Good article I thought and worth reading, even if you are not a comp angler, hence reason I have posted here rather than comp section.

Hits the stockie well and truly on the head.

One point though, roly-poly is banned not because of the retrieve style itself, more the fact that rod is not held in hand whilst retrieving.

That said, I still think it's a crock that you can't use it in some comps like national qualifiers, national and internationals, yet many other high profile events such as the Lexus and the AWAI do allow it. This rule needs to be looked at, as well as a few others.

Anyone who wants to now come on and knock comp anglers/fishing, think before you post, if it wasn't for us, the sport would still be in the dark ages.

Comp anglers have developed/enhanced the flees and methods you are using today on our rivers and stillwaters, you should be thanking us, not berating us.

Pip pip!

The Pirate.

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I dont feel any need to berrate nor THANK comp anglers. There would still be fishing today without them, so I find it rather strange that I keep seeing comments (normally from Comp anglers) to the effect that they are the saviours of fishing-

Oh this could get interesting ........

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Hardy/Greys. Fulling Mill.

Indeed, give me two minutes to get settled in.........








Ben

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Guilty as charged, if it wasn't for us and the revenue we generate, as well as the time, effort and ingenuity we put into flees and methods, you would not have any where near the fisheries you have at the moment, or said flees and methods.

The Pirate.

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CLASSIC!!!!!!! Ha Ha!!!

---------- Post added at 01:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:01 PM ----------

Would love to see you 'rolly polly' the 'only' method you can fish Stewie.... 'Allegedly'....

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Top ten finish at Brenig mate and not a bung in sight

The Pirate.

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http://www.flyforums.co.uk/fly-lines...unkistbob.html

The Pirate is largely correct.

Comp anglers have driven a good amount of tackle design forward.

Whilst this may not be plain to see in areas such as stream and river fishing, it is in other areas.

Cartridge style reels, sinking lines, midge-tips - much of this has benefitted from input from comp anglers.

Fly design is another.

It is very easy to knock comp anglers as mindless blob-bashers but this is far, far from the truth.

Put simply, you do not get to be a top angler without a full repertoire of skills to hand and knowing your quarry intimately. This, inevitably trickles down to other methods and styles of fishing.


This is not to say that Comp Anglers are the utter saviour of fly fishing in general, but they have had a large hand in where we are today.

As an example, many reservoirs would not be able to operate as fisheries were it not for the financial backing of comp anglers both competing AND practicing.




This is almost the same as saying the compitition surfing has done nothing for the sport of surfing - just about all sports benefit massively from the competative side of things.


The logic is largely irrefutable.


Should you wish to champion their pursuit or applaud them is down to the individual concerned but, likewise, you cannot knock them without understanding the benefits they bring to the sport.



Ben

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Good post Ben, although comp anglers have been instrumental in modern river techniques and flees also.

Look at Czech/French nymphing for example, also fishing the braid with heavy nymphs.

The Pirate.

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Fair point. I dont like Formula One but I like the better brakes on my car.

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