, chasing the lifestyle and recognition, then disappearing from the sport within a few years. I suspect many never develop the deeper connection that keeps dedicated anglers involved for a lifetime.
That’s my concern about the future of fly fishing.
Are manufacturers building lifelong fishermen, or simply chasing short-term customers?
Marketing and sales are necessary for any business. But when they become more important than education, experience, and the traditions that built the sport, something valuable is lost.
After thirty + years, I’m still learning every time I step onto the water. That inexpensive rod from 1994 reminds me that the greatest rewards in fly fishing aren’t given to you by a sponsor.
They’re earned through time, dedication, and experience.
The old-school way built fishermen. The new-school way risks building influencers who happen to fish.
