Competition Fly Fishing – My First Comp — Shane Broadby

COMPETITION FLY FISHING

Regular Fly Tying writer for Tasmanian Fishing and Boating news, Shane Broadby tries a new side of fly fishing and learns a lot.

Iwas having a conversation with Mark Youngman, recently, I knew Mark was a member of Fly Fish Australia and I mentioned to him that I had been been thinking of joining for a while and giving a local fly fishing comp a go. Mark said go for it, you get to fish with, and learn from, some of the very best fly fishers in Australia. So I took the plunge, joined FFA and very soon found myself nervously preparing my gear on the shores of Arthurs and Woods Lake for a two day boat based loch style comp.

I need not have been nervous as I was made very welcome by everyone in a very friendly atmosphere. I was given advice by another competitor to just treat it like another day’s fishing, and that’s exactly how I handled it, but there were a few differences!

Starting and finishing times were very precise, boats launched with two anglers 15 minutes before starting time and made their way to the selected fishing area. This was selected by the boat driver who had the first choice for half the session on where to fish. Any fish caught were measured on the measuring board to the mm, with the length agreed on by both anglers. The details were recorded on a score sheet issued to each person and then signed by both anglers at the end of the session.

Fishing sessions were of three hour duration with two sessions a day, punctuated by a lunch break. Each angler getting half the session to choose where they fished. That said though there was a good bit of mutual agreeance between anglers. Each angler gets a new boat partner each session.

First casts were made right on starting time and then it’s really business as usual until the end of the three hour session when everyone stops fishing at the stated time.

I learned some great tips during the two days from some very good fly fishers. I noticed that tackle and rig preparation was very important pre the first session, and during lunch. Bites of a sandwich and a sip of tea or coffee was quickly taken between rigging up leaders and tippets and selecting flies. Fishing time is too valuable during a comp to waste it by rigging up when it can be done prior to the actual fishing time.

Rigging Foams

One very good and well known angler that I was partnered with had a great idea that I will be taking on. Glenn was making up his rigs complete and ready to fish; nymph, loch style or whatever was completed with flies attached and then wound on to short pieces of pool noodle, with the flies stuck into the foam.

This method makes it very quick and easy to change rigs when depth, changing lines or methods. This is especially so when leader butts are used in conjunction with a 2mm tippet ring. Just tie the premade rig to the tippet ring and you are ready to go.

Barbless Hooks

Barbless hooks or crushed barbs are the way to go, everyone agreed that the hook up rate and better penetration are far easier and reliable than hook ups with barbed hooks. Having caught a few on barbless now, I’m converted, plus its damn easier to pull a barbless hook from clothing or your own skin!

The Hang

Comp anglers are also pedantic about fishing ‘the hang’ when fishing wets then dabbling the top dropper, while raising the rod, on the surface before recasting, every cast must end in a ‘hang’. It can be the difference between a blank session or getting on the board. I’ve learnt to do this religiously now.

Fish until the end

Never give up. Fish the session out to the last second, you should be just as keen in the last ten minutes of the three hour session as you are in the first ten minutes of the session, the trout don’t worry about time, only humans do. There is nothing surer than the second you lose concentration, a fish will take your fly. The next competition is a river event with a whole different array of tricks and methods to take in. I’ve, got a lot more to learn. Competition fly fishing is different but it’s fun, give it a go I reckon!

For more information about competition fly fishing contact Mark Youngman: 0419 177 706. Shane Broadby

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