At the risk or irritating some of my “codger” friends I want to open up the discussion (and some might say, the proverbial “can o’ worms) regarding competition in fly fishing. Fly fishing has always viewed itself above competition. It has been classified as a gentleman’s sport by many and the recent development of outdoor sports television (OLN, VS, the Outdoor Channel, etc.) has spawned some new fly fishing shows that feature…you guessed it…COMPETITION! Is this bad for the sport? You decide. I personally have no problem with it.Which takes me to the category of these young guys in the sport – they are a new breed…driven by a love of the sport that borders on obsession – just check out all of the new videos (trout bums, etc…). Some of my “codger” buddies (said with the utmost of affection) don’t like these guys…they think they have attitude…hell, I wish I was their age all over again. It looks like fun to me. I think they are good for the sport and actually stand a chance of drawing more young folks into the sport (we say that is important…do we mean it?).
Which brings me to the concept of a “One Fly” competition…is this competition or something very different? One of the OFF members recently hosted a One Fly at the Bennett Springs Catch & Release Outing. I could not get my lazy butt out of bed that morning and dropped by the sign-up rather late (shame on me). I thought there might be a crowd, but unfortunately, nobody (or at least hardly anybody) showed up and the whole thing turned out to be a bust. Why? Who knows, but I heard some rumblings that it was because of the fact that the event was a competition. Competition? Gimme a break! It was a damn fundraiser. The reason I didn’t make it was because I am a slacker and I overslept. Shame on me and I hope the host can forgive me for that. Where did this whole one fly thing come from?
Which brings me to that…founded in 1986, The Jackson Hole One Fly Event is a celebration of fly fishing dedicated to the betterment of trout and trout habitat. Their Mission Statement is “To generate, manage and grant funding for projects which environmentally benefit the future of trout and fly fishing by annually sponsoring a three-day event uniting enthusiastic fly-fishers from around the world with premier regional guides who all endeavor to celebrate the joy and spirit of the sport during the fishing, social and fundraising activities of the event, and who throughout the year, promote that same joy and spirit of fly-fishing and the future of trout.” The proceeds from this event funds The Jackson Hole One Fly Capital Foundation (JHOFCF) - the non-profit organization that manages and leverages the funds raised from the One Fly Event to invest in trout stream habitat improvement projects. It seems to me to be a good thing.
Which brings me to my big point…if you ever come back to Trout Camp talking about how many fish you caught or how big they were, you have just entered into the “competition” arena. Oh, it might not be competition in the purest sense, but you really are keeping score. It really is not that big of a deal…it is all good. Be careful whom you judge and how you judge them. Stay humble…keep your mind open…just a few resolutions for a New Year. Things change…you can too…you think about that. TL
