We’ve had a spate of competitions lately with people getting way serious about results.I,personaly think that flyfishing isn’t a competitive sport,but to each his own I guess.Just wanted to know if you guys also have a similar thing and get some thoughts on the matter.
Adam
Hi Adam,
The competion is primarily between the
fish and I. It’s not important to me which
of us wins as long as we get to play the
game. Warm regards, Jim
hey Adam,
Personally, fishing is a contemplative activity; at once introspective and extroverting.
When competition enters the picture fishing instantly takes a back seat to the competitive spirit. One can compete with cards, cars, pool cues, balls of various sorts, or fishing poles. But the tools are secondary to the competition that drives the activity.
So its not the tournaments per se, its the competition. I simply do not want to mix my angling with competition. Not even “friendly” competition with whoever I am fishing with.
That’s my humble opinion.
RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:9bc21]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:9bc21]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com
Robin, Well said & I, for one, agree completely!
Mike
I stopped fishing with a guy because he was always competing, counting fish, comparing his fish to mine. it was extremely annoying.
I don’t like to mix a competitive attitude into my fishing at all. I don’t count fish, I don’t keep track of how many my fishing partner has caught, I don’t get jealous if he or she is catching more than I am. I fish for fun, not for one-upsmanship.
Personally, I would hate to see fly fishing develop a tournament scene like bass fishing has. 200 to 300 anglers converging on a stream or lake can really put a bunch of pressure on the fishery for a while and gives it a lot of attention that can attract a lot of other fishermen to an otherwise semi private lake or stream. The local fishermen usually curse the tournament crowd invading their honey hole. And in my opinion, the tournament crowd is usually a cut above most fishermen. Those guys are plunking down some hard earned cash to compete and most of them at least think and usually are good enough to expect to get some of it back. Their are always exceptions of course. Many of these guys can really “whack” the fish.
With fishing and hunting, we, as consumers of wildlife have the same dilemma. On the one hand we need large numbers of sportsmen buying licenses and spending money on fishing and hunting related services so we can influence outdoor related legislation and finance stream and lake maintenance such as boat ramps, stocking programs and habitat improvement. On the other hand, not too many of us want the “hords”, whether they be tournament anglers or weekend warriors invading our own semi-private honey holes. Therein lies the dilemma. Particularly with tournament fishing. Tournament fishing, regardless of whether you like it or not attracts a bunch of folks to the fishing world that vote, spend money, and influence game and fish departments. We need the numbers but we hate the numbers. It’s a love/hate relationship.
Personally I enjoy the tournament scene from time to time and I also enjoy solitude. I can and do go both ways. To each his own I say. If you don’t like it, don’t participate and don’t watch it on TV. In my opinion, the chance of competitive fly fishing ever hitting the big time is almost zero because most of the flyfishermen I believe are of the same mindset as Jim Hatch, Okiebass and Ohiotuber. I think flyfishers that think like me are way, way in the minority.
If fly fishing tournaments did take off in an area close to me, I’d probably join in. I fish by myself most of the time but I also fish with fish counters, guys that want to beat me all the time, and guys that are very humble and just want to have a good day on the lake and want me to do the same. I prefer to fish with the latter but I get a kick out of the former type too. I just can’t take too much of them in large doses. I say enjoy it either way. It’s all just fishin’ and it’s supposed to be fun and if you like the tournaments, go for it and if not, don’t do it.
Robert
I disagree! I compete every cast, and so do you. each time you and I try to do it better, trying to make the perfict cast, ty the perfict fly. When we at the office fish together we have a traveling trophy and beleave me you don’t want it on your door at work for the world to see! Show me a good loozzzer and I will show you a consistant loozzzer. I love to compete! and I hate to loozzze!!
Rich
well said Robert,
I have no problem with the tournaments as long as they aren’t hassling me and my fishing and truth is we do need the numbers in our ranks to back us up at election time.
I just personally avoid it like the plague and take comfort that that big money will hopefully help protect fishing overall.
RRhyne56
[url=http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com:1ad7d]http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com[/url:1ad7d]
IM = robinrhyne@hotmail.com
One of the reasons I got into fly-fishing was because I was fed up with tournament bassers’ attitude. I used to fish tournaments using all the latest “bubba” gear" and it was becoming more and more stressful as the boats got bigger and the cutthroat competition interferred with the fun. When I started fly-fishing without the competition it brought back all the warm fuzzies that attracted me to fishing in the first place. Now I still compete hard, but only within myself to catch fish and I log every fish I catch over a certain size to help me get better at it, but tournament flyfishing – I hope it stays away forever!
