Congratulations, really well done.

We would like to welcome the new members, Bryan Martin, Tim Edwards, Tom Hill, Matthew Kelly, Fiona Smith, Alan Barrow and David Chester and congratulate the winners of the various events. Also, a very well done to those who achieved their distance badges. Another five yards next year please.

The weather conditions were much better than forecast, bright and sunny all day with, what should have been, a perfect breeze. However, something was wrong because it was just one of those days when the line ‘hit the wall’ and crashed and burned. If the line had actually managed to turn over instead of piling most of the distances would have been substantially better. Despite that John Reynolds hit a very respectable 183′ 1” with the T38 and Matt Tonkin (who seems to have shrunk) popped the T120 out to 206′ 3”. Toby Merrigan needs to be watched as he won the #9 weight with 123′. Alan Bath nearly had it with a very good throw of around 122′ I believe. James Evans took the seven 122′ 9” and I scraped the five with 113′ 3”. Alan Bath won the B100 with a very good aggregate score of 192′ 4”.

The BFCC would like to say thank you all for making us feel welcome and providing such wonderful facilities and we are already looking forward to seeing you all again next year.

Our next instructing event is at Sportfish Reading 12th and 13th May.

Mike H

#5F - Mike Heritage 113.03; Toby Merigan 109.07; John Reynolds 102.10 ; James Evans 99.01;
Matt Tonkin 94.06; Rob Doyle 94.00; Bryan Martin 88.04; Tony King 87.10; David Fisher 87.06;
Alan Bath 87.04; John Dawson 81.09; Matt Kelly 81.01; Tim Edwards 80.02; Andy Daniels 74.10;
Wendy Bath 72.03; Tracy Thomas 69.00; Alan Barrow 65.04; Ian Barwise 60.07; Chris Tucker 60.07;
Alex Rutherford 59.04; Fiona Smith 49.11

#7F - James Evans 122.09; Matt Tonkin 115.01; Toby Merigan 113.11; Mike Heritage 111.06 ;
Bryan Martin 110.00; Alan Bath 105.00; John Dawson 99.00; David Fisher 97.08; John Reynolds 96.05;
Rob Doyle 92.06; Chris Tucker 92.02; Tony King 86.09; Alex Rutherford 83.05; Tim Edwards 82.06;
Tracy Thomas 79.00; Matt Kelly 74.09; Wendy Bath 72.09; Andy Daniels 70.08; Alan Barrow 69.01;
Ian Barwise 62.09; Fiona Smith 57.11

B100 (#5 + #7) - Alan Bath 192.04; David Fisher 185.02 ; John Dawson 180.09; Tim Edwards 162.08;
Matt Kelly 155.10; Chris Tucker 152.09; Tracy Thomas 148.00; Andy Daniels 145.06; Wendy Bath 145.00;
Alex Rutherford 142.09; Alan Barrow 134.05; Ian Barwise 123.04; Fiona Smith 107.10

#9F - Toby Merigan 123.00; Alan Bath 121.04; Tony King 120.06; Matt Tonkin 120.03;
Mike Heritage 120.03; Rob Doyle 119.03; John Dawson 118.08; Bryan Martin 116.02;
James Evans 115.04; David Fisher 113.02; John Reynolds 112.06; Tracy Thomas 95.00;
Ian Barwise 84.00; Matt Kelly 82.10; Wendy Bath 78.01; Fiona Smith 69.04

T38 - John Reynolds 183.01; Bryan Martin 153.04; Matt Tonkin 152.06; Mike Heritage 151.08;
James Evans 142.07; Toby Merigan 138.04; Rob Doyle 133.06; Tony King 133.00; David Fisher 130.06;
Matt Kelly 99.10; Ian Barwise 93.09

T120 - Matt Tonkin 206.03 ; Toby Merigan 196.04; Rob Doyle 174.09; Bryan Martin 173.07;
Mike Heritage 171.00; James Evans 165.10; Tony King 156.08; John Reynolds 152.03;
David Fisher 135.06; Tracy Thomas 107.02

There were a number of sucesses in the badge scheme also;

20yds Fiona Smith, Ian Barwise, Alan Barrow
25yds Matt Kelly, Alex Rutherford, Ian Barwise, Chris Tucker
30yds Ian Barwise, Chris Tucker
35yds John Dawson
40yds Alan Bath, Toby Merrigan.

Congratulations to one and all!

