The Sandy Juan Worm -- what is the difference?

Ken Fortenberry wrote:

I didn't say a plastic worm was despicable I said it wasn't
a fly and one fly fishes with a fly. You can fish with whatever
legal device you want, but for me it isn't fly fishing unless
you're fishing with a fly.

And no, the "classic" San Juan Worm is *not* a fly either.
It all seems logical to me but I doubt you're convinced. ;-)


You're getting closer. But to draw that line in the sand
you have to come armed with a definition, it seems to me.

A) Why isn't a San Juan Worm a fly? It's made from chennile.
Denying the San Juan Worm seems extreme to me.

B) If a rubber worm isn't a fly, is it because of the platic?
Does that mean any fly that contains plastic is not a fly?
Or is it OK to use some amount of plastic, as long as
long as feathers are also used? Flashback Nymphs are OK,
but the Latex Caddis is not, unless it is (phew) tied with
some minimum threshold amount of Peacock Herl?

Defining what is and what isn't a fly is black hole problem
for which there is no workable solution. The only reasonable
answer is fish with what you like to fish with.........and to
refrain from Falwellian pronouncements about moral purity.
Let he who is without sin cast the first lure.
;-)