BUNGS

BUNGS.....(Ethafoam) they must be able to hook a fish in the rules.... so dress em on a 'hook'
here's a close copy of a Bung that won an English National Final held at Chew a few years ago - sounding the decline of competitive flyfishing!

Basically a float made from ethafoam or any buoyant material. Below this, suspended buzzers or nymphs on droppers ... cast out and wait for the float to go under ... amazing eh?



Question?
How many of you hate the term 'Fluff chucker'?
If you regularly read the Angling column in my local Worksop Guardian, the guys who write the column are clearly 'coarse anglers.' Why? Because this description of the Trout/Fly angler is often used.

Me? I would like to deem myself as the latter. I fish within the etiquette's of flyfishing - i,e, imitating foodstuffs on the trout's diet at the flytying vice. Those who know me are familiar with some of my patterns which have certainly bode me well on the competition circuit and, I may add, many of my old team mates still in the thick of things on the reservoirs.

My idea is to tie the pattern and work it back to the bank or boat as the traditional method suggests.

I'm often asked why I no longer fish competitions. The reason for this is that some techniques are not within the traditions of what I call 'Fly Fishing' and I'm not alone. Numbers are down in eliminators and team competitions in what I can only describe as disillusionment.

Is Competition Flyfishing is losing it identity ... it's said "Its all catch at all costs with speed fishing and quick time bonuses" I feel educated in my assumption because I was a subscriber to this once, but saw the light.

I now fish rivers for wild trout and grayling with the odd reservoir pleasure fishing excursion. What finally drove me away was the use of the 'Bung'... there is no room for this 'method' (?) in competitive flyfishing which is little more that 'float fishing.'

There's no skill attached and no need to cast far, particularly from a boat because you drift over the water in front of yourself. Hey, don't get me wrong here. If pleasure anglers want to fish this method then fine or complete novices who want that first fish to get em hooked... but please, call yourself a flyfisherman and fish within the traditions of our sport or consider 'coarse fishing' if the 'Bung' is your style.

Good fishing to you all...

Martin Introna