Fishing with an iPod… Fair or Foul?

We started this debate on Fly Talk about a year ago, and it got hot, so I thought I’d bring up the question again…

Do you ever fish while listening to music through earphones? If so, what’s on your playlist?

On the one hand, it seems such a downright, dirty, party foul to squelch out the natural and splendid sounds of nature–the babbling brook, the wind through the tress, the chirping birds, etc.–in favor of electronic audio. Then again, I have nothing against a little “mood music” when doing other favorite pastimes, like cooking, for example, or skiing, or, um… well, you understand. I do have a confession to make:

I have been known to fish with an iPod now and again.

I’m sorry, but there is just something special about lacing on the boots in the morning (when you’re planning to put the hurt on the trout that day) with a little Black Sabbath “War Pigs” ripping through your ears. When I’m in a trout-lovin’ mood, it’s (what else?) Barry White…

I’ve found Weezer to be a good kick-start catalyst for striper fishing from the beach. Redfish? Lucinda Williams. Steelhead? Anything metal, of course.

The Bottle Rockets get me going on bass. Tarpon… well, tarpon fishing needs no soundtrack. And when I am guiding, and we have a really, really good day on the river, when I’m driving home in my truck, it’s always the Rolling Stones.

What say all of you? Ethical dilemma or part of the game?

Deeter