TroutLegend

As the TroutLegend Premier Fly Fishing League builds a foundation for competitive fly fishing in North America it is often beneficial to look “Across the Pond” to our European counterparts who have been at it for decades. Robbie Bell is an accomplished English competitor and guide who would have placed in the top 50 in the 2010/2011 Ranking Cycle based on his finish at the 2011 Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship if he were a North American resident. In this interview Robbie gives us a unique look inside the rich history of European Competitive Fly Fishing and offers some perspectives from a different angle.

Hamann: Robbie, just wanted to thank you out right for being a great source of sage advice and friend to the League over the last few years. If you don’t mind, let’s jump right in. Take us way back if you will to the origins of competitive fly fishing in England? How old is the sport really? Are there origins even older in neighboring countries?

Bell: I would at the outset like to thank you for inviting me on here as it is a great honor for me to follow in the footsteps of all these fantastic anglers.

Well now I suspect the origins of Competition Fly Fishing in England would be at the same time as in the rest of the world. That would be the first time two anglers were on the same piece of water! Being a bit more serious the origins of competition fishing will be lost in the mists of time. There would almost certainly be competitions amongst members of Clubs and Angling Associations or just groups of friends that have long since disappeared.

I am very proud to be a member of the Ellem Fishing Club which is recognized as the Oldest Fishing Club in the World and they held their first Competition in 1829. However it is only in recent years that it became “Fly Only” as up until then most fish were caught on a fly rod but using the “Upstream Worm” technique.

The oldest National Fly Fishing Championships first took place on the 1st of July 1880 on Loch Leven in Scotland. Members from seven Scottish Clubs took part. A Mr. McGregor was the first winner and the famous PD Malloch caught the heaviest fish at 2 lb. 51/2 oz.

Hamann: When would you say we entered the “modern age” of competitive fly fishing globally?

Bell: Well the first International Competition took place between England and Scotland in 1928 and in 1932 Wales and Ireland joined in.

The early Internationals were always held on Loch Leven and such was the prestige of the Competition that England’s first Captain was to be HRH the Duke of York. However state business forced him to relinquish that post and W.H. McCreath became England’s first Captain. He was from my hometown of Berwick on Tweed and it is maybe of some interest that his son H.G. McCreath is currently the President of the Ellem Club having been a member of the club for 78 years!

However, the first Fips Mouche World Championships in Fly-Fishing took place on the 3rd of October 1981 and was held Lake Echternach in Luxembourg. The winners were the B team from Holland with Luxembourg A and Belgium A in second and third place. Obviously the event has grown from then to the event we see now.

Most likely one of the major turning points was in 1990 when the World Championships were held in Wales. This year was probably when modern techniques and flies really kicked in. The Polish team blew the field away with their “Rolled Nymph “ technique. I believe it still really grates them that this method is now almost universally known as Czech Nymphing.

Hamann: This is a 2 part question. Could you first take us, in detail, through the architecture of English Competitive Fly Fishing? From small weekend clubs to how your National Teams are chosen and organized?

Bell: Well there is a major difference between the English system and the Scottish system for Loch Style. I live on the border between England and Scotland and have fished in both systems.

In Scotland you have to be a member of an Affiliated Club and then to finish in the top 3 in that club to enter the National Championships which consist of heats, a semi-final and then the National Final.
At one time only the Club Champion was allowed to enter and a club might have as many as 20 outings during the season to decide the champion who could enter the National the following year!

In Scotland the top 18 anglers will then go forward to the Home Internationals the following year where they will fish in either the Spring or Autumn International against England, Wales and Ireland.

In England there is not so much of a club system and anyone can enter the regional eliminators where a proportion will progress to the National Final. The exact number is determined by the number of entrants to the individual regionals and the total number of entrants to all the regionals. We normally have 100 in the English National Loch Style Final and the top 28 will qualify for the two Home Internationals of the following year. There are 14 in each team.
At one time only the top 20 qualified and the top four anglers were carried over from each of the previous Home international.

Scotland still has a carry over system to make up the 28 needed for the following year.

For our Rivers Home Internationals both Scotland and England have similar regional competitions with a pro rata qualification to the National Finals where the top five anglers make up the National Teams. You still need to be in a club in Scotland and some have eliminators to enter their regionals

For the World Championships the systems are again different.

In Scotland another governing body is responsible for these teams and they have recently set up a league system where the top anglers from the 1st Division make up the World team. There is also a promotion and relegation format between the 1st and 2nd Division.
There are around five competitions a year in these leagues.

In England the World Championship Team is picked behind closed doors and this inevitably leads to discontent. There was a system where English results are put into a “League Table” but this was only used as a guide. When England won the World Championship in Scotland in 2009 it was not the top five who were in the team although it was some of them. However this did cause a lot of grief as some anglers were denied a realistic chance of becoming World Champion. Nowadays the league table has disappeared from the website and I can only assume that the team is totally picked by a committee. Although I am sure they will still have access to all the results. Now it is not my place to recommend how anyone chose their World Teams but I do know that any system that is not based solely on results (matters of discipline excepted) will cause resentment. This can lead to politics and splits and Scotland now has two separate Governing Bodies for Competitions which is in no ones interest.

The Stillwater Bank Internationals are a recent addition to our competition scene. The English National Championships started about 20 years ago and before they were granted International status they were a revenue generator so multiple entries to the regional qualifiers are allowed. The top six in the National Finals now make up the teams for the Home Internationals.

The whole system as you can see is a bit of a mish-mash but it is just the way it has grown organically.

Czech System.

My good friend Milan Hladik has supplied me with this information and I have condensed it down to give the gist of it. Some of the forum members will know Milan from the Czech Nymph Masterclass where he is now the principal organizer. He was also the Chief Organizer for the European Championships in 2011.

The Czech system is run over a two year cycle and there are first and second divisions with a promotion and relegation system.

Points are awarded with regard to the prestige of the competition and the number of entrants.

Winning the world Championship would give you 50 points 2nd 49 points 3rd 48 points and so on.

Winning the European Championships would give you 50 points. 2nd 49 points 3rd 48 points and so on.

A First Division competition win would be 30 points and second division 24 points with pro rata points for the lower positions.

Open competitions get 30 points for the winner if more than 40 entrants and 25 points if more than 30 entrants.

An interesting point is that competitions in other countries also count and some of the Czech Anglers are regulars in John Horsey’s Lexus competition where good points are available.

A running total is kept on a Czech website and an anglers best seven results are counted.

Around 190 points are usually needed at the end of the year to qualify in the top 14 anglers who go forward to another set of competitions in the following year.

This is a set of 5 competitions which reflect the upcoming World Championships with a balance of river and lake sessions.

After these the scores from these 5 competitions together with the previous years points are added together.

The first three positions are guaranteed entry into the World Championships and the next three almost always make up the team and the reserve. The next six competitors make up the second team and take part in the European Championships. The Team Coach does have some discretion to make minor changes between these two teams with regard to specific venues but this is seldom if ever used

This is a pretty comprehensive system but it is open and transparent and so there are no arguments and anglers have to be consistent over a two year period to make the teams.

