These days, you can’t swing a decaying dead-tree media property over your head without hitting a Web 2.0 entrepreneur scoring a multi-million dollar payday.

That’s why I wasn’t shocked when Singlebarbed pointed out the Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog is worth a a cool $4.6 Million on the Fantasy Blog Stock Market.

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Clearly, I’m worth every penny. Any offers from Well-Heeled Undergrounders?

Is the Fly Fishing Industry Going Down Like a Green Drake on Henry’s Fork?

I’m just going to sit by the phone and wait for some fly fishing media giant to call and make an offer, though my excitement’s tempered by the knowledge there are no fly fishing media giants.

In fact, a casual glance suggests the fly fishing industry is facing some significant “challenges” — and is therefore unlikely to pony up the millions I clearly deserve.

After all, the Underground’s Industry Gossip Collection Division has heard little birdies chirping about the name-brand rod manufacturer who just laid off a half-dozen rodmakers, and one can’t help but notice some of the special deals being cut by rod manufacturers on their normally sacrosanct top-end fly rods.

In some cases, the public’s been the benefactor, but in others, it’s guides and pro-deal folks who have enjoyed the fruits of top-end rods sold at less than 1/3 their retail value.

With the fly fishing world stuck in marketing reverse, and offshored goods creating price competition where sky-high margins used to reign, maybe I won’t wait by the phone after all.

As always, Undergrounders, we’re working hard so you know the things you frankly don’t need to know, and doing so in grand style.

See you at the stock market, Tom Chandler.

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