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World Tuscany Open Fly Tying Competition
21-23 September 2007

To put it as simply as I possibly can, the World Tuscany Flytying Open was amazing. From the outside looking in there was not a hitch to be seen, it was just so well organised. It truly is a credit to those who spent so much time and effort putting this show together. No wonder they only run the event every second year. The story for me began with an invitation to be one of the judges at the WTO and how could you refuse an opportunity to visit Tuscany and enjoy some of the world's finest wines and unbelievable food? Not to mention the social blending with our hosts and other invited guests. My wife Alaine and I left early with the plan to stay in Rome for a few days which was nothing but exhilarating; history, art, food, wine and fashion belong to Italy. Roberto and Maurizio picked us up from Rome and we drove for the next two hours up to Sansepolcro in Tuscany. We were booked into the Borgo Palace , a 4.5 star hotel, just ashort stroll to the heart of the town.

The Borgo Palace in Sansepolcro Tuscany

The first night and the first feast (wow) saw us mingling and meeting the other guests but the next day it was work and judging the flies that had been entered from around the world. There were six categories, Realistic, Ephemera Male Spinner, Realistic Sedge, Salmon Fly fully dressed with the theme being Piero della Francesca's painting of the Madonna del parto (1467), Saltwater Sardina pilchardus and finally, an open class. The rules for judging were simple, the highest score that you'd give a fly was 90 and you graded down from there. That is not to say that in each category there was only one fly that was allowed to receive full marks. The fact was that if there were five flies that were good enough in any category and deserved full marks, they got it and let the computer sort the final scores. The old magnifying glass sorts out a few of the wrinkles and helps make the job a little easier.

L to R: Nadica Stancev, Igor Stancev, Al Caucci,Hans van Klinken, John Randolph, A.K. Best

The flies that were entered in the various categories were all mounted on large fly boards and each fly was given a number. As judges we did not know who tied the fly or from what country it came from. All the flies were judged solely on their merits. To my mind this, without argument, is the fairest way of judging a fly tying competition. Salmon fly -1-R

Salmon fly-R Two samples of the artistry and skill shown in the Salmon fly category.

From the Realistic category; you could just about eat it

Each of the judges was asked to sign a certificate and these were given to all of those, who sent in entries in each division. From what I am told, these certificates are much sought after. I can understand that, especially when you realise that some of the world's best known fly tyers/fly fishermen's signatures are on that document.

WTO file WTO Certificate-R The signed Certificate issued to all contributors and judges is very much regarded as a collector's piece

After the judging a few quiet beers and a chat went down well and that evening we were treated to another great feast, as only the Italians can do. Love that Italian food! If you wish to see who won, click onto the WTO website and follow the links - www.moscaclubaltotevere.it

The President ,Mauro Raspini, dressed for the River Test?

The following day was Bamboo Day. We met at the club rooms and all of the guests were allotted a guide and given a 7' 6”cane rod to use for the day, courtesy of the Italian Bamboo Rod-makers Association. You know what the Italians are like with craftsmanship and that artistic flair they are so famous for; well that is reflected in their work. These cane fly rods are amongst the best I have seen. As you can imagine, they feature various styles and actions but it is the workmanship that got to me; simply superb. The club rooms are terrific, accommodation, café and bar restaurant, fly tying room, meeting rooms, outdoor barbecue area, swimming pool and it is close to the river, Tail Water Tevere, with around four or more kilometres of catch and release water under their management and supervision.

Centre ,Giuliano, the world's most dedicated River Warden

WTO file Cane day Hans van Klinken,,John Randolph & Steve Thornton getting ready for Bamboo Day

The fishing is hard, as the Browns, