I know it wouldn't be "fly fishing" but does anyone try live bait on a fly rod? Like crickets or grasshoppers? I'm thinking more for panfish maybe bass than trout.

Not so common any more but fly rods were often used that way years ago. A good way for gentle delivery of bait. As memory serves, this is not for distance techniques though, more like flipping in lakes and ponds and very good for accurate placements of baits in streams. I believe there were also spinning reels designed for fly rod use and trigger spin closed face reels will work on fly rods to some extent, haven't tried it myself. People also used to put monofiliment on a spare reel and use it as a bait rig.
People mostly don't anymore as there is soo much available now. I believe I read once that "noodle" rods were originally based on fly rods.
I'll bet sother people have info and ideas also.

I use a fly rod for minnow fishing for Crappie. I use 8 lb. test tied to some fly line as backing. I put on a good 50 yards or so, so I always have mono out when I gently toss my bait up against a brush pile or tree or a pile of rocks even a hole in the bank. Sometimes my bobber/cork is under before I can even sit the rod down and I always set the hook hard in an upward motion, as you never know what is biting a minnow or other live bait.

I prefer a 1/8th oz. lead head as my hook and sinker with the line tied to the top of the eye loop of the lead head. When you pull up on the lead head after your bobber/cork is under, it seems [to me] to hook the fish more in the roof of their mouth or the nose area.

My hooking success ratio went way up when I went to a 1/8th or even a 1/16th oz. lead head versus a snelled hook and sinker.

Oop's forgot to add, I prefer a 7 1/2 ft 2 pc medium action fly rod as I rarely use one if I have to use a bobber 7 ft deep or more / Unless I use a sliding bobber.

I've done that. Lot's of fun. Less work than actually fly fishing, that is so labor intensive.

What a waste of a Fly rod and if this is what your going to do it's a lot cheaper to just buy a cane pole!!!

yes you can do it go buy a cheap fly rod and turn it into a noodle rod by electric taping a spinning real on it .

Hmm, when is fly fishing NOT fly fishing? I guess when you put a live cricket on the end of the line.

That question has been asked before kinda ? what is fly fishing . If i cast a fly with my spinning rod am i fly fishing ? If i cast a light weight jig with a fly rod am i fly fishing ? Hmm so then what is fly fishing ? It simply IS if you don't understand it then you never will .

I would reckon if you tied a piece of twinkie to your fly rod...you are still FLY ROD fishing...but a fly is required to be fly fishing. Does it really matter? Fish however you enjoy yourself(within the law of coarse). Back to the original question: I've never tried crickets or 'hoppers with a flyrod, but they are killer for panfish and bass. I would give it a try. Keeping them on the hook while casting might be a problem.

I figure "fly fishing" is when you are casting the line, and not the lure.  As you all know, this allows for smaller lures to be presented to the target since you don't need to cast the lure itself.

I agree that you should fish the way that makes you the most comforable within the legal constraints of your fishing hole. I don't see why you couldn't do live bait on a fly rod, however, I do see some reasons why I would choose an artificial grasshopper over a live one. My main concern is if I'm on the water I'd rather be fishing than spending my time constantly baiting a hook. Even if that grasshopper makes it through three fish, the exoskeleton isn't going to hold up as well as some feathers and foam. Another reason to go artificial is the presentation, yes you have the right chemical signature given that the grasshopper was alive, but i feel your compromising the visual aspect if your fishing. Since panfish and bass depend heavily on their vision and lateral line for the detection of prey, you would be better off focusing on the presentation of your bait to the fish. Try both, see what works best and let me know, I'm very interested in the results of this little experiment. Good Luck!