All the Czech Competitions follow a strict set of rules. They are mainly Fips Mouche or an adaptation but could be something like British Loch Style rules. For the more serious competitions they will have controllers but many of them will be angler controlled.

River competitions are on fixed beats but they often sacrifice time to increase rotation with some sessions as little as an hour. This will help even out the luck of the draw.

Hamann: If you are able, can you give us a sense of how the English National teams are financed? Is there any funding from the government?

Bell: There is little if any government funding for the teams.

The various nationalities rely on entry fees as their primary source of income and sometimes there is some sponsorship money but not often. Some companies will offer the teams goods or a discount but that is generally it.

There has recently been some movement for the teams to organize some fundraising themselves. Particularly by the Scots. They have been organizing some Bank Fishing Competitions through the winter which are open to everyone and members of the teams come along to support it.

I personally think this is the way forward.
Any government funding is someone else’s tax bill…………

It would be easy for the Angling Bodies to draw up blueprints for small groups of team members who are local to each other to organize fund raising with competition and or tuition days.

Hamann: What would you say are the strengths and weaknesses of your national competitors and organizing body?

Bell: With regard to the organizing bodies I think some of my answers above will point out the weaknesses.

Of course the vast majority of officials are unpaid volunteers and I respect that. However that does not preclude things from being done better. Entries for national competitions in England are declining and are probably half of what they were 20 years ago. There are almost certainly a number of reasons for this but in England one of them may be the lack of a totally clear route to the World Championships.

I also think it is becoming harder and harder to qualify for even our Home Internationals. Even though numbers are declining every one has access to the internet with all the information and videos etc. There are literally hundreds of Guides and Instructors in the country these days. Many people will have more disposable income so the technical developments in rod and line technology are open to almost everyone. Magazines have all the latest techniques and flies and these flies are quickly brought to market by top companies like Fulling Mill and Highland Flies. You can fish to a very high standard these day without ever having tied a fly!

I think the strength of our competitors is the long history and tradition of Competition Angling particularly in Loch Style.
I think one of the weaknesses is that we had our first full Fips Mouche competition in 2010 apart from when the World Championships were here.

Also our River Internationals only go back to 1992. The qualifiers and National Final for these are also held on a roving basis rather than a beat basis which probably stops us from progressing in river techniques which dominate the World Championships.

I have some sympathy with this method as we are only allowed one shot at qualifying for the final and it is a one day fishing final so you do not wish to be hamstrung from the outset by a bad draw.

Hamann: Is fishing access an issue in England? Or would you say there are ample river and lake opportunities available to anyone.

Bell: Yes and No is the answer to that one.

We have probably the best Lake organization of anywhere in the world. Places like Rutland and Grafham have 50+ identical boats and engines with all the facilities that go with them. There are also plenty of smaller venues throughout the country with more than 10 boats on them.

Scotland has the Lake of Menteith with a fleet of 30 boats and again there are also many other smaller venues with boats.

There are also numerous small water venues where bank angling takes place. This is the biggest part of fly-fishing in the UK now and there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. It can be easy on a stocking day but these fish may see tens of thousands of flies in a week! They soon wise up.

Access to Trout fishing on Rivers whilst different to North America is easy and reasonably priced in the North of England and Scotland.

However it is generally limited and expensive in the South of England.

Salmon Fishing in Scotland can be ridiculously expensive but can be obtained more reasonably in the smaller and less well known rivers.

Hamann: What about wild vs. stocked trout venues in your country? Would you say the primary venue might be a stocked, “put & take” lake situation? What is your personal preference and how do you think the norm in your country affects your anglers progression?

Bell: Well as I have said the vast majority of fly fishers in this country now use small put and take fisheries. It is not hard to see why. Everything is put on a plate for you. Easy and safe parking, a log book with flies and methods that are working, friendly staff, refreshments and meals available. You can fish with friends and easily make friends amongst the regulars and you have the opportunity to watch and learn from other anglers.

With regard to an anglers progression then it is a fact that a very large percentage of our anglers start on these small waters and never get past them. However many of the venues do have competitions such as Winter Leagues and Charity Events and this does encourage those who are minded to move on.

Personally I like all fly fishing. In fact I love all fly fishing!

The best fishing of all for me is good wild river fishing but as we all know rivers can be very cyclical, unpredictable and often inconsistent.

Stillwaters as a general rule are more consistent and as you get older boats with a good seat become ever more appealing! A good box for sitting on a bank comes a close second……..

Hamann: It’s no secret. English competitors are very proficient lake fisherman. There is no doubt a well rounded competitive angler must be both proficient at lakes and rivers. What would you say are some of the conceptual differences an angler must adopt when transitioning from being a river angler to both? And what do you love about the Stillwater sport?

Bell: Most of my Stillwater fishing is for stocked rainbow trout and that is the case for the vast majority of stillwater competitions in this country.

With that in mind I think for a start you need the right tools for the job.

It has taken up until the last few years for North Americans to embrace our longer rods both in Salmon fishing as well as Trout fishing. I personally think that 10 foot 8 weights are the tool for the job. It is what Iain Barr uses…….and it is what I used in Canada last year.

Within reason there is nothing you can do with a 6 weight that you cannot do with an 8 weight but it does not work the other way around.

If you cannot get your point fly 35 yards away with only a couple of false casts you are already behind the 8 ball. I was going to say LBW but only a few will understand that as it is a cricket term!

Casting Distance is one of the keys to successful Stillwater angling be it bank or boat.

I often see a lot of girls rods talked about on Trout Legend. Get yourselves some proper mans rods!………. J

In all seriousness you do need at least a 10 foot 7 weight and around 15 lines or more.
Preferably 3 identical rods and 3 identical reels to go with them for bank fishing competitions

I also think that at times Rivers are easy to read.

You know where the fish are going to be, well at least some of them.

In still waters they could me anywhere and in stocked Stillwaters in some places and not in others.

I would probably think that Stillwater fishing is to a larger extent more of a three dimensional game than rivers.
Not always but generally more.

It is also often about the decisions you make rather than out and out ability. Of course good anglers will be more consistent but information about where and how can really level the playing field or tilt it in your favour.

Iain Barr may arguably be the Worlds Best Competition Loch Style Angler but most anglers on our competition circuit will have beaten him on the odd occasion. Even me!

Hamann: How has the culture of competitive fly fishing shaped the evolution of gear offered in Europe and vice versa?

Bell: Well I think it the same as in other fields. Motor racing has brought about things like ABS and traction control and competition fly-fishing has pushed the envelope of fishing tackle.

Companies like Airflo have brought about innovations like the Di-7 and 40+ plus lines.

Rod makers like Greys have brought in the11 foot 3 weight.

Leeda were the first company to bring in the cassette reel and many have followed suit.

I would think it fair to say that this has been in the most part from demand from competition anglers. Mind you that is not to say “recreational” anglers have not played their part.

I also think it probably works both ways. Things like the 11 foot 3 weight allow anyone to fish a long French leader easily.
Cassette reels allow quick and easy and cheap line changes for anyone.

Hamann: What are some your favorite European publications covering competitive fly fishing?

