Regarding what fly fishing is contrasted to spin/bait fishing can be fun. On average, fly fishing enhances the prospects of catching trout and reduces the chance of catching a steelhead. If the method involves split shot or a slinky, it isn't fly fishing. In this modern age of so many alternatives, the only way to be certain one is fly fishing is to fish a rod made of split cane, a fly reel made in England, a silk line, gut leader, and flies tied with natural materials only. Falling anywhere short of that is to risk being labeled a bait slinger by somebody. And if that matters, one has problems of a different sort.

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