But surely with what you're saying it'd not be a credible capture regardless of whether they're close mates or not?
What I get from your post is that you should do everything yourself, which given the limited time available to most anglers is biting off your nose to spite your face.......the best anglers out there will take information from people who regularly fish a water and cherry pick the bits they find useful.
Both of my biggest fish this season were caught after hippy told me what they'd been doing, this doesn't take anything away from what I did to catch them.
I'll also fish for particular fish in areas that they're known to frequent from previous captures and info......it increases my chances, because that's what I'm out there to do.
I actually agree that technology has gone ott, I wouldn't call it cheating as if it's allowed then it really can't be, but yes it takes away the romantic side if you like.
But where do we stop? Walker caught on split cane, Hearn used carbon, who's the better angler? Very difficult to say.