re: Flyfishing question

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When reeling in a fish, do you strip the fish in or actually use the zero-gear-ratio reel to retrieve?

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Depends on the fish...unless its big enough to strip line you just haul in the line but if it is taking line you fight them pretty much the same way you would any fish that is taking line...if you've stripped in a bunch of slack when the fish hits you have to act as the drag until it gets on the reel. Bream, 2-3 pound bass or trout will usually not take line so they are usually stripped in. Redfish, stripers, snook, tarpon and even 2 pound bonefish will be on the reel almost immediately and into the backing. Catching fish capable of stripping line is hell on most fly reels...even really good ones get smoked regularly on Tarpon and permit. I have never caught a billfish on the long rod but I have been on a boat when sails and white marling were hooked and to be honest I do not know how anyone gets one leadered without destroying the reel...even when those reels cost as much as they do.