I have a tough time seeing how that quote was a flame in any way, I felt I was stating the obvious. Everyone has a right to their opinion however:

An Alumaweld salesman will tell you the best boat is an Alumaweld, a Vision hooks salesman will tell you Vision hooks are the best, a Lamiglas rep will tell you that Lamiglas rods are the best...a bait salesman will tell you that bait is the best lure. These opinions are not invalid, in fact that's what you'd want to hear out of successful company representative.

However, with me, this diminishes the weight those opinions carry when I start to examine these issues as a whole. That is exactly what the expression "grain of salt" means. I hear and respect your opinion but I am not likely to give it much weight. Not a flame, but I suppose I see how it could be construed as such. Definitely not my intention and I'm sorry you took it that way.

I have eschewed bait in favor of spinners and spoons almost exclusively in the summertime and, at least in the river I most frequently fish, I kill incidentally far fewer smolt. I have put my lurebox where my ethics are and I encourage others to do the same.