Harlan,
I agree with you and Michael about the book "Stripers and Streamers". A great
book which would be invaluable to anyone interested in catching stripers. I also
agree with your views on flourocarbon leaders. I'll stick to 20# Berkley Big
Game. Its cheap and far more abrasion resistant than the normal flyrod tippet
material. I'll also stick with Ray's method of constructing a leader for
fishing a dropper. I doesn't foul. The fly rides away from the leader. You
don't have to use a weighted fly to accomplish this. This makes casting at night
considerably more pleasant (and safe). I leave my 7 wt. on the rack and use
my 10 wt for this fishing. My reasoning for this is that when that 50# fish
takes my offering I'd like to have a rod with enough balls so that he knows he's
hooked. Plus the wind always blows when I fish.
In regards to people using lights, you think that they might turn their backs to
the water when they use them! There was a time that non-judicious use of a
light on the beach would get you a tongue lashing at best or perhaps even a
kick in the pants.