Fly fisherman of the northeast usually look down upon "spin" fisherman with undisguised contempt, and I am no exception to this rule. Fly fisherman feel that fishing with a lure is cheating in some way, maybe because it is an easier, cheaper, and sometimes more effective way to fish. The fact of the matter remains, however, that fly fishing and spin fishing are really the same thing, throwing a disguised hook in the water to catch "lunkers". The deeper reason fly fisherman think more of themselves is not because they think spin fishing is actually cheating, but simply because they know that any spin fisherman has never even picked up a fly rod, or they would be completely hooked.
The differences between fly fishing and spin fishing are many. First the equipment. Spin fishing equipment is heavier, clunkier, and the rods are much shorter and stiffer, allowing the fisherman to throw his lure with one cast. Fly fishing rods are much longer, usually around 9 feet, although, unlike the more versatile spin rods, there are many different lengths and weights for different types of fish. Fly fishing lines are tapered, meaning that they are thicker and heavier closer to the reel, and then lighter, thinner, and eventually terminated by an invisible "leader", a length of clear line. Casting is a much more active in fly fishing, and it is really important that the fisherman know where his or her line is at all times. This is why why fly lines are brightly colored. A final major differences is the lure, which is weighted and ugly in spin fishing, and weightless and tied to imitate an actual insect in fly fishing.
I have been fly fishing since I was eight years old, and have mostly fished in the lakes of northern Maine and the rivers of western Montana, near where I was born. In Maine we have many of the same fish as the Adirondacks, most notably small and largemouth bass. The fish in Montana are different, but the sport is the same. Instead of sitting on a dock with a cooler of drinks, passively holding a rod like a construction worker might hold a stop sign, a fly fisherman is waist deep in stream, attempting to get the perfect line shape and perfect placement of his hand-tied fly. While the spin fisherman is just killing an hour or two after work, the fly fisherman is getting up before work to hit the streams at the perfect hour, in tune with everything from the insect "hatches" to the water temperature. Although spin fishing has its place among those who would rather catch fish without actually going fishing, anyone who truly appreciates this age old pastime will choose a fly rod on their way out the door.
As a fisherman myself I have heard this debate over and over. I began fishing when I was three years old and taught myself how to fly fish about four years ago. While I absolutely love fly fishing and most often choose fish a fly over a lure, I take a little offense to the idea that being a spin fisher means you sit on a dock with a beer hoping for a bite. To me spin fishing can be as much of an art as fly fishing and in many cases is the only way to catch certain fish. Try getting a weightless fly down 40 ft while moving at 3 mph on the Niagara River. Impossible. The method with which which you choose to fish has no bearing on how much time, effort, or skill goes into fishing either. I could go on but I understand that this is an argument which will never end while there are still fish to be caught.
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