Malaysian Fly Fishing Team

[Paul Arden]

We are currently looking to put together a team here in Malaysia to enter the World Flyfishing Championships in Tasmania next year. I haven’t competitively fly fished for over 20 years but I reckon it could be fun!

We shall see! Are the many competitors on the Board? I know quite a few in the Balkans but they rarely post here.

Cheers, Paul

[Paul Arden]

No then! Well hopefully I can bring some in. I’ve fished with a few of the comp guys here and there. It will be very interesting to get involved. Initially I was inspired to fish for Jersey when I heard that the Channel Islanders were putting a team together - and hell, that’s my birthplace! However the Channel Islands have a rule that you must be resident for the preceding two years (and I live in Malaysia!). Hmmm we took that to the Channel Island Sports Council and they decided it was up to the indvidual sports to set their own rules. So that was me out of contention. Which was a shame because it’s in Tasmania next year and I have a good feeling about it.

So then I had the bright idea to compete for Malaysia - after all I live here - but initially I thought I couldn’t compete for Malaysia because I looked through their rules book about eligibility. And I had almost given up but I decided to write to the ICSF explaining my predicament. And apparently it’s no problems - so long as I’m eligible to fish for Malaysia according to Malaysian rules then I can compete for Malaysia in the World Championships!

And so now we are putting the band together

What I’ve always said about competition casting is that it makes you a better fly caster. I’m pretty sure it’s the same with competition fishing too. So I’m very busy at the moment, helping organise the Malaysian Fly Fishing Team and setting up the Malaysian Fly Casting Team as well!!

I got my Spouse Visa today too

One thing I will have to do is spend time on my French Nymphing technique. Stillwaters I should have no problems. Hopefully they’ll be up and we won’t be stripping mini dog-nobblers! But I’ve put my time into that before and so it’s not exactly news to me either. Bloody exciting times and I take back everything I ever said about competition fly fishing

Cheers!
Paul