President's Beat

October 4, 2007

Greg Evans

Happy! Wait a minute! What happened to September? Oh yea... Alaska, the brew fest... Well Happy October.

Wanted to relay my first experience with competitive fly fishing not involving my brother to you. I was a volunteer, more specifically a controller (judge) of the National Fly Fishing Championships hosted by Colorado Trout Unlimited with untold hours of organization shouldered by our sister TU Chapter in Boulder.

At 7am this morning, 14 volunteers from Boulder, Parker, Denver and one from Fort Collilns met at Parvin Lake near Red Feather. We learned how to measure fish in specialized troughs, got a synopsis on international fishing regulations and met our competitors with eager eyes at 8:30 am. The Competitors were self selected individuals who had risen through the ranks of regional competition to be invited here to our backyard. For the Americans, this competition determines the international team. For the three teams from Ireland, Canada, and England, they were learning on outside waters and honing skills. My "beat" of about 200 yards was on the South side of Parvin. In the morning I had the good fortune of hosting Graham Lumonsdon from England. He was unbelievably polite, followed the rules to a tee, including releasing a foul hooked fish before I could even get in the water, and a real competitor. How did he do? He placed second in the segment by catching three fish on a heavy sinking line with a fly called the "boobie." You'll need to see the picture of it to decipher the name!

The next gentleman was Terence Courtoreille from Canada. He was the top competitive angler in his country last year and has been in the top 10 for the last five years. He is also an accountant with a six year old girl at home. He caught four fish in the hot afternoon sun on a floating line, stripping three flies named: the Glob (bright green glob with white tail), a Claire (olive green mini bugger on #12 hook) and a small bugger. An admitted slow knot tier, he used a 2 foot square building stryofoam floating platform with dowel sticking through it to catch his line and lay his rod on when tying flies.

Both guys missed fish, both guys snagged on trees, both guys mildy cussed under their breath. And, both guys taught me some things are universal, but we Americans have a lot to learn about fishing! That is the competition I like, a goal of creating bridges through a shared activity. Absolutely nothing was taken from the beautiful day fishing with friends by THIS competition. Next year, join me in taking part in this cultural exchange!