TAM CAMPBELL
Tam is a founder member of the Crown FF and is also secretary of Dreghorn AC and has been fishing in one form of another since 1968. Although having fished for many years he is a relative newcomer to serious fly fishing competition at national levels but has competed in a number of finals on both rivers and lochs. He describes himself as an all rounder and reckons it's better to know a little about all the disciplines in fly fishing rather than be an expert in one form like boat fishing. It was this that helped him to become club champion in 1999 and 2000.
Preferred Methods...Dry fly anywhere, loch style for wild browns and 'bugging' for grayling.
Tackle...."I use a number of rods all for different situations what they have in common is the price, they all cost under £100. I don't believe a £500 rod will catch me more fish. My reels are pretty basic, a LC 80 for all my river work and an Orvis Rocky Mountain large arbor for boat and bank on lochs. I use Airflo lines when i need to get my flies down to fish and Cortland floaters for dries, etc."
Leaders...."Drennan double strength for everything. I have tried fluorocarbons but just don't like them".
Favourite tackle purchase...."Around christmas i bought a pair of Vision 5mm neoprene waders. These are a must for any winter grayling anglers, you just can't feel the cold".
Venues...."Lough Mask in Ireland is the ultimate challenge for wild browns, it's also quite a frightening place with all the reefs and boulders. You can never relax your concentration for a moment. The River Irvine is my local water and is excellent in the summer for dry fly. It is slow and canal like in sections and your imitations have to be good as the trout have plenty of time to inspect them".
Pet hates...."There is definitely a yob culture spreading through the fly fishing world. Every time you fish a busy water like Mentieth some 'angler' cuts your drift at full throttle. The amount of litter disgarded along with used leader material in some of the most beautiful places in the country is beyond a joke. The first fist fight due to boat rage has in all probability already happened i'm only glad i wasn't there to witness it".
Fishing ambitions...."I still have to come across my four pound wild brownie on the fly, but i will fish for bonefish one day sooner rather than later"
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