Fly fishers are a breed apart. While known to become quite gregarious around a tying table at a conclave or tackle show, most of the time they more closely represent Willy Nelson’s cowboys -- even when they’re on a crowded stream or stillwater, they’re alone. It’s the nature of the beast -- the nature of the sport.
Long-rodders also tend to jealously guard their precious aquatic environments and the finned denizens therein, for they want conditions to remain pure and pristine. Unfortunately, over the past few decades most of us who have grown long in the tooth have seen too many of our former haunts become turnpikes and flowing goo. Many governmental powers that be -- local or otherwise -- appear more content with total drainage and flood prevention than preserving controlled season-long flows. Such oversights and escapades have caused long-time and new-born fly fishers to develop mental calluses, rendering them a rather sceptical lot. Consequently, many are more likely to seek an early morning tee-off rather than travel hundreds of miles in order to find a single day of decent fishing.
This leads us to the National Fly Fishing Championships, a concept initially scorned by many until the big picture unfurls. They often question where it will end? Are we now going to turn the genteel art of fly fishing into something similar to those big bucks bass derbies? Why should we ever support something like that? You should for the simple reason that this is not what the NFFC is all about.
Whenever the Olympics are in full swing, the world stops and commerce all but grinds to a halt as skilled athletes from around the world compete to determine which ones will represent their country on the medals podium. The Olympic ideal was used as a basis while forming the Confederation Internationale de la Peche Sportive (International Confederation of Sport Fishing) in Europe in 1952. World Fly Fishing Championships were held from 1980 until 1989, with Fly Fishing Canada fielding its first team in 1987. Thanks in great part to the involvement of FFC, the Federation Internationale de la Peche Sportive en Mouche (International Federation of Sport Fly Fishing) was established in 1990. Now, after 16 years of Canadian teams being comprised of volunteers who submitted applications to a panel of judges, members are determined through national competitions.
Despite the popularity of competitive fly fishing elsewhere in the world, and recognition of the WFFC as being similar to the Olympics, it remains relatively unknown to Canadian anglers. While much of the pomp, ceremony and glamour involved with spectator sports may be lacking, the feeling of a personal best and having been there remains a memorable lifetime experience that can be shared with relatives, friends and acquaintances in your hometown.
There’s another side to this competition that bears close scrutiny. The event is properly called the Fly Fishing Canada National Fly Fishing Championships and Conservation Symposium. It’s that last part -- Conservation Symposium -- which deserves the attention of anyone who initially questions the concept of fly fishers actually competing with one another rather than with the fish. The trend throughout Canada and other countries is for waters to gradually degrade or disappear for reasons that range from cattle incursions to bulldozer blades to pavement. Far too many of us bemoan such losses, then simply travel longer distances to find as yet unspoiled waters. However, wouldn’t it be great to just nip out for an evening’s fishing whenever the urge occurs, to a place where you don’t know the name of the each individual pet trout in Borrow Pit 25?
When Fly Fishing Canada became our representative at FIPS-Mouche, the world body that oversees the WFFC, those events soon evolved from catch-and-keep body counts to strict catch-and-release. Since then, only those venues that could boast a true story of conservation, which actively added to the world scope, either by preserving water, creating new waters, or regaining control over their resources, could qualify to host an event. The same precepts now extend to the Canadian competitions. Not only will this stimulate deepened interest at a community level from increased economic activity, the annual change of venues will provide a focus on your area, your streams, and your lakes. This will make it much easier to preserve and protect existing waters, and draw attention to those that might require rehabilitation. Those who work long, hard hours on conservation and rehabilitation projects may be pleasantly surprised to discover politicians and industry lining up to get involved. Under media scrutiny, environmentally-friendly images can be promoted, and money can usually be found to fund various projects. Commerce is delighted to associate their name with clean water, pure environments and nature. As one example, closely examine the recent trend in automotive advertising.
When provided with the facts, local businesses are often happy to sponsor individuals to compete at such events, whether national or international, where they represent their local communities as well as their country.
The Conservation Symposium at the recent competiton in Manitoba, was a glowing example to all in the industry and sport -- one that can be applied in every corner of the country where rivers run and waves lap on the shorelines of natural lakes and impoundments. The Manitoba Parkland experience was designed to be the legacy template for all long-rodders to take home and apply. Not only did they learn how to preserve their hallowed haunts, they also discovered how to enhance them, add other waters, and create positive results much closer to home. Unlike those competition for money events, we use our resources and competition spotlight to regain or add angling opportunities for everyone to enjoy well into the future.
This is the side of the NFFC that some tend to overlook when the call for entries goes forth. You are not asked to contribute millions or donate to some institution with a bloated administrative component. Rather, you plunk down your entry fee, travel to a trout-fishing paradise, visit with friends new and old, learn new tying and angling techniques, and spend a few days fishing on some of the world’s most trout-rich waters. The next year you may find yourself part of the welcoming committee as guys and gals gather to share and experience your own swamps and swirls.
(Editor’s note: Boby Sheedy is the author of Bob Sheedy’s Lake Fly Fishing Strategies, and helped to promote the national championships when they were held, to great acclaim, in Manitoba. For more information on his writing, go to: www.mwflyfishing.net )
