My attitude is to use the proper fly/lure/bait and presentation to catch fish. The fly/lure/bait and presentation will dictate what type of tackle to use. This may be a 6 foot 0-wt rod and a #20 adams, or a 15 foot spinning surf rod flinging bait with an 8 oz sinker. Even tying a "Power-Bait Looking Fly" is fair game!
We may choose to limit our choices of lures and tackle. We limit ourselves to protect the fish stock (I.E., flies and lures only) or for "sporting reasons". These are valid limitations, but we need to realize that "sporting reasons" are not universal, and should not be universal. One persons opinion of "sporting" is not the same as someone elses opinion.
Once I was fly fishing at some lake in the mountains. There was a 12 year old kid near by that was outfishing me 10 fish to 1. He was using power bait. That day I learned that fly fishing isn't the do all-end all of fishing tactics.
I went fishing at Lake Estes a couple of weeks ago. The wind was blowing at a sustained 40 MPH with gusts to 100 MPH. The waves were 3+ feet and actually going over the top of the dam. Fly fishing was out of the question, just too much wind. I had to use my spinning rod with heavy lures.
The point is that everything, and everyone, has their place. Even bright colored spinners and baitcasting reels. Even Snoopy poles and nightcrawlers. While we might not choose to use those things ourselves, as fly fishermen we can and shoold learn from those who do use them.
I'm certainly guilty of using a strike indicator. Even worse, I use the "Fish Pimp" brand-- the most bobber looking strike indicator. Granted, I try to use the small size if possible, but it is still an overglorified bobber. I use these for several reasons... Mostly I fish shallow streams. Streams that are usually less than 2 feet deep at best and often only 6 inches. In order to get a long drift I use a fish pimp to help keep the nymph from catching on the freestone bottom. Without a pimp, the nymph will either hang on the bottom or float too close to the surface. With a long leader (the fish are typically spooky) and shallow water it is very difficult to have good depth control without a strike indicator and some small split shot. I know that it can be done without a strike indicator, but I don't personally know anyone who is able to do it in such shallow water.
There are reasons why I don't use a spinning reel and bobber in this situation. The main reason is presentation. With a spinning reel, even an ultralight setup, the weight of the terminal tackle would have to be large enough to cast. The bobber would have to be larger than a fish pimp and you'd probably need a larger split shot (just to make it castable). The force of this splashing down and the sight of it floating by could spook the fish. On a larger body of water this might not be such a bad thing. Also, the longer fly rod makes it easier to get a good drift vs a shorter spinning rod.
I'm also a gadget freek. Fortunately with fly fishing there are plenty of gadgets to choose from. There are hundreds of fly tying gadgets. Lots of things to hang from our vests. Lots of gimics to put that extra "something" in our flys. There are dozens of floating lines to choose from, and don't get me started on shooting head lines.
For me, the "art" of fly fishing is in the craftsmanship, and only _MY_ craftsmanship. I created that fly, therefore it is a kind of art. I "crafted" that narrow loop in the cast. It's art. I see no art in that tapered leader. No art in those waders. I do see elegance! There is elegance in the fly drifting on the surface. Elegance (and beauty) in the peacefullness of the cast. Just the water, the fish, and I. "Gadgets" do not take away any of the art, elegance, and beauty for me. But that's just my opinion.
A boom box would take away the elegance and beauty. Definately.
