The casting portion of the comps is pure, 100% skill. The fishing, not so much. It depends on the beat you get way too much.
What I don’t care for in the new crop of fly fishing competitions is that here in the states you have accepted Euro rules.
How limiting is that? No lead, no indicators, flies on tags. Heck, it seems as though you’re just dredging a trot line along the bottom a little faster than the current. Seems to me a Tenkara rod would be perfect for those comps.
With all of the private water over there the Europeans have to fish despirately like they do, we are a far cry luckier in that we have plenty of open, clean water and great fish management policies.
I guess it’s old age but the competition I really enjoy is the competition with myself to see if I can fool that pea-brained fish who is smart enough to tuck himself in a rhodo tunnel across several different seams.
You did ask for thoughts!