Alex Argyros
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You’re right, Trey. One competition doesn’t really yield much useful information about angling prowess because there’s a lot of chance involved. In our recent comp, some beats consistently produced better than others (and I was lucky enough to get two of the better ones), and it mattered how many anglers had already picked that beat apart. Over time, I think that cream rises to the top, and, in our comp, Madoka was clearly premium cream. But the results of a single comp are, at best, a combination of skill and a lot of contingent variables.
Thank you for your well reasoned and detailed response to questions raised in this thread. It is just such a reply that might get more LAP members using the forum.
Thank you, Enrique, for your help, and supportive presence, during the comp, and for your wonderful account of your experience during the event.
I have no idea, but I bet Jimbo does.
I don’t know of any. Perhaps you could convince JC to put on a guide’s hat.
While we’re waiting for your next installment, I’d like to thank you, Enrique, for your excellent work at the mini comp. You did a fantastic job facilitating anglers, but, more importantly, your enthusiastic and helpful presence contributed mightily to making the event special.
Alex
I agree with Ron that a survey is crucial to making sure that the administration and LAP members are on the same page.
Good question, David. Perhaps JC can get in touch with the competitors (who were also judges) and see if they’ll chime in.
As for me, I was fishing a Euro micro-leader (about 14 ft. of 4x sighter material) to a tippet ring followed by about 7′ of 5.5x tippet and two flies, the dropper about 24″ above the point fly. I also used Skafar’s wax about half way down my tippet. I fished mostly size 14-20 perdigons with 2.5-3mm beads, with an occasional pass at water that I’d already fished with a weighted black Mayer’s Mini Leech.
I didn’t try anything else, since I reckoned that presentation, not pattern, was what would matter.
Alex
I think that JC’s observations would be really helpful here, but let me say a few things from my own, limited, perspective.
There was, as in almost anything, an element of luck: some beats produced better than others, and it mattered if you were the first or the fourth angler to work a beat. But, in the end, skill and resourcefulness won the day. The winner of the comp, Madoka Meyers, a member of Fly fishing Team USA, is a remarkably talented angler. She is also, btw, a very humble, friendly, and supportive person. She won not because of luck, but because, simply, she chose productive flies and presented them superbly.
Alex
It was a wonderful experience. I got to meet some exceptional anglers, and to fish under conditions that were new to me. Thanks to all the GRTU folks who helped and, especially, to JC, who worked very hard to make this happen. All of us owe JC a debt of gratitude.
Last Thursday, I fished well downstream of CVC and the water temperatures were fine. I didn’t bother to use a thermometer because the water felt rather cold and the trout were all in fine shape.
It’s hard to imagine that the river heated up appreciably in three days. Could it be that your thermometer isn’t working properly?
Alex
A lab sample?
You had me going for a while, Jimbo. Even the name “Gomie,” which, I assure you, is not a name indigenous to NY, was fine. In fact, it added a bit of regional spice to your narrative, sort of like Texas Vindaloo. I bought it all. The 27.5″ trout seemed plausible. I caught one that went almost 26″ earlier this year, and, given the ratio of your talents to mine, 27.5″ seems, if anything, a bit small. Even the Split Flag dry fly, which doesn’t look like a cripple to me, went down smoothly. And, you really had me going with Gomie’s (?) peach jam. When well made, peach jam is, indeed, a wonder. All was going well until, near the end, I realized the whole post was a joke, satire not to be taken literally, much like you waking up at 5:00 am (6:00 am JST: Jimbo Standard Time).
How did I catch on? Pretty obvious, actually. No person with functioning taste buds eats peanut butter except as punishment for naughty deeds. It’s nice to have you back, Jimbo. I missed your ironic, and wicked, sense of humor.
Alex
According to several top anglers who’ve tested the new Diamondbacks, the rods are quite good. I think that means that they’re the equal of top-of-the-line rods.