Bell: Well there are not really many magazines that extensively cover competitions these days. It used to be a big part of them many years ago but then virtually died out in print.

Up until recently even a National Final would not make the news section however it is coming back a little bit.

The best general magazine in the UK is Fly-Fishing and Fly-Tying. However for novices Trout Fisherman is good for at least a few years

Hamann: I know it’s a bit cliche, but what are your top 5 favorite lake patterns? What about your top 5 favorite lines?

I was a mentor for the USA team in the run up to the World Championships being held in Scotland in 2009.

I answered many e-mails from the team members and Lance Egan asked almost this very question.

This was my reply.

”Lance asks for my top five flies…..

That is an impossible question………..

Thanks Lance!……….Ha Ha

What I can do is give you my top five groups and then try an narrow those down to a few of my favourites.
The groups would be;
Boobies
Hopper/Daddies (UK Style)
Buzzers
Nymphs
Lures.

Now I know that covers almost everything except wet flies (I have some of those as well) but I could not envisage going out on a Loch without all of them.

One of the main things about Loch Style fishing is that you have an opponent in the boat with you. Obvious yes, but it does have consequences that a river session does not have.
Now I have to once again put in the proviso that I am not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs and as I do not know that much about all of you I would rather be blunt than miss something out.

Not easy for an Englishman…..
Good job I am half Scottish! J

So to get back to the point there you are in a boat and your partner, Iain Barr has just had 2 fish in 2 casts on a Pink Booby.
What do you do?
Well the only answer I know is to strap on a Pink Booby…… (and the same or nearest Fly line if you have it.)
What if you do not have one…..
Well you could ask him for one!
Knowing Iain as I do he would give you one but he would wait till he was 8-0 up!
The thing is that you cannot have 5 favorite flies and you cannot have even five favorite groups.

What you can have is a system.

You cannot have all the flies in all the colors and all the sizes………..and then have them all again with a red head!
So If we take Boobies, I have in my box most of the colors and the named boobies such as Cats Whisker and Viva Booby in size 10 and a few repeats in the favorite colors such as Peach and CW in size 12.
That way if my partner starts catching on Pink Booby even if it is a bit different to mine I can then put on something similar.
Now my system with nymphs is the same.
I take a few patterns such as Diawl Bach, Cruncher, PTN, Hares Ear, and I have them in different colors in 10 and 12 with a few 14‘s thrown in.
It is the same with Hoppers (UK) I will have around eight colors in 10 and 12 with a couple of them, say Black and Hares Ear in a 14 as well.
The same type of thing would apply to the other groups. What I am trying to achieve is to have a range of flies that will cover a range a scenarios including some thing similar to anything my boat partner puts on.

You cannot have everything but you need something for each of the ballparks.
Just as an insight I will list a few of my favorites in each group.

Boobies
Peaches and Cream
Pink Straggle Fritz
Cats Whisker
Cocktail Coral
Orange Fritz
Cormorant

Nymphs
Cruncher
Olive Cruncher
Black Cruncher
Diawl Bach
Red Headed Diawl Bach
Red Holographic DB

Buzzers
Black Buzzer 1
Black Buzzer 2
Black Buzzer 3
Olive Buzzer
Bloodworm

Hoppers/Daddies
Real Daddy (foam)
Black Hopper
Olive Hopper
H.E. Hopper
Orange Hopper

Lures
Cormorant
Red Bodied Cormorant
Pearl Bodied Cormorant
Cats Whisker
Viva

So Gentlemen there we are; the basis of a system that hopefully covers the fishes bases but also your boat partners bases.”

My current favourite lines are Fast Glass, Floater, Di5, Di3, and Di7

Hamann: Just as in the States with the conventional Bass circuit there is an in depth culture of competitive fishing not oriented around trout and the fly in England. Could you give us a snapshot of this world? What is Course Angling? Do you think these other divisions compliment or contradict competitive fly fishing and do you see many “crossovers” from sport to sport?

Bell: Well Coarse Angling is by far the biggest sector in fishing in England. Not Scotland though but it is increasing there.

Basically it is the catching of Coarse fish. These would be mainly Roach and Perch. Bream, Chub, Rudd, Gudgeon etc. In recent years Specialist Commercial Carp Fisheries have become increasingly popular. I suppose it is a bit like our small water fly-fishing in that everything is laid on and it is so convenient. In the south of England these fisheries are very popular and many a trout fishery has been converted to Carp. One of the reasons for that is that Carp are able to withstand the rigors of catch and release in the warmer temperatures of summer which trout are not.

Some of our best Fly Anglers started off as Coarse Fishermen. Indeed Brian Leadbetter who was the first man to win the Individual WFFC for a second time started as a coarse fisherman. I think some of the things they appreciate more than us is depths and presentation.

I do hear about a number of fishermen coming over to fly-fishing from the coarse world and this may be because fly-fishing is a more continually active form of the sport and suits the less patient angler!.

Hamann: In the States we have Army teams in other sports, but not yet Fly Fishing. Could you tell us a little about the British Army Fly Fishing Team?

Bell: Well it was all started by Andy Croucher who some of you will know. The Soldier Palmers is the organization for fly fishing in the British Army and this has been going for a good number of years. In 2005 when Andy was the Secretary he started thinking about having a trip abroad for some of the members. He found out that if there was a competition involved the Army Sports Lottery Fund would give the serving members a small subsidy. He then started looking around for a competition and came across the first website for the 2006 USA National Championships. So basically Andy blagged a place in the competition and the British Army team was born.
I think the organizer were glad to have us as perhaps we added an extra dimension to this competition which was in its inaugural year.

We must have behaved ourselves as we got invited back the next year. This is also when we met the Canadian Team and we got invited to their Championships as well but because of date clashes we were unable to take them up on the offer until 2010.

Hamann: You’ve signed on as a “hired gun” to two Canadian National Championship squads in recent years. Who did you fish with and can you share some of your experiences on the way to your Team Medal finishes?

Well I think Hired Gun is a bit strong but I will take it as a compliment………….. J

In 2010 we accepted the Canadians long standing invitation and our team consisted of Andy Croucher as Captain together with Graham Lumsden, Pete Mumford, Ronnie Christie and myself.

The competition was partly cancelled because of the wind but we had a fantastic time in the town of Roblin where everyone made us so welcome. We were lucky enough to win a Bronze Team Medal which was the icing on the cake. The end of term party was simply outstanding and I think we were the gold medal winners in the beer stakes.

By 2011 Andy and Graham had left the Army and Ronnie Christie was in Afghanistan so it was not possible to send a team over.

However one of the Canadians who was on my sector in 2010, David Forgeron told me his wife’s family was from Whitehaven in England and he might look me up when he was visiting in 2011.

So David came and stayed with me for a few days and I guided him for some River and Loch Style fishing. Over a couple of beers in the evenings he forced me into agreeing to return in the Autumn for the Championships in Quebec. I then contacted Randy Taylor to see if there was a place available and there was. Randy said I could fish as an individual and if a team was short of a man I could join them.

