National Team Selection

[simmo]

I read the article on how do you fish for your country and thought this may be an interesting thread.

Do you think the current process for selecting the national teams is the best way? I know that each of the four nations have different selection processes and I am aware of how the English and Scottish teams work.

Is there a better way? I would be interested to here your thoughts on the matter.

[grayling]

Hi simmo, before we enter down the route of this one do you happen to be a failed participant in a qualifyer under the present regime , I see you are registered on the Forum as being from Surrey, it would be interesting to know ;D

Grayling

[simmo]

Surprisingly I am a successful candidate under the present scheme; I am by no means condemning the current system just wondered if anyone had any other ideas.

[3lbgrayling]

have tried for a few years now to get into the scottish team no success as yet .it appears to be pretty fair .i know 2 members of the lochs team and 1 member of the rivers team.and they got there on merit. not by being a member of the old pals brigade

jim

[Gillaroo]

Hi Simmo

From what I've heard most people feel it is a fair system in England. How does qualifying to fish for the Soldier palmers or Fish Hawks compare? I imagine there is a fair bit of competition for places.

Nice site btw! Any chance you can put your tactics online for the Grand Max at Bewl next week? ;D

Cheers

Gillaroo

[simmo]

I can't say for the fishhawks but we have a match secretary who picks the teams in colusion with the team captain. The league tabe is used as a guide to help selection, a lot is down to avialabilty that is why we seldom fish the same six guys. We have a fairly hardcore squad of around 10-12 anglers and usually availabilty sorts out any problems with trying to get in the team.

[grayling]

Hi Simmo, thanks for your reply am pleased to hear that you have qualified and would have been saddened had you not under the present selection process. Colin B presumtiously potsed on another thread that I was about to have a dig at you.... there you go....some mothers do ave em . The selection process for 'National Teams' is down to the govening bodies in each of the four home Countries for the International Events and European/ Commonwealth/ FPIS mouche World Championship,as you well know, there are some concerns regarding the events that are put on and various tweakings have made things fairer in my opinion, in the main I think that the systems used work very well.

Grayling

[oldtrout]

I posted this question on the last thread as well.
How do you get to fish for your country?
Iwould like to add that I have nothing against compitition, have never fished in one in over 30 years of fly fishing.
Qualifliers? are they just advertised and you turn up or at least telephone and then fish a couple of rounds to qualify, obviously catching enough fish.

[simmo]

I started this thread because I though it would be interesting to hear peoples opinions. I was very pleased to qualify on my first national but was saddened by the fact that my practice partner on the day did not. He has been to 22 nationals and failed to qualify yet he is a far better angler than I. What I am getting at is the whole thing comes down to 8 hours fishing if you have a good day and a bit of luck your in and if you don't try again next year. I think the national teams are missing out on some great anglers. I don't have the answer but I thought somebody might have an alternative. ;D

[doods]

From my own experience I feel the current system is ok. but would benefit from ( in scotland ) trying to accomodate some wild brown trout fishing into the prelims . And make it a neccessity that everyone fishes 1 of these waters. By that I don't mean Carron or Leven ( maybe slightly different next weekend) where it's usually stockies that make up most of the catch.
Some of the guys in recent years have made the team , and good luck to them, but then proceeded to be picked to fish in Ireland and didn't have any wild broonie experience at all..... but saying that good luck to anyone who does qualify they all deserve it....

[segdoune]

Hi Grayling.
It was this part that has nothing to do with the question.

before we enter down the route of this one do you happen to be a failed participant in a qualifyer under the present regime

Any answer given should have nothing to do with Simmo qualifying or not.
It’s irrelevant.
So why ask.

[segdoune]

Hi,
I’m not being disrespectful to any angler but I’ve seen some real good anglers not qualifying and some not so good anglers getting a cap.
I don’t think there’s an easy answer unless fly-fishing becomes a pro sport.
The present system has its good and bad points but in fairness none of the home nations have a better approach that any other. There certainly different, but better. I don’t know.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think Buzzer Boab ever fished for his country.

[captain]

In the past, I have fished with some brilliant anglers who unfortunately have never gained an England cap.... not through the want of trying believe me... One guy in question who has partnered me 'twice' in a National is Adrian Necci.. of Bewl fame... the guy is a phenomenal angler but after many many attempts has yet (as far as I know?) to succeed. I know there are many many more who are of the same caliber.

One thing is for sure, their time will come.... eventually, as long as they keep at it. Some anglers 'freeze up' at the last hurdle... my advice? Just relax.. or at least try to!... once you achieve it...you shall wonder (trust me) what all the fuss was about! more so now!

[Fatbloke]

You're right Captain. Adrian Necci is one of the best all round anglers that hasn't had the good fortune to fish for his country. He's currently the Captain of the hugely successful Weald of Kent team and has fished for them for many years. He's fished 13 National Finals and has yet to finish in the top 20. He's been very close on a few occassions but just hasn't had the luck you sometimes need.

Unfortunately Adrian doesn't fish the qualifiers any more due to his work comittment. He's qualified most years in the past from the South East heats, but now can't make the finals as September is his busiest month at work and, he's self employed!

Yes, luck does play a part in qualifying and I know it's possible for someone to have a couple of above average days and they're in the team! I wish there was a way people of Adrians enormous skill and ability could be awarded a "wild card" entry for the team. Difficult I know!

Adrian isn't alone. John Pearn has qualified for a similar number of Nationals and also hasn't qualified for England team. On the other hand, I know of 2 people that qualified on their first, and only, National.

Me? I've fished 6 Nationals (7th one coming up in September) and have qualified 3 times so I must be consistently lucky!!!

Fatbloke

[Sewinbasher]

One of my main complaints about the qualifying system is that teams to fish an international on say Lough Corrib will have qualified on Grafham, Rutland and Bewl in England and Brenig, Llandegfedd and Lysyfran in Wales. They will have been selected on the basis of how well they catch rainbows which is total nonsense when the quarry will be wild browns.

I know that to find wild brown trout venues to use for qualifiers is difficult but why not use Carsington, Roadford or fish the usual suspects and just weigh browns?