Eggers you don't say where you are fishing the fish-off or your preferred method of flies, so hard to say, i'd assume it will take place in March ? (as most fish-offs occur around then) small black or brown buzzers should be around in March, so i'd go with those, However (depending on what i see on the day) it could all change. I won my fish-off in around an hour and had to stop fishing, was a long 6 or 7 hour wait to see if i had the heaviest bag.

Oakham is correct about Whacky races at the Final. I fished in the Troutmasters final last year, for the first time, should you get that far my advice is this, "relax and enjoy yourself" it's a good day, and Trout Fisherman pay for it, get a walk round Grafham at least the day before the final, speak to the Bailiffs and anyone fishing, ask them what's doing well, try to pick out a few nice bank spots.

In my opinion you want to draw the bank in the morning session as it's where most competitors in the final fail, i drew the boat morning session, and had a couple of fish. With that many anglers fluff chucking in the morning, fish may tend to be spooked and move further out making afternoon bank fishing imho harder, you could however head for the dam wall and fish very deep and hope to pick up one or two.

I have no idea if you'll need to use trailing boobies or the bung, (not my type of fishing), but whatever floats your boat, buzzers should be plentiful around that time, and a team of buzzers and nymphs will normally take a fish or three, as an aside i have never seen buzzers as large as i did at Grafham last year, they were huge !!.

My only gripe with the final was, rules state when bank fishing, you should be able to see daylight between your legs, only a couple (including myself) adhered to that rule, everyone else was wading chest deep in chest waders, and the marshalls did nothing about that.

Some people will go to any lengths to win/score points/prizes, fortunately i'm not that desperate.

Like yourself i only fish for fun escapism, and relaxation, Just try to relax and enjoy it, good luck in your fish-off.

Best regards
Jim

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Tanta Stultitia Mortalium Est

"rules state when bank fishing, you should be able to see daylight between your legs,"

that will be crates ladders etc req too lol

Pete

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Thanks to all who donated to 999 comp 2011
New rainbow PB 22 lbs Bangour 23/10/2011

@ campsiefisher

The water is Rib Valley in Hertfordshire, I only got started regularly fly Fishing last year, having been a few times with my dad when I was younger.. So up till now have been mainly pulling lures / single bloodworm erc ... But have been reading lots and trying out more adventurous multi fly rigs ( eg washing line ) tried a sight indicator once but it's not for me (although ironically I did false hook a fish after it tried to eat the indicator!).. Yet to catch on buzzers, but intend to put a few more visits in between now and march so hopefully can get a bite or two!

I have qualified for this yearsb final but have not heard anything regarding it. Should i have heard by now ????

Yeah u shud have heard all the final arangments and returned ur confirmation slip bk

Does anyone know who i should contact please???

pm sent ,it gives the number

I managed to land a go at this Troutmasters lark this year - in a couple of weeks - and have got the paperwork etc., but don't find it very descriptive of what the format is. I visited Grafham for the first time last week and did a bit of fishing off the dam, but I'd welcome any advice either on the format or on the fishing. I looking forward to it, if only to be a part of the event and meet a few other flyfishermen. It'd be nice to catch something of course, which I hope to, but without some help I've no clue where to start on such a massive expanse of water. I usually fish on around 3acres, not 1,500acres!!