Re: Indicators
... or perhaps self-induced limits. For me personally, the approach befits the fishery, and from the right amount of challenge the pleasure is maximized. In addition, the more time spent working the challenge makes you better. In fact some have reached a level where what was once hard becomes plausible, even downright effective. Every shortcut you take takes away from that journey.
For instance, bonefishing with spin gear and a shrimp just sounds so damn cheap to me, and it did so even before I knew how to flyfish. For me, meaning no disrespect, using weights on the leader for steelhead converts the whole concept of swimming a fly in the currents into a drifting game, not for me. Watching a bobber instead of connecting with a trout directly to me is a shortcut.
I am not judging anyone but myself. I've tried a weighted nymph hanging from a dryfly for trouting a stream and it was amazingly effective. I am far from being a frequent trout fisherman so who am I to say, but I believe that given two anglers of equal skill, if one took the indicator / lead path (call him Tom) and the other took the path without those extra tricks (Dick), here is what would happen:
- initially, the Tom would kick butt and Dick would be frustrated, Sense of accomplishment? Advantage Tom.
- eventually, the Dick would start to realize comparable success while Tom still had constant action using tried and true methods.
Sense of accomplishment? About even, although Dick needed less fish to feel as good as Tom.
- ultimately, Dick would reach a level of craftiness and adaptability that befits his passion for the sport, Tom had peaked out with his technique. Dick still has a lifetime ahead in which to apply his inferences. Fish matter less, angling bliss more but the fish come anyway.
Sense of accomplishment?
I am exaggerating the point, I know. All in good fun. I guess it's really up to the individual as someone recently mentioned.
FFF definition:
Can't argue with the definitions, in fact it's a good definition with one caveat - it should include "for the target fishery". By this I mean castable with tackle suitable for the fishery. Of course I can cast any marlin fly with an ultralight trout rod. But I can't cast it with any rod suitable for marlin. I had this debate once before, maybe twice
Angling to me is about a lifetime of learning, and enjoying the fruits along the way.