Sparkey.. whats the difference between the two methods???

If you agree with my premise that gear fishing and fly fishing are different and there is no difference between fishing a heavy nymph and an indicator and a jib and bobber how can it possibly be fly fishing??

Again this is extremely unimportant just for the sake of debate kinda thing..

For me -
Fly fishing is where during the cast the power generated by moving the rod is transferred to the line which provides the energy to deliver my lure (fly) to the intended target. In other words the fly is along for the ride.

For gear fishing during the cast the power generated by moving the rod is transferred to the lure. In other words the line is along for the ride.

Clearly much of what has been dicussed (small spoons, bobber and jig flies, etc) is a hybrid between the two. Thus to my definitions throwing small spoons with the bug rod or strip casting un-weight eggs with the gear rod is more "fly fishing like" than throwing bobber and jigs with the fly rod or drift fishing with sinker and fly which are more "gear fishing like".

My philosophy is that all forms fishing are enjoyable and if your choice of method is within the regulations have a good time; just respect your fellow anglers.

Tight lines
Smalma

RA3,
I used to do a lot of 'dapping' when I was a kid. I'd fish very small creeks with a long rod, just a few feet of line out and sneek up on a small pool and dap either a dry fly on the surface or something like a wooly bugger jus under the surface. Sometimes I had to make a short 'cast' go get under some branches or to get a short drift. I would either use an old fiberglass fly rod or spinning rod depending on my mood. So was I fly fishing or gear fishing?

I think that it's time we put this stupid thread to bed. He was using a fly rod and reel with a spoon in a legal maner. Where he was fishing is open to all gear,no matter how it was used. If he was using a fly rod in this manner he knew what he was doing and probably did this just to get a few rises out of us and you know it worked. I've fished flat fish off a boat with a fly rod and what I called it,I called it fun battling a fish with a fly rod.