Hopefully this discussion can remain positive and respectful, my own comments are intended with that aim. Purely my own opinions, take them as is:
I totally agree about fishing the method that holds the most appeal aesthetically. I've fished with and without indicators, tightline nymphed, dead drifted flies wet and dry, swung flies and skated them, popped and chugged them too. Having had the pleasure of a tightline grab, there is no comparison for me anymore and I have very little interest in chasing fish with an indicator again. I've been particularly "ruined" by spey casting and swinging for steelhead. I would have to question the wisdom of anyone picking up a fly rod and "fly fishing" (however you care to define it) in a quest for maximum action and numbers. Thankfully fly fishing has lots more to offer in terms of enjoyment than just the number or size of fish caught. Some things are easily quantified, but some of the best are not, nor are they easily described with mere words. Despite our best efforts to describe or define the beauty and pleasure of "fly fishing", I believe it is still a very personal experience.
My personal take, is that it's somewhat arbitrary and pointless to attempt to narrow the definition of what is legitimate fly fishing. For instance, I'm not sure how 15' of T-20 is any more pure or righteous than a piece of split shot on a 12' mono leader, or an intruder with dumbell eyes. Are flies tied with synthetic fibers ok, or shall we limit "fly fishing" to only those flies tied with floss, fur, and feather? Is fishing a dry/dropper combination kind of straddling the line of fishing with an indicator? At what point does a "dry fly" become essentially a bobber? Are 2 flies ok? 3 flies? 5? Etc, etc, etc.
I'm sure that there are some lines that could be drawn, though I suspect that there is and will always be more contention than consensus on where exactly those lines can and should be drawn. I know I won't be the one to try and define what's legitimate fly fishing; I'm only interested in what methods and tackle I find ethical and pleasurable. I cringe every time I see similar efforts to define something narrowly enough to essentially exclude others. In the case of fly fishing, or really fishing in general, I don't think that it does us much good to create any further divisions than already exist.
Now if we're talking about defining the tackle and methods employed in terms of regulations applied specifically for the health and well being of the fishery, I am all for that. That however is a whole other topic of discussion, though it would be a very worthy discussion to have from time to time...
my 2cents, respectfully
JB
Last edited by JasonB; 02-09-2015 at 11:55 AM.
"Lord help me to be the person my dog thinks I am"
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