So I stayed with and practiced with David’s team the Dredgehogs but as it turned out one of Randy’s team accidentally eliminated himself by fishing a venue too close to the competition and so I took the slot in Equipe Airflo. As you will be aware the we won the Gold Medal but they would have still won it if I had been placed last in every session.

I was lucky enough to come second but quite rightly could not receive the Silver medal as I was only a guest. The Quebec experience was different from Manitoba but will always be one of the great memories in my fly-fishing life. I hope to get an invite back this year.. In 2011 was lucky enough to fish with Todd Oishi, John Nishi and Philip Short as well as Sunny Van Der Kloof but also to meet up with many people from the year before.

Hamann: What is your take on the Trout Legend League? How have you seen it evolve over the last 2 years and where do you think it can go?

Bell: I think the Trout Legend League and Forum is fantastic.
I think it is significantly responsible for propelling North American Fly-fishing into a position where it can seriously challenge for WFFC Team Medals in the near future.

I remember talking to Eddie Pinkston after the 2007 USA Nationals and he and I were of the same opinion that the USA would never win a team medal. This was not because of the ability of individual anglers but because of the lack of a National Competition structure.

We could both see brilliant American anglers around us but as they improved so did the anglers from other countries and we could not see the gap significantly closing. I think Trout Legend has changed this and I am sure Eddie would agree. A National structure is now emerging and your WFFC Team is now being pushed forward by hundreds of anglers and not just by a few well meaning and enthusiastic people.

I think Trout Legend will continue to grow and the only problem I can see coming is finding someone or some group to take over when you decide to pass on the reins.

Hamann: From “across the pond” can you offer some outside advice to the competitors and organizers on how we can improve our North American competitive scene, stock of anglers, and competitions?

The biggest problem the USA faces is the sheer size of the country. Canada has even more of a problem in that respect and a small relative population to boot. The way around that maybe to organize State competitions. I am sure the possibility of becoming Colorado, Montana or North Carolina Champion would have a great appeal. I think the next logical move would then be to have Interstate competitions between neighboring states.

I also think at entry level competitions keep the rules to a minimum.
Other than that just keep progressing the way you are.

Hamann: Recently there has been some discussion on whether the Trout Legend League should develop it’s own set of rules governing play or stick strictly to the Fips Mouche rule book. What are your thoughts on this matter?

Bell: Well to save some typing here is what I said on the thread at the time.

“In the UK up until a couple of years ago there were no competitions that were fished to Fips Mouche Rules.

Even now there isn‘t even a slack handful.

Now I am not trying to tell anyone how to run their competitions but would perhaps make these points.

At the lowest level of your competitions every single rule you have in place will reduce the numbers of anglers who enter.

At the top end of your competitions every deviation from Fips Mouche will make it just that bit harder for your representatives to step up to the world stage.”

I honestly believe that you must encourage newcomers both young and old into competition fishing and easy, relaxed competitions are the way to do that. The enthusiastic amongst them will move on to the more serious levels as full blown competitors and if that is not for them perhaps as controllers and officials but you have to get them in the first place.

Keep all your major competitions at or near full Fips Mouche regulations.

Hamann: Well thank you again for taking the time to do this interview. In closing could you leave us with some thoughts on what competitive fly fishing has meant in your angling life?

Bell: Well I did not get into fly-fishing until well into my thirties and competitions until my forties.

Fly-fishing and competition fly-fishing is now a major component of my life.

My wife Margaret says I have three loves in my life; Trout, Grayling and her and she is not sure of the order……………!

I just love it. I like the taking part and on the odd minor occasion the winning but the most important part is the people.

My best fishing friend was a person I met by being drawn in a boat with him for a Loch Style competition on Rutland which is 250 miles from where I live. I also treasure the people I have met in Canada the USA and Czech Republic. I cannot begin to imagine my life without fly-fishing and competitions are a major part of that.

A few of Robbie Bell’s credentials:
Member of the Game Angling Instructors Association (GAIA)
Full England International Fly-Fisher
Team Gold and Individual 2nd Canadian National Fly-Fishing Championships 2011
Team Bronze Medal Winner Canadian National Fly-Fishing Championships 2010
British Army Fly-Fishing Team Coach. USA 2006 and 2007 Canada 2010
Competition Manager England International Bank Team 2010 Gold Medal
Czech Republic Fly Fishing Team Guide. World Championships Scotland 2009
USA Fly Fishing Team Mentor. World Championships Scotland 2009
England Fly-Fishing Team Loch Style Guide. Scotland 2005 and 2007
England Fly-Fishing Team Rivers Guide. Scotland 2004
Jiri Klima Czech Nymph Masterclass. Czech Republic 2007
Multiple Club Champion on Rivers and Stillwaters
Occasional Tackle Consultant for Hardy/Greys and Sonik

JUNE UPDATE:
Since the Teva Games in early June two Loch Style competitions and two Bronze level “Minis” have put forth some notable moves to the Leader Boards. The “B.C. Loch Championship” at Trojan Pond outside of Logan Lake, British Columbia met all the hype and proved to be the premier loch style competition in this cycle. The powerhouse Can-Am collaboration flying under Team Cormorant of national team members Todd Oishi/Terence Courtoreille of Canada, and Pete Erickson/Scott Robertson of U.S.A proved themselves to be the frontrunner with Team Gold edging out long time Canadian medal winners Team Airflo in 2nd, followed by newly formed Team Merganser in 3rd. Team Merganser secured Bronze without a single angler in the top 10 showing that an even team performance can certainly pay dividends.  Recent Fly Fishing Team USA retiree Scott Robertson couldn’t stay off the circuit for long and motored in with an Individual Gold.  Team MRFD’s Devin Ramsay stepped out of his team’s average showing and into a Silver while the perennial performer Mark Anderson of Team Airflo took home the Individual Bronze. (Photo care of Todd Oishi. From left: Terence Courtoreille , Pete Erickson, Todd Oishi, Rob Stroud, Scott Robertson )

As the “B.C. Championship” closed a precursor to the venerable America Cup in September staged a 1 day Loch Competition on Lake Nottingham at Avon, Colorado. Team Caddis’ captain Dzifa Glymin edged out newly acquired Fly Fishing Team USA member’s Josh Graffam and Rob Kolanda by 1000 fish pts.

(Photo from www.theamericacup.com of Dzifa Glymin)

Later in the month a well attended 24 angler Bronze level mini named the “Southern Summer Series” took place on the Lower Nantahala near Wesser, North Carolina. This was the same venue used in Mays Team USA National Championship. Team NC member Tim Fisk proved he learned well from his mediocre 48th showing at Nationals and sped to Gold at the Summer Series. Fellow Team NC team mate and Fly Fishing Team USA member Chris Lee continued his leader board ascent taking 2nd, followed by Team Stonefly’s general Chris Smith. Lee’ capped an impressive 9th event in this cycle with his Summer Series showing.
(Photo courtesy of Hallie Mansfield at http://www.halliemansfield.com/)

Just this past weekend Team Mayfly swept their hosting of the Spring Creek Mini near State College, Pennsylvania. This was the same exact footprint for the Team USA NE Regional in March and competitors as well as fans were excited to see the river under prime conditions compared to the “chocolate” 200 year flood waters they experienced earlier in the year. Mayfly captain Dejon Hamann took 1st place, followed by fellow team mates Pat Weiss in 2nd, and Kalvin Kaloz in 3rd.