Congratulations are due to Doug Devonshire for achieving a 30yd Badge with a cast of 96ft.

If you are there pop over for a chat and if we look cold and/or wet my coffee has two sugers.

Mike H

Although fly casting can cause injury to most parts of the body, not surprisingly, the casting arm is particularly vulnerable.  And it’s the elbow that seems to bear the brunt, if the frequency of tennis elbow amongst fly casters is anything to go by.

What causes tennis elbow?

Let’s get rid of one popular misconception straight away.  Although the pain of tennis elbow is felt at the elbow, curiously the condition has nothing whatsoever to do with elbow overuse or malfunction.  The sole cause is excessive or strenuous gripping – the dreaded TIGHT GRIP!  I’m sure a detailed anatomical dissertation is not appropriate here but, for anyone curious or doubtful, the following paragraph hopefully will help to explain things…….or you could just trust me on this one and move on!

To fully appreciate how tennis elbow develops, it is necessary to understand the part played by the forearm muscles.  These muscles, with tendons at each end, connect the inner side of the elbow to the front of the wrist (flexor muscles) and also the outer side of the elbow to the back of the wrist (extensor muscles).  One of the jobs of these two opposing muscle groups is to automatically stabilise the wrist joint during the act of gripping.  It’s easy to confirm this by making a fist and using the other hand to feel the tense forearm muscles bracing the wrist; note that the harder one grips, the more the forearm muscles contract.  With excessive or strenuous gripping something eventually has to give and usually it is the tendons at their attachments to the elbow.  The result is pain and inflammation either at the inner side of the elbow if the strain has fallen on the flexor muscle tendon (golfer’s elbow), or at the outer side if the extensor muscle tendon has been affected (tennis elbow).  Because of the particular mechanics involved, fly-casters are more likely to suffer tennis elbow than golfer’s elbow.

When does a firm grip become a tight grip?

So, we accept that tennis elbow is caused by too tight a grip.  But when does a correct firm grip become a harmful tight grip?  Some advise that the rod be regarded as a delicate instrument, not a garden tool.  Mike Marshall suggests the correct grip is like holding a tube of toothpaste with the cap off – squeeze too hard and you’ll make a mess of things!  One thing’s for sure – if the knuckles go white, the grip’s too tight!

How do I know I’ve got tennis elbow?

Gripping (sometimes in severe cases even just holding say a cup of tea) will cause pain at the outer side of the elbow and this spot will be tender when pressed.  Another test for tennis elbow is to hold the arm out straight then attempt to bend the wrist backwards against resistance; this will provoke pain at the outer side of the elbow.  Consult a doctor if there is any doubt about the diagnosis or if symptoms persist despite appropriate treatment.

How do I treat tennis elbow?

Painkillers such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may be helpful.  Ideally, any activity that provokes the elbow pain should be avoided until symptoms completely settle.  However, since this could make fly rods redundant for quite some time, it may be possible to continue casting or fishing by employing some of the preventative measures discussed below.  Other lines of treatment include physiotherapy involving ultrasound, friction massage or manipulation.  The most effective treatment by far, albeit possibly quite painful for a day or two after, is a steroid injection into the tender spot at the elbow; this should be repeated after two weeks if symptoms persist.  Incidentally, I have never been a fan of tennis elbow appliances, although admittedly some sufferers swear by them.

Left untreated, tennis elbow tends to get better by itself within one to two years.

How do I prevent tennis elbow?

The aim of prevention is to avoid excessive or strenuous gripping and that’s the basis for the following suggested measures.  I realise that some are simply a matter of common sense or very much in the category of preaching to the converted, but for the sake of completeness l would ask you to bear with me.

Measures relating to tackle

Let’s consider rods first of all.  The longer and heavier the rod, the tighter the grip has to be to control the increased leverage on the wrist.  So changing to a shorter, lighter outfit (say a 9ft 5 or 6 wt) might be worth considering.  Similarly, a rod with a progressive rather than a stiff action would be preferable.  A rod handle that is too thin will be difficult to grip and thus need to be held more tightly.  Mike Marshall recommends a handle of between 7/8” and 1” in diameter at the centre.  For the average hand this should ensure there is a gap between the finger tips and the palm when holding the rod handle with the thumb on top; if not the handle is too thin and needs to be taped up.  Mike also points out that the reverse half wells design needs a tighter grip to stop the hand slipping up the rod, so he therefore favours a full wells which avoids this problem.

