Until you get a good feel for the line you will most likely tangle your leader in a million knots, not to mention having it wrap itself in a web around your fly rod. Much worse than a bird's nest on a reel. That leader will act like a nasty whip on occassions too. I somehow managed to crack my ear a couple times when I started. I still don't understand how it was even possible, as the crack effect usually occurs at full cast length. I've just always been lucky like that I guess.

I personally fish with whatever will catch fish for me!

However my husband is a purist and will ONLY flyfish plus he ties all his own flies. He spends endless hours researching bugs and critters (like small crabs, etc.) that inhabit the area he will be fishing, and then spends endless more hours imitating those bugs, crabs, whatever and making fake ones! I think he's nuts. I say just use the real thing and be done with it. ha ha

Oh come on. That's way to easy. That'd be like stopping for directions.