I don't know of Ralph other than the website (which he runs) but he is a full-time guide, runs a casting school and has guided/ fished around the world. The people who post on his site think he's pretty good, but someone with No. Cal. flyfishing experience/ expertise would be better able to judge Mr. Cutter's qualifications. (I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.)

But even if Ralph really didn't spend all those hours in scuba gear in trout streams, most of what he writes can be tested very directly -- try it out yourself and see if it works. I'd be particularly interested in reading what happens when heavily fished for trout are presented with natural and artificial flies/ baits that have 1' 15lb leaders glued to them.