I agree with both points of view -- a time and a place for everything and every technique. More times than not...the fish will be in tight, especially at night. HOWEVER, I know of lots of spots that hold fish -- day and night -- that require a long cast to get at them. Another value to distance casting is that you don't always have to pitch your offering at 12 o'clock, a long cast to 9 o'clock or 4 o'clock can allow you to work a lot of productive territory -- assuming there aren't any anglers to your left or right.
