I came across that quote (borrowed from Somerset Maugham) the other day, in a coarse fishing article, and it struck a chord with me. If people chose to fish traditional methods (whatever they define those as), thats fine, but not when it means they decry anything and everything new (whatever they define that as). Anyway, hopefully I'll remember it next time a traditional FFF tradition-based thread kicks off!

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I think the quote to be accurate. I've been fishing for 47 yrs + and did lean towards the trad side of things. Liked the old cane and fibre glass rods-still do. But I took some time out, maybe 5-6 yrs then came back to fishing not only game but coarse as well. It was the modern coarse tackle that first opened my eyes to new stuff. It's easy get set in your ways. I bought a modern Drennen 13' float rod. Wow what a beauty, light as a feather and responsive.

Next I got hold of a good modern light fly rod, again wow and I started to realise what I had been missing. No stopping me now .

Trad is ok if that's what you like and where you want to be but hey the new gear is absolutely streets ahead and makes fishing a pleasure. New methods to, have their place in this. New flies, new lines, hooks, tippet material...so many new ideas to explore. Never been so much choice and affordable quality. It's only a big kids game at the end of the day so new has got to be good. Keep the mind open and enjoy. That's what I think anyway .

Chris.

I'm sure tradition can be a guide to "how to fish", and in that respect, shouldn't be a jailer. But tradition can't be a guide to what you enjoy.

Tradition and 'Ethics' are the key to 'flyfishing'.... Yes we all move on and adapt... but some 'methods' decry our 'Art'..... To cast, in itself is an 'Art'..... to tye the fly that fooled the trout is an 'Art'... To work that fly (or flies) on reservoir or river, boat or bank, to hook that trout is an 'Art'. If you concider what you do to catch falls within the 'Ethics' then bless you and move on...

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Before you cast the fly, make sure you can handle the fish! Vuoi imbrogliare? Poi Non competere! (If you want to cheat, then dont compete)

We should always remember tradition and traditional ways but move forward with the assistance of modern best practice.

BK

'Traditional' is far too subjective, with no defining point where the two schools meet/part, it's an evolution. I find the individual sets that boundary point themselves, with no 'right' & 'wrong', only conscience. Some have one, some don't.