Considerations about the reel balancing the rod are outweighed by the importance of minimising the overall weight of the outfit.  Choose the lightest possible reel, consistent with storing the line and sufficient backing.  An up-locking reel seat is preferable since the closer the reel is to the wrist fulcrum during casting, the less strain there will be.  For a right-handed angler, the reel should be set for left-handed winding.  This avoids having to change hands when playing a fish and ensures that the stronger hand is always holding the rod.

With regard to fly line ratings, bear in mind that both under-loading and over-loading the rod will involve more effort by the caster and that the inevitable consequence of increased effort is a tighter grip.  Extremely long-bellied WF lines (so-called “extra distance lines”) offer incredible potential for experienced casters.  However, they are more physically demanding and are not to be recommended for more modest achievers.  To maximise the benefits of the shorter, lighter rod mentioned above, a short (9 - 10 yards) shooting head might be worth considering.  Compared to a standard WF line set up, casting such a shooting head requires very little effort.   Intermediate lines should pose no problems when roll cast to the surface but sinking lines are probably best avoided because of the extra effort required to lift them from the water.

Measures relating to casting

The most mechanically efficient grip is one which controls the rod effectively with minimal gripping effort.  Of the many different grips suggested, the thumb-on-top is probably the most popular.  In efficiency terms it seems to demand the least effort, particularly when stopping the rod on the back cast which of course has to be done effectively in order to avoid “wrist cocking”. 

The longer the casting stroke, the easier it is to make the cast.  A short stroke may be all that is required for a short cast but using the same short stroke for a longer cast will require much more concentrated effort and therefore a tighter grip.

As we know, the more line that can be aerialised, the greater the distance potential.  However, regardless of line profile, struggling to false cast more line than can be comfortably handled is counterproductive.

Casting with a straight-arm action, that is with the elbow straight, is bad practice since apart from any casting implications, it requires the rod to be held more tightly.

If tennis elbow is an issue, engaging in tournament distance casting is probably asking for trouble bearing in mind the specialised tackle used and the greater rod loading involved.  With normal fishing tackle, seeking modest distances with minimal effort is preferable to striving for the horizon every time.

Even with suitable tackle and good casting technique, problems can still arise as a result of prolonged or excessive casting.  So it makes sense to keep false casting to a minimum and casting sessions brief, albeit frequent.

Measures relating to fishing

When a fish takes, some tightening of the grip is necessary, but striking with a huge heave (and possibly several running paces backwards – or is that just me?!) should be avoided.  

Never play a fish, particularly a big one, with the elbow straight and always have the rod butt supported by the forearm.  

A prolonged fight is potentially harmful, in tennis elbow terms, and lowering the rod angle nearer to the horizontal will certainly put greater pressure on the fish and subdue it more quickly.  However, unfortunately this demands a much tighter grip and therefore could actually be counterproductive.

Are exercises worthwhile?

Stronger extensor muscles will undoubtedly protect the more vulnerable extensor muscle tendon.  So, exercises may be worth considering, provided they are graduated and do not provoke tennis elbow symptoms - and that the newfound strength is not used to grip the rod even harder!  Specialised equipment is available from most sports shops but simple exercises such as squeezing a small rubber ball would suffice.

Parting shot

With its tendency to recur if the causative factors are not removed or modified, tennis elbow can be a troublesome condition for fly fisherman.  Because of the site of the pain, attention in terms of prevention is often focussed wrongly on the elbow.

So, ………whatever it takes, SLACKEN THAT GRIP and save the elbow!

I would like to thank Vernon for writing this for us. I have suffered from Tennis Elbow and can confirm not only the pain involved but also the sheer frustration of having to wash your face one handed. Heed the warning, if it hurts let it heal.

Mike H

Albert was a great example of casting keeping us going, since he reached the age of 89 years and was fishing up to 2010 and fly tying until 2011 - a great angling ‘innings’. In fact he learned his craft from the famous Lionel Sweet at the age of 7 and, later, greatly enjoyed teaching many anglers as a member of  many fishing-related organisations. From personal experience I know just how keen he was about casting and his knowledge was deep - he will be missed in angling and casting circles.

Albert is survived by daughters Jackie and Elaine and our thoughts reach out to them.

When teaching with his usual enthusiasm in future, I know the BFCC Membership and our visitors will benefit from this success, so thank you in anticipation and well done Roger!