Many new fancy products over the years have entered into flyfishing which made me wonder if they have really made any difference to us catching anymore fish than we did years ago.
Improvements have made the experience of fly fishing more enjoyable,like rods are alot lighter to carry and cast,but I believe they break alot easier aswell and dont have the tollerance level that rods had a few years ago,reels are alot fancier but how often do we play a fish on the reel?Leader material is alot thinner and with flurocarbon a big advantage,but has it helped to catch more fish than the old leader we used say 10 years ago?Flys have changed a great deal aswell but the old ones such as the Alexandria,peter ross for example still catch but are rarely used.
The old wicker creels are replaced by huge tackle bags and fly vests are now getting scarcer and replaced by bum bags and back packs.Mill ends were lines which served me well,even though it was hit or miss at times when you either got a good one or a bad one,but they did the job and now we have all sorts of lines.
Does it all make a difference and are we catching more ?Just a thought.

__________________
Kevin

The fish themselves have also changed. the majority of trout caught now in this country are stocked rainbows...

To answer your question, yes, i think you'll catch more fish, in more comfort, using modern tackle, how many? probably less than 10%. my belief is that the modern innovations merely give you another string to your bow. if the fish are taking tadpoles deep close on the bottom, you can now target them much quicker and more accurately.

Personally I think that tackle has improved beyond all recognition over the last 10-15 years...

We now have:-

40+ distance lines/Sixth sense range
Affordable fast actioned rods
Fluro Carbon
Good quality "shop brought" flies if we need them
Cheap large Arbour reels /Cassette reels
Faster Sinking lines than ever ie DI-8 or T-11
Midge Tips for deep nymphing & the washing line
Lighter tackle in general

Most anglers now have a wider range of tackle... with at least 3 or 4 lines in their box often more...much more ! , techniques have also improved, ie washing line method (now more widely used by the average angler) bung fishing...

Both are effective and used more by the average angler, rather than just the competition boys.

We've More Tackle, Better Tackle and more Methods, we can cast further with better flies, and fish deeper with faster sinking lines that are more sensative.

We can cope with almost every condition thrown at us, as a result catch more fish.

I really don't think tackle will advance much more in the next 5-10 years ! ...perhaps tackle manufacturers could/will build in a line marker on lines at 14ft for the 7,8, and 9 weight lines (just a simple 3" colour change) ??

but I really don't think they'll be any significant advances....contrary to what we're led to believe.

Tackle is very good, even the cheap end of the market ! anglers are also better.....and I think more fish are caught as a result

__________________
Mock me, vilify me, but don’t ignore me!

I agree entirely with Rob that modern tackle has made a big difference, both in terms of comfort and in terms of the range of fish that can be reached.
We now fish more of the year, especially on stillwaters.
And love em or loathe em, the match fishing fraternity have opened our eyes to a lot of new tactics and tackle.
And with the range of angling magazines, forums like this, and even the dear old TV programmes, nothing stays a secret for very long.
I am quite sure that a greater majority of trout anglers today are better informed, better equipped and more tactically aware than their forebears.

__________________
Andrew W

"Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets." Arthur Miller

I agree myself Rob tackle has come on leaps and bounds and the thing that provoked my post was when I was looking back and also reading another thread of how we became fly fishers,it crossed my mind looking at the tackle then and now and what I used then and now,has my catches actually increased from then to now using all the new stuff on the market.hence my post on it to see what others thoughts were on it.
Indicators are one which I would say have increased alot of catches for an instance and as an example.Knowledge has certainly increased also and as andrew w said forums like this have helped.

__________________
Kevin

Sorry I may have missed the point slightly...

Under extreme conditions....ie very cold or very hot when the fish drop deep I think we've now got the tackle to reach them, so catch rates are increased significantly in extreme conditions

But for general everyday fishing with the fish in the top 8ft then, I don't think it would make that much difference providing we were ALL using the same tackle ALL of the time.

For example, if we all used DT 6 lines, on medium actioned rods.....and nothing else (not even home made shooting heads) then we wouldn't be able to cast as far, flies would be baby dolls, alexandra's, jersey herds with little movement etc... the fish would not get pushed out by the constant casting, the stockies wouldn't all be taken on boobies and blobs, meaning that the older patterns and tackle would work.

trouble is we all want better tackle and flies, so progress is inevitable.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that our reservoirs and methods have changed.....the old tackle (which was adequate at the time) would be a severe disadvantage now ... just try and catch a fish if the bank anglers either side of you are pulling modern lures and casting 15yards further...you'll struggle more often than not with the old tackle and patterns..

Don't think I made that point very well ! ! Sorry

__________________
Mock me, vilify me, but don’t ignore me!

The old wicker creels are replaced by huge tackle bags and fly vests are now getting scarcer
My Big wicker tackle box still travels arounfd the country serving steak sandwiches and it will be a while before my now elderly orvis tacklepak waiscoat is superceded!

Fly lines ,mmmm for trout I seem to have 5/6 floaters an inermediate that sees water once in a blue moon and thats it .
Salmon now thats a whole new ball game there we are seeing some superb developments in lines ,tips ect not tomention some stunning rods at a variety of price points !

__________________
Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

I suppose in a way it's unfortunate, yet inevitable, that new technology tips the tables in anglers' favour, even if only slightly, when fish could really use a break themselves.[/Devil's advocate]

I have fly fished since 1976 and I think the gear now is just light years ahead of what was available back then.It is far cheaper and of much higher quality.Some of it does not catch more fish but such a joy to use.Old gear is fine in the same way an old MGB is fun to own but as a daily driver forget it.Glass rods are absolutely **** compared to carbon and don't get me started on cane- fine if you like the aesthetics but it is not on the same planet as carbon in fitness for purpose.We have ultra sharp hooks,better nylon , brilliant breathable gear and I would not be paid to return to Farnboroughs and Racine Tortue, horrid smelly old creels , reels that sound like coffee grinders , nets with a mesh with enough knots to descale a trout and the abomination of gaffs..

heated insoles........how did they manage without them?