Bob, this isn't a response to you specifically, just a few experiences I
have had on this topic.

Truthfully the term "Purist" comes from Fly Fisherman more than anyone
else, in the fishing areas I frequent, and to be fair those areas are
the Tributaries from Northern Indiana to Upper Michigan along the Coast
of Lake Michigan and is not to degrade fly fisherman as a whole. I
personally love to fly fish, but to me it is inefficient, but exciting
at the same time. I think the term "purist" is ridiculous and elitist
when used in a context of contrasting fishing methods. Be it live bait,
artificial lures (Plastics, crankbaits..etc), flies, and so on.
I have been called a "bait tosser" (very negative) by Fly fisherman
while fishing a hole on a river I frequent. Which I do not understand
because I am standing there with a $350 Float reel (made by the same
manufacturer of very high end fly reels), a Custom Float rod, 2lb
Fluorocarbon with a #14 hook and a single egg under a float. Is it
because I call my float a "float" instead of a strike indicator, and
because my egg is real instead of a plastic bead? I won't apologize for
wanting to sit in a hole and catch every single fish that swims through
it. I also wouldn't balk at a fly fisherman walking in behind me and
kicking my butt! Or a spoon fisherman doing the same. We are all there
for the same reason, to catch fish if you don't like the way I do it,
that is great, don't do it.
When I am bass fishing I use artificial lures because to me it is more
efficient than any other method. I do prefer live bait when fishing for
bluegill, crappie, catfish and Walleye. I do not think it is unfair
that Walleye fisherman get to use live bait in tournaments and bass
fisherman do not. The fish are so different, and if I fished a Walleye
tournament, there is no doubt in my mind I would use live bait.
So what is my point? My point is that who cares how we achieve results
as long as we stay within the limits of the rules and regulations. If
they allowed me to use live bait in a bass tournament, there would be
instances where I would use it, but it would be rare. The bottom line
is we are always going to have a few bad apples to do break the rules,
but it is the same with guns, sports, business, and life in general.
Does it **** me off when someone tramples through a run I am fishing or
runs their boat over a hump I am fishing?? Hell yes I do, but I don't
care if they are using live bait, fly fishing, spoon tossing, flipping a
jig, it is still going to **** me off :-).

Just some of my thoughts, I think the Aderall must have kicked in.
Chris
Bob Rickard wrote:
As an ardent angler since age 4, for 61 years I have seen fishing go full
circle with respect to live bait fishing.

Being different from most people in most ways, my "fishing thing" has always
been to experiment & observe both fish & other anglers. Fortunately for me,
I never really cared that much about actually catching fish. Often I could
learn more by trying to find out what my prey would not hit during a heavy
feed. I mainly fished artificials, but I never had any qualms about using
live bait in appropriate situations; live bait does not make success
automatic... I've frequently seen great anglers catch zilch on live bait.

Today, we have definitely come full circle. I've been laughing for some time
at the self-appointed "purists" who, while demeaning the users of live bait,
would spend all their time fishing little other than modern chemical plastic
clones like Yum, Gulp & all the others on the market today, many of which
actually contain processed live bait or simulated substitutes. Regardless
what you choose to call that stuff, folks, you ain't no purist any more!

Bob Rickard
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