Wayne Knight wrote:
Just because someone does a stupid thing and then gets it published in
an article does not make it a "right" thing. The taper exists for a
reason

Yes, it helps to better and more delicately turn over and lay
down a leader and fly. If you're not fishing a fly, though, but
rather chucking and ducking a lure masquerading as a fly (g), a
level line would do as well (or at least no less well).

and many a fly fishermen gets good line management and tosses
large flies when nymphing.

True, but they don't *need* the taper and could do exactly the
same without it. Of course, as long as you already *have* a
tapered line (DT or WF), there's no point in using a separate
level line just because the taper, in a given situation, serves
no useful function.

- JR