Tournment “flyfishing”?? NO. Not why I flyfish. 'Nuff said.
Donald
It is not ssomething that would work for me. A tournement is something that measures you doing a task better, like hitting a ball further, getting more bullets closer to the center of a target etc. For me fishing would be a competition to relax more than the next guy, to meditate harder than my oponent to improve my presentation more than my competitor improves his and to enjooy the surroundings better than anyone else. Hmmmm it doesn’t seem to fit. Maybe its because I don’t fish to get the most or the biggest fish. If I change my reason for fishing I might see the logic of a competition.
jed
J.C., if you compare fly fishing to sex, as the saying goes, you’re doing one of them wrong… 
every year i host a striped bass tournament that is really an anti tournament. the prize for the biggest bass has been: first year–one of those horses ass trophys, painted with stripes, and on the plaque it said “biggest ass”. second year: a gold zipper mounted on a plaque which read “the golden fly” third year: an athletic cup, painted gold and mounted on a wooden base with the plaque, “the golden cup” Still working on this year’s gag trophy…
I don’t care for fly fishing competitions at all. Those I’ve seen relied far too heavily on luck. I have never even counted fish when I go out. It does not matter to me at all.
Casting competitions on the other hand I enjoy watching and competing in. To be good a lot of skills, practice and study are involved. I liken it to any other sport where you compete against others. Many enjoy sitting on the couch watching over-payed ‘super stars’ show-boat. I fall in the ‘doer’ catagory.
Besides, developing a good cast is something you can put to practical use on-stream.
I gotta admit that I’ve fished a couple of competions(and won a few,if you can stand a little bragging)but it just got to me eventually.It got to a stage where guys were paying the local people(who’ll do almost anything for a quick buck)to throw rocks into the swim their competitors were fishing.Now I just think that competion has the potential to bring out the absolute worst in humans.Also the judging became wierd,in one instance the content and layout of your fly box was used to add or subtract from your score.Needless to say that the rich guys who could afford to buy immaculate flies did very well!One tonsil actually went to the length of ordering a full compliment of Rene Harrops’ flies,at what cost I shudder to think!Oh well whatever floats your boat I suppose.
I wouldn’t be against tournament fishing if they:
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designed specialty lakes used only by the tournament fishers. Like stadiums for the pro football players, etc. so our regular bodies of water would be left unscathed.
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designed floating bleachers where we neophite fans could, for a price, be floated into certain shallows and other structure so we could cheer for these two-second fights with a little
ol’ bass. -
that their cheerleaders be dressed for the ocassion, in non-wader material. Go, BASS, Go!!!
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that certain rules would pertain, with appropriate penalties. Say one of the decal boys is found scentin’ when he should be spittin’, then the ref gets to a) bang a canoe paddle against something metalic in the water for a minor offense; b) sling a heavy weight into the prime lillypads being fished for something more major; or c) pull the plug on the boat for something God might pull a marker out for.
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deducted from the prize money a mortality fee.
If they’re going to have tournament fishing, then it should be done right.
Let me go about this from a different angle (no pun intended):
The idea of fish for “pure sport” is some what of a new idea. Originally to fish ment to procure fish for your family, clan, or village. To those that could do this skill better than others it ment that they would be in no fear of starving. If you turned back a fish you must have been considered insane, and if you fished out a stream it was time to find a new stream. To land a fish quickly ment that you have secured meat and you can then return to securing more meat. Those people that could hunt and gather more effeciently survived those who didn’t died out. We are of the survivors lineage. So competition in fishing is in our “genes” so to speak.
Fast forward to todays BASS tourneys. The fastest boat gets to the “honey hole” quicker. Landing a bass faster means more time to fish. The more fish a person lands means more money made. More money made means that your family won’t starve or at the very least you pay for your gas money. It’s basically the same idea as what our ancestors had.
Somewhere along the lines money replaced fish as a form of improving a persons livelihood. This without question must have been the idea of a person that couldn’t fish very well.
Mike B
Mike B,
That’s a very interesting take on the evolution of tournament fishing. I think only a madman like me, or maybe you, however can truly appreciate your genius.
On another subject and now that you’re on this thread, I sent you an email not long ago that I don’t think you received asking if you would consider sending me some samples of your spoon and spinner flies. I insist on paying for both them and the shipping if you would be so kind as to send them to me. I’ve seen the photos and they look like they would interest some finny creatures around here. Thanks for considering my request. Send me an email if you can. Robert