Over the course of my time fly fishing (going on about 18 years hard-core and even longer if you count the dabbling I did while in High School), I've progressed from various stages of fishing skills, likes, dislikes, focuses, types and methods. During that time, I've fished for Bass, Trout, Bluegill, Crappie, Carp, Wipers, Catfish, Salmon, Steelhead and probably a few annoying ducks or otters. I never really sat down and asked myself "Hmmm...is using this strike indicator really fly fishing?". Or "Is using foam on a fly really fly fishing?". I guess I never worried about it and it probably never crossed my mind much.
It wasn't until a number of years ago, when I was in a local fly shop and one of the employees was taking it upon himself to deride me for using nymphs (wasn't "real" fly fishing I was told), that I became annoyed at someone trying to label something as fly fishing.
Being the analytical nerd I am, I thought about the definition of fly fishing and tried to think back to the origins of the sport and compare some of the methods and materials we use today against what was used back then.
This is how I imagine the same conversation might have gone back then (re: elitist snob vs a guy just wanting to catch some fish) cerca 1800's:
Elitist Snob (ES): Say, chap, have you been out to fish yonder chalk stream?
Guy Wanting to catch a fish (GWCF): Yes indeed my kind man. Many a fish were taken using ye olde wet flye fished with a slight swing nearst the drift's end.
ES: What say ye, man!?? That is blaspheme at it's finest!! Thou shalt fish the dry fly and the dry fly only. Tis heresy to consider the lowly wet fly. Ay, it be a form of bait fishing no less. Fly fishing 'tis not.
GWCF: Do tell, I say. The silk line I throwe proves to float well and serves to cast my feathered hook great distance.
ES: Silk! What manner of evil is this! Horse hair carried by the wind alone suffices any angler worth his salt. Gentlemen do not "throwe" their line. Nature's breath carries the line and fly to the proper destination.
I guess my point is any sport evolves and progresses. For someone to say using a foam strike indicator is not "fly fishing" I would ask is it fly fishing to use a foam hopper as an indicator? How about the end of my synthetic fly line? Different colored sections of leader? All synthetic, all point to the tug of a fish.
Is a propeller tied onto the hook considered a "fly"? What about a bead head? What about lead wrapped around the shank? So nickel in the shape of a propeller isn't but a rounded bead is? Now I'm confused.
Some say, "no" to synthetics on flies period. So do you fish with a graphite rod? Plastic fly line?
A pre-formed plastic tail on a bass "fly" is out of the question, but a feather from a genetically engineered chicken is kosher? Neither is natural. Hmmm...more confused.
Split shot used to weight a tippet & fly down are considered taboo, but wrapping a metal hook with lead is no problemo?
In the end, it seems the distinction is too often based on what is typically associated with other "lesser" forms of fishing (bobbers, spinner blades, rubber skirts, jigs etc) even though some are actually derived from "fly fishing" in the first place. Even more confused? Check.
To each his own, I say. Let me throw my propeller headed fly deep into this pool with my sinking tip lead-core line and use my foam indicator to help me detect a strike. I tied the bug and I'm using a fly rod to cast it. Who cares what label applies to what. End result is a fish and my tools are flies and a fly rod.
ES: Say, lad. Can you spare some dressing for my line? Tis required I coat it thoroughly once every four hours whilst I avoid it soaking in too much water.
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