I think all new methods start out as being unconventional. That would apply to dry fly, nymph, boobies you name it.
I had a muddler on the point and an Invicta on the dropper, fishing the reservoir water inlet and I’d be 15, 16 or 17 at the time, working in the fishing lodge. Water was pulling on the muddler which was bouncing around in the current. The Invicta was suspended 2-3’ in the air. A trout jumped out and grabbed the Invicta. I missed it. So I repeated and it jumped out again. And I missed it again. Half a dozen times this fish jumped out for the Invicta. In the end I hooked it briefly and lost it.
It would be a very exciting way of fishing if we could find a way of doing this. It must happen regularly with dapping.
On Moke Lake in NZ I noticed that the fish were swimming under the trees looking for beetles while on regular beats. So I would spot the fish, let it swim away, climb the tree and dangle the fly down and wait for its return. *That* was exciting fishing!!!! Especially the part where I would leap in!!
I did have one episode there that freaked me out a bit, and I haven’t been able to explain it. One fish was going to swim past the fly and so I dibbled it. Fish came to the fly twice and maybe saw me and spooked. I waited and then two fish came tearing in from the same direction that the first fish has departed. It looked to me like the first fish was showing the fly to the second fish and twice prevented it from taking it and then they both took off. But I don’t think trout are that smart. I have certainly seen mass spooks and have initiated a few myself
Cheers, Paul