2011 OUTLOOK:
With all currently listed summer competitions complete a race toward TroutLegend Top Angler and Team will accelerate quickly in September with two Gold level competitions and three Bronze:

(BRONZE) NALS Crane Lake – September 10. Bend, Oregon US. For more info: HERE
(GOLD) The America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament – September 15-18. Vail, Colorado US. For more info: HERE
(GOLD) 9th Canadian National Championship – October 17-22. Montebello, PQ, CA. For more info: HERE
(BRONZE) Team DeadDrift Gold Cup – November 12-13. Dahlonega, GA, US. For more info: HERE
(BRONZE) Callaway Gardens Loch Tourny – December 3. Pine Mountain, GA, US. For more info: HERE

As of this update, July 13th 2011, Fly Fishing Team USA member’ Devin Olsen and Lance Egan retain a strangle hold on the Individual Leader board with more combined points then any other team collective. All though it is a technical probability it looks unlikely that they will be caught unless another angler in the top 15 finishes no less than 1st at one of the major and minor events listed above. Only time will tell.

Meanwhile TroutLegend Team Leader Board frontrunners Team NC hold a stable position with nearly twice the points of neck and neck 3rd place Team Mayfly and 4th place Team Stonefly, while Team Comorant strides the difference in 2nd place. With so many competitors and a handful of good competitions still in play it will come down to what team can push their star players to podium positions by years end.

Todd Oishi is a true Champion of Canadian competitive fly fishing. Not only has he racked up an impressive collection of team and individual medals, and pushed Canada’s National team to great heights abroad, but almost more importantly he is a constant champion of the sport heralding everything from grass root high school fly fishing clubs and charity tournaments to his current role as Fly Fishing Canada’s Chairman of National Competitions. In this exciting interview Oishi expounds on the importance of learning directly from the masters and gives us a backstage pass to some of his many trips to the World Fly Fishing Championships.

Hamann: Todd, if you don’t mind I’d like to wade right in. Living in bountiful British Columbia you have ample opportunities for world class trout and grayling fishing on lakes and rivers however you’re provincially limited to using just one, single, lonely fly. With the majority of the competitive world using 2 and 3 flies at a time how do you compensate for this restriction? Have you learned any tricks? Has it strengthened or weakened you as a competitive angler?

Oishi: Yes, it’s true; here in British Columbia we’re restricted to using a single fly in all of our province’s lakes and rivers. For me, this proved to be a huge disadvantage as I had never fished multiple flies until I was in Sweden preparing for the 2005 WFFC. I was rather embarrassed and had to ask my teammate Terence Courtoreille to demonstrate how he attached his dropper tags. Add to this the fact that I had never fished for brown trout or grayling… and you could only begin to imagine what was going through my mind at that point in time!

I suppose that having fished with a single fly for all these years has taught me to put a lot more thought and effort into my fly tying and pattern selection, as relying on a single fly often requires a more thorough and accurate presentation.

Unfortunately I can’t fish the same way that I would for upcoming competitions (that allow multiple flies), but I feel that practicing on my home waters with a single fly has taught me to have a lot more faith and confidence in my decision making process and has reinforced my belief that at times it is the presentation rather than the pattern itself that leads to angling success. Out of necessity, I’ve also learned how to adapt some of the more effective European and British techniques to compensate my inability to fish with multiple flies. Some of these adaptations and tactics have helped me when fishing under very demanding and technical situations.

Hamann: You’ve competed on behalf of Team Canada in a staggering 5 World Championships. I know this is a big subject, but could you walk us through some of those experiences? What were some of the hurdles, triumphs, and breakdowns you encountered? How did those teams gel and what would you do different in the future?

Oishi: Sweden was my first FIPS competition. This was also my first time fishing for grayling and brown trout (the two eligible species) and provided a great introduction to the thought process and methodology behind competitive fly fishing.

Portugal’s WFFC was next. The venues were quite challenging and possessed very low fish populations. We were quite concerned as we had caught only a few fish during our practice sessions, but not one of them was of eligible size! The fishing proved to be very technical and avoiding a blank proved to be a critical factor for placing well at this competition.

The Commonwealths in North Wales was held back-to-back with Portugal’s WFFC, so I arrived ready for action. My team mates had been pre-fishing the venues while I was at the WFFC, and had already collected a wealth of information before I arrived. Their collective experience and information sharing was a prime example of true teamwork. Fishing for brown trout and grayling in the River Dee and the massive rainbows in Llyn Brenig was an extremely valuable learning opportunity for me.

Finland’s WFFC was another great adventure and learning experience. The Simojoki River was extremely challenging, as many of the beats failed to produce fish throughout the competition. The lake was our greatest challenge, as we had expected the trout to be feeding on the natural food sources in the typical locations you would expect. Unfortunately we were completely unaware of the fact that the fish were freshly stocked and the location where they had been dumped into the lake.

Fishing at New Zealand’s WFFC was a “dream come true” for me and for most of the competitors. The fish were plentiful, strong and enormous! We had sent a team to New Zealand a year in advance and had a fairly good idea of what was in store for us. Having never fished in New Zealand myself, I discovered rather quickly that using a heavier rod and stronger tippet was essential for successfully landing the Kiwi trout.

Scotland’s WFFC consisted of five loch-style sessions. Donald Thom, John Beaven and me flew to Scotland two months after New Zealand’s WFFC in order to pre-fish all five venues. We were very confident and prepared for this competition. The fish kill on the Lake of Menteith was a concern for us, as it had fished so well during our previous trip. Lock Awe and Loch Leven proved to be the most challenging venues, as they produced more blanks than fish per session. The entire team pulled together and in the end contributed to Donald Thom winning an individual silver medal, which was Canada’s first medal at the WFFC’s.

I flew to compete at the Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships on the Isle of Islay after the conclusion of Scotland’s WFFC. One of the Canadian teams had arrived a week earlier and had plenty of notes on patterns and techniques that had proved to be effective during their practice sessions. While we were at the WFFC I had the opportunity to talk with a few competitors that had fished the European championships when they were held on Islay. Their advice proved to be more effective than the original game plan and ultimately proved to be a large part in our team’s success at the 2009 Commonwealths.

The experience and knowledge that I have gained as a result of these competitions and our nationals has proved to be invaluable for my competitive fishing career. It has also helps me to understand why the British and European teams do so well at the WFFC’s and other international competitions, as a typical team member attends more competitions within a single year than most North Americans are capable of attending in a decade.

In hind sight, after each and every competition or Masterclass that I have attended, I often say to myself: “I wish I knew then (in regards to previous competitions) what I know now!” I suppose that hind sight is truly 20/20…

They were all great adventures and very humbling experiences. During these adventures I learned a lot about competitive fishing and angling in general, but the thing that I treasure the most is the friendships that I have made along the way. The opportunity to share a boat with seasoned competitors and to compete with a variety of teammates (both nationally and internationally) has proved to be an invaluable experience for me.

Beyond lost luggage (seems to be a common theme), minor illnesses and vehicle issues (tow bills and breakdowns), things have been quite uneventful for most of the teams that I’ve been on. I suppose that the most severe hurdle that we encountered was the time that our team captain became extremely ill in Portugal. He was hospitalized and had to fly home to Canada prematurely – consequently missing the Commonwealths in Wales. But from my experiences; the stumbling blocks along the way only serve to strengthen the bond between teammates and their fellow competitors.

The triumphs have been many and on different levels, but being a part of the team that put a Canadian on the podium at Scotland’s WFFC was an emotional and rewarding experience that I will cherish forever!

Hamann: I’ve read that you consider your role as Captain at the 2009 Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships in Islay, Scotland your most fulfilling to date? Can you tell us about this experience and why it stands out even above many of your World Championship bids?

Oishi: The Commonwealths on the Isle of Islay, Scotland was by far one of my favourite competitive fly fishing experiences and angling experience in general. Fly Fishing Canada sent two teams to compete at Scotland’s Commonwealths, and I was selected to serve as the captain of one of the teams. Both teams worked together as a single entity and shared all of the information with each other during our nightly meetings and between sessions. We eventually came to realize that the wild, brown trout of Islay are constantly looking upwards, so we adjusted our techniques, flies, and lines to capitalize on this fact.

The team that I captained sat in third place for nearly half of the competition, but in the final session fell just slightly behind Australia’s WFFC Team. It was a great feeling to know that we are gaining momentum and can be competitive on the international scene.

Hamann: In conversations with you over the past year it’s obvious you are a loving and devout family man. You also run your own business. How do you juggle your competitive fly fishing life with your family life? Is your better half supportive of these pursuits? Do you see your children possibly following in your foot steps?

Oishi: I believe that you should always put your family first, business second and fly fishing at second and-a-half. In fact I chose to skip Poland’s WFFC in order to attend my son’s high school graduation (even though I invested the time and money to pre-fish the venues in preparation for that competition). I missed the team and official practice sessions and opening ceremonies for the 2009 WFFC, as my other son graduated during that time as well.

My family is everything to me and it is through their support and understanding that all of this has been possible. Besides, I blame this all on my wife, as she was the one that really encouraged me to pursue my passion to this level (and I sincerely appreciate and love her for that).

My employees are very understanding and do a great job while I am away on my adventures, which in turn allows me to focus on the task at hand. My kids enjoy fly fishing with me, but I have never pushed them beyond what I felt they were capable of handling. I would rather see them enjoy fly fishing as a pastime at this point in their lives. That being said; they have all expressed an interest in perhaps competing one day…

Hamann: The Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament is a great competition that raises a hefty sum for cancer care each year. Tell us a little about this competition and why you’ve been an attendee for almost a decade?

Oishi: I first heard about the Trojan Pond’s fly fishing tournament through a fly fishing show and from a few friends that had competed at it. When I heard that the funds were donated to a hospital where my family stayed and I stayed after a horrific car accident I signed up immediately.

The Trojan Pond was my first competitive fly fishing experience. My success at this annual competition eventually helped me secure a spot on our National team. The tactics and techniques that I have learned from my international experiences have proved to be very effective for this “single fly” tournament. It’s a superb competition, but more than anything else, I really enjoy the social aspect and the very worthy cause that this tournament funds and supports.

Hamann: Tell us a little bit about the fly fishing club you founded at the high school in your hometown? From a development process for other anglers who might be interested in doing the same how did you bring it to life and keep it moving? What has sprung from this planting?

Oishi: I approached the principal and discussed the idea of starting a club for the students. I was overwhelmed by the number of students and teachers that expressed an interest and signed up for the club. The club meets on a monthly basis and occasionally at lunch time for fly tying sessions. They occasionally study entomology (streamside and I bring in my collection), but more importantly, it’s about getting the kids outdoors and into fish.

I also inspired a friend (who teaches at another school in our town) to set up a club at his school as well. There are currently four high schools fishing clubs in our town that come together to compete at a friendly-spirited high school fly fishing tournament.

I personally believe that we should all give back to our sport and strongly encourage anyone that has the time (and patience) to mentor a child or help start a fishing club in their area. It’s important to get the business community and service clubs involved in the kid’s fishing clubs, as many of the children don’t have or can’t afford their own rods, reels, lines, etc.

Hamann: Let’s see, you’ve attended, in their respective countries the Czech Nymphing Masterclass with Jiri Klima, Polish Nymphing with Vladi Trzebunia, Scottish loch-style with John Buchannan, and UK loch-style with John Horsey. Easy to see you like to put a great deal of study and knowledge into your game. Could you walk us through each of these clinics and some of the little and big “aha!” moments you encountered?

Oishi: I first saw Jiri Klima and the Czech team in action on a river in Sweden. I was amazed by the staggering number of fish that they pulled from the very same water that our team had just finished covering. The images of their double-headers and multiple hook-ups reinforced to me just how effective this technique was and its value for a competitive angler.

Jiri’s Masterclass made a dramatic difference in my ability to read grayling water and how to effectively cover moving water. The “aha!” moment for me was the way that he extended the duration and length of his average drift. His thought on fly pattern design, as well as equipment and leader design was also a real eye opener.

Both John Horsey and John Buchannan provided a wealth of information on the value of sinking lines and taught me how to work my fly from the moment my fly entered until it was lifted from the water. Their thoughts on fly pattern selection and positioning within their cast was also very valuable.

I also had the opportunity to learn from Vince Gwilym, a coach from Wales, and really enjoyed seeing the subtle differences in their approach to fly pattern selection and how they covered the water. I also learned a lot from the senior members of our Canadian teams that have already been fishing loch-style for quite a few years.

I have to come to appreciate the value of learning from the masters of their techniques, rather than second hand or from books and videos. I made the decision and commitment that if I ever qualified again to represent my country that I should make a serious effort to improve and hone my skills through proper coaching and practice.

Hamann: Now back to the World Championships for just a second. Anglers young and old across the North American continent dream of having a chance to compete on the pinnacle of fly fishing’ stages. Team Canada has yet to medal though – do you feel there’s a bit of unfinished business here? Does it just take time? Or do you feel there are other components that will propel Team Canada to the world podium?

Oishi: Over time I have come to appreciate that our sport is truly a team sport and that the accomplishment of the team is a direct result and reflection of the performance and commitment of the individual team members – and vise versa. Donald Thom’s silver medal at the 2009 WFFC last June was a huge accomplishment for Canada and a prime example of team work.

Our performance at New Zealand’s and Scotland’s WFFC’s stressed to our Canadian teams the importance of pre-fishing a venue a year in advance, but during the approximate timeframe as the competition. These recon missions allowed us to identify the food sources that were available and the most effective fly patterns, as well as the locations where the fish were concentrated and/or actively feeding.

Hamann: Since it picked up a bit of comical steam in the last interview let’s continue the tradition: If you were stranded on a deserted Island in the middle of the Ocean what one album would you bring; Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hits ? And now the standard fly question: What 12 trusted flies would you take into battle? 6 for rivers, 6 for lakes?

Oishi: First of all… I sincerely doubt that any island in the Pacific would be deserted if it had sufficient levels of electricity to operate the record player. But if that were indeed the case; I would have to say that it would be Justin Bieber’s latest album. That way my 14 year-old daughter and the rest of her friends would be able to locate and rescue me…

Flies for rivers would have to be: Adams, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Black Wooly Bugger, Czech Nymph and Gold Ribbed Hares ear Nymph. Flies for lakes would be: Olive Wooly Bugger, Blob, Booby, Humungous, Diawl Bach and Elk Hair Caddis. With that being said; I have made alterations by adding “hot spots” and various materials that have made these standard “tried and true” patterns even more effective than their original form.

Hamann: For every check book hiding wife/husband there’s a gear obsessed competitive angling other half. Tell us about some of the gear you’ve come to trust over the years? I think you’re a fan of Sage rods and Islander reels? What other competition specific gear do you prefer?

Oishi: I have been very fortunate to have picked up some top-notch sponsors for most of my equipment needs. Being a part of Sage, Rio and Islander Reels, Bare Waders and several other prostaff programs has given me access to high quality gear and equipment that I couldn’t have afforded otherwise and allows me to fish beyond my means.

My favorite rod for loch-style fishing is Sage’s 10 foot, 7 weight, Z-Axis. It’s a powerful rod that has a relatively softer tip section that makes it ideal for fighting all sizes of fish. For bank fishing sessions I prefer a 10 foot, 5 or 6 weight Z-Axis, for all the same reasons.

For rivers I prefer to use a softer and lighter fly rod than what the vast majority of North America anglers are currently using. I have had to design my own hybrid rod that allows me to achieve the 10 foot length and action that I find to be most effective for my style of fishin.

For stillwater fishing (loch-style and bank) I typically carry at least 10 Islander Reels lined that are spooled with a variety of fly lines that possess different densities and qualities. I keep them organized in a sturdy, transparent, plastic tool case that I purchased from Home Depot. The transparent lid allows me to see the contents of my case and protects their shiny finish. They are a tad more expensive than most reels in their class, but are absolutely flawless in design and manufacturing. They possess a smooth, infinite drag that can protect lighter tippets and are able to effectively put the brakes on even the largest trout or salmon. They also show up well in my photography and are guaranteed to last a lifetime, so I will be able to hand them down to my children and grandchildren someday.

I fish from a variety of watercraft, but primarily fish loch-style from my 12 foot Lund car-top boat that is powered by a 9.9 Yamaha 4-stroke motor. I also enjoy fishing loch-style in my 12 foot Wilderness Kayak. I own a fish-finder, but haven’t used it in years, as it is essential to hone your fish finding skills by learning how to pinpoint the location and depth of the fish with your fly lines rather than relying on a device that is banned for competitions.

Hamann: Let’s look at hooks specifically now. What brands, sizes, and styles are mainstays in your competitive angling box?

Oishi: I am not really loyal to one particular brand, as I use a variety of hooks that come from several manufacturers. I typically use Hanak and Kamasan hooks for most my nymphs, lures and Czech Nymphs; Mustad and Tiemco for my streamers; and Tiemco, Hanak and Kamasan for my dries.

The key is to use the most effective hook that compliments the fly pattern and technique, rather than staying within a single brand of hook. The same goes for fly lines and leaders. Keep in mind that the same auto manufacturer that produced the Cadillac also produced the Vega.

Hamann: Many coaches will say it was almost as hard learning how to “tell someone how do something” as it was just learning how to do it. Could you relay some of your coaching philosophies? How do you motivate and instruct anglers whether they be teenagers just entering the sport or co-members of a World Championship squad?

Oishi: I personally feel that winning isn’t necessarily the ultimate goal, as I have found that learning from your mistakes often proves to be a much more valuable experience. I suppose that this quote from Paul William “Bear” Bryant probably sums up my feelings best: “It’s not the will to win that matters — everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters…”

I would have to say that it’s important to be thoroughly and properly prepared; always try your best; and stick to the team’s “game plan”, so that by the end of your session you can confidently tell yourself and the rest of your team that you exhausted all of your resources and gave it your best effort.

Hamann: Since there is a very strong case to argue you are currently one of the most successful loch style artists in North America I’d like to focus there. First, this is a foreign practice for many North Americans. What is it? And why is it important for competitive anglers to become proficient in it?

Oishi: I appreciate the kind words, but there are a lot of senior Canadian team members that I’ve had the pleasure to fish with and study under that have provided me with a better understanding of loch-style fishing. The international coaching that I received has brought it to an entirely new level for me – for both my competitive and recreational angling.

Loch-style fishing is a dynamic, wind-drifting technique that allows the fly fisher to cover a greater area of water and number of trout in a relatively short period of time. The angler or anglers (2) fish from a boat, as it drifts downwind. They cast and retrieve their flies ahead of the drift, with the wind against their back. A drogue (submerged windsock) is used to manage the speed and direction of the drift. The British have refined and perfected this technique into an art form. I strongly urge competitors to study and practice this technique if they are serious about competing internationally.

Hamann: Where have you turned for inspiration in your loch style fly construction over the years? Do you search for materials abroad or find what you need on Canadian soil?

Oishi: I would have to say that my loch-style fly collection has been inspired by a variety of coaches and my fellow teammates. I have been very fortunate to have been befriended by other competitors that have openly shared some of their favourite patterns with me. It’s amazing how much people will open up after the competition is over and they have a couple of drinks to satisfy their thirst. I couldn’t believe it when I sat beside a member of Team France and he showed me the entire contents of his river fly box.

I am very resourceful when it comes to almost everything in life. My approach to fly tying is no different. Like many other tyers, I am constantly on the hunt for new materials and often accompany my wife to the local craft shops. I try to support my local fly shops, but I find that many of the Stillwater materials that I prefer to use have to be special ordered from the United Kingdom and Europe. I usually pick up fly tying materials whenever I travel abroad and replenish my supplies when I have enough items to justify paying the duties and S&H that are required when ordering from overseas.

For instance, locating quality booby foam, straggle fritz, and competition-grade hooks within North America can be next to impossible, so purchasing from overseas is often the best option. Over time I have inspired a few of the shops that I deal with to carry a few of the more popular items as a result of my loch-style seminars and the students’ request that they carry them. I suppose that it really comes down to a case of “supply and demand.”

Hamann: No self respecting competitive angler would head into loch battle with just a floating line and sink-tip. Tell us about your line arsenal? What are some of your favorites? How do you choose lines based on any given day/conditions?

Oishi: In addition to the fly lines that you mentioned; I always carry a MidgeTip, slow and fast glass intermediate lines, as well as density-compensated type 3, type 5, and type 7 sinking lines. The sweep lines also have a special place in my tackle box.

The density of the fly line depends on the weather conditions, depth of the fish, and the speed of the drift. I often cycle through the lines (and watch my fellow competitors) to determine which fly line would offer the greatest chance for success.

Hamann: It might seem like a minor element to the uninitiated, but having excellent boating/motor/drogue skills can mean the difference between placing in a session and relegation. How do you approach that crucial decision of whether you or your opponent controls when there is no ghillie at hand?

Oishi: I always try to make a “gentleman’s agreement” that we work as a team and that our goal is for our boat to score the highest number of fish – regardless of who is 1st or 2nd in the boat. Everyone wins when you work together! I typically offer to take control of the boat whenever I am fishing with a competitor that is not well versed at loch-style fishing, as handling the boat and knowing how to set up a proper drift can be a skill unto its own.

Hamann: Scenario: your world championship squad wasn’t able to scratch together the dough to pre-fish the venues. After an exhausting 15 hour international flight you’ve finally arrived and you have just 3 days to develop a game plan for a 5 session loch style event. Where do you start? How do you proceed? Will you hire guides? Will you probe fly shops? Was there any work done before you left for the tournament?

Oishi: We typically do our research and seek the services and advice of a local guide that we feel would offer us the best value and knowledge for that region. The team usually assigns specific flies that are to be tied by the team members before we depart on our journey. Once we have arrived; visiting the local fly shops can be a wise strategy for identifying the current hatches and “the local cuisine”.

During our team and official practice sessions we are each assigned various techniques and tactics to employ that will hopefully help us to narrow down and determine the most effective locations, patterns, lines, and techniques for targeting the competition waters. By game day we usually have a solid game plan and try to stick with it unless conditions dictate a need to step outside the box. Having a solid backup plan set in place can be a critical factor for times such as these.

For instance, at Scotland’s WFFC, I shared a boat with Mike Sexton. Our teams had already determined which locations, flies, and lines we should use for that venue, but when we arrived the conditions had changed significantly from the previous day. I noticed a few rises near the dam and discretely pointed them out to Mike. We agreed to stay back and target that area rather than following the armada of boats that were heading to the far end of the reservoir, where the previous sessions had been won. Our decision to target the rising fish paid off, as Mike and I finished 2nd and 3rd respectively for that session.

Hamann: Many people think loch style fishing has predominantly to do with “pulling lures.” How often is this true? Are there times when getting creative like just casting dries can win the day? What other less than obvious techniques have proved effective in competition?

Oishi: Like all things in life, and fishing, everything has its time and place where it shines. For instance… I’ve won some sessions fishing with nothing but a team of dry flies and others that required sinking line tactics to stay on top of the leader board. The key is being able to recognize when and where each technique would be the more effective choice. I suppose that observation, experimentation, confidence and pure dumb luck all come into play when searching or prospecting for trout.

For instance, during a session at the 2008 Canadian Nationals the majority of the competitors were set on pulling nymphs and lures, as they had been producing well during the practice sessions. I made the decision to switch to a floating line and a team of dries after observing several trout that were rising periodically to take something off the water’s surface. The rest of my group missed the rise and stuck with sinking line tactics and consequently scored a significantly lower number of fish.

At the 2010 Canadian Nationals several of the competitors in my group stuck with nymphing tactics after hearing the stories of the success that some competitors had been experiencing while using them. After assessing the situation, I chose to pull lures and wound up winning my last three sessions as a result of this decision. The point being that sometimes you need to have confidence in your own ability to make decisions, rather than relying on and following the rest of the pack.

Hamann: What does the term “keep your head up” mean to you in regards to loch style competition?

Oishi: Never give up hope! I have become a firm believer and disciple of this mantra, as on several occasions I have caught fish within the final seconds of a session when others have all but given up on hope and are simply going through the motions rather than fishing with confidence and the belief that all things are possible!

Hamann: Todd, you’ve had a great career to date, but I know full well a true competitor such as yourself is always looking ahead to the next competition, the next technique, and the ever evolving refinement of one’s “game.” What are your plans for the future? What mountain are you looking to climb next?

Oishi: I am currently more focused on training and improving my overall skills. I am no longer obsessed by the desire to attend the WFFC (even though I have qualified and have been offered a spot on the team), but feel that there is a need to bring my best possible game rather than just showing up. That being said; I have a few more trips to Europe in the works in order to seek out some additional coaching.

Hamann: Thank you kindly for your time and candid answers. It’s been a real pleasure. And now on a larger scale and active member of Fly Fishing Canada: How do you see competitive angling evolving over the next 5 years? What is your hope for the future and how will we get there?

Oishi: I forecast a much broader acceptance and greater involvement in competitive fishing as a whole. As ambassadors of our sport, it is all of our responsibilities to promote good sportsmanship and to encourage others to create a stronger playing field here in North America. Forums such as Trout Legend that share valuable information on techniques and provide a sense of community through positive dialogue amongst competitors are certainly leading all of us in the right direction.

Todd Oishi’s Track Record:
2002 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – Team 1st place
2002 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – Highest individual points
2003 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – Tied for 1st place
2005 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – ‘Largest Catch’ award
2005 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – Team 4th place
2005 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – Highest individual points
2005 – 25th World Fly Fishing Championships, Sweden – Team Canada Member
2005 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship, Campbell River, British Columbia – Individual Gold Medal
2005 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship – Team Gold Medal (Team Mustang)
2006 – North American/US National Fly Fishing Championships, Boulder, Colorado – Team Canada Member
2006 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship, Grand River, Ontario – 9th place individually
2006 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – Team 1st place
2006 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – Highest individual points
2006 – 26th World Fly Fishing Championships, Coimbra, Portugal – Team Canada Member
2006 – Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships, Northern Wales – Team Canada Member
2007 – 27th World Fly Fishing Championships, Finland – Team Canada Member
2007 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – Team 1st place
2007 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – Highest individual points
2007 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship, Grande Prairie, Alberta – Captain Stillwater Solutions
2007 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship – Team Gold Medal (Team Stillwater Solutions)
2007 – North American/US National Fly Fishing Championships, Boulder, Colorado – Team Canada Member
2007 – North American/US National Fly Fishing Championships – Individual 1st place – Lower Poudre River
2008 – 28th World Fly Fishing Championships, New Zealand – Team Canada Member – Team 9th place
2008 – Lexus European Fly Fishing Championships, Chew Valley, England – Largest fish – qualified for finals
2008 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – Team 3rd place
2008 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – 2nd highest individual points (actual fish length)
2008 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship, Mont Tremblant, Quebec – Captain of Team BC
2008 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship – 11th place individually
2009 – 29th World Fly Fishing Championships, Drymen, Scotland – Team Canada Member
2009 – 29th World Fly Fishing Championships – Team 9th place
2009 – 29th World Fly Fishing Championships – Individual 3rd place finish on Carron Valley Reservoir
2009 – Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships, Isle of Islay, Scotland – Captain of Team Canada 1
2009 – Commonwealth Fly Fishing Championships – Team 4th place (highest finish for Team Canada)
2009 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament, Kamloops, British Columbia – Team 3rd place
2009 – Trojan Pond Fly Fishing Tournament – 3rd highest individual points
2009 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship, Fernie, British Columbia – Individual Bronze Medal
2009 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship – Team Gold Medal (Team Cormorants)
2010 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship, Parklands, Manitoba – Individual Bronze Medal
2010 – Canadian National Fly Fishing Championship – Team Gold Medal (Team Cormorants)