A Weighty Matter

"Why would you use a fly rod and line to cast weight?"

The fly rod and fly line were designed to cast a nearly weightless fly (see any angling literature for the basic principle of fly casting). This is, of course, why the fly line is heavy -- it must provide the casting weight. A well-crafted fly rod, joined with the proper line and leader is capable of conveying the insubstantial blend of fur, feathers and hook long distances with great delicacy. Any weight introduced into the dynamic system acts as an impediment to casting, whether that weight is located on line, leader, or fly; such weight is contrary to the basic design principles and argues for another, better design for casting weight. Just as one would not use a screwdriver to drive nails, for which a screwdriver was not designed, so one does not use a fly rod for casting weight, for which a fly rod was not designed. The ultra-light spinning rod, on the other hand, is superbly designed to cast small weights as well as a fly, and will get the fly into the depths much faster than a fly line, as the monofilament provides less water resistance.

What virtue is there in the whirring sound of a Conehead Muddler narrowly missing your skull. What benefit to the fish, the fisheries, or the (soon to be unconscious) fisherman? Is there so much prestige to the label "Fly Fisherman" that one will do anything to not be associated with what some dub "the hardware crowd", even to the extent of ludicrous and dangerous gyrations, the infamous "chuck 'n duck"? Ah, Vanity, thy name is ...

So, again we ask "Why? Why use the wrong tool for the job?" True, the fly fisherman is handicapping himself as he dodges his near-lethal lure, but for what purpose? He has lost the joy of casting a fly, so why use a fly rod? If he merely wishes to endanger himself I am all for it; however when he advocates the use of, and I repeat the analogy, a screwdriver for driving nails, I would suggest that what many might view as his aberrant mental state should not be propogated as normative. Casting weight with a flyrod may be useful for hucksters intent on deceiving others that such is "fly fishing" and they the practitioners of a noble sport, but for sportsmen, such chicanery is foolish, dangerous, and unnecessary.

I ask again "For what reason would anyone use a tool which is not designed for the task at hand, and encourage others to do the same, when a superior tool, far more efficient and less dangerous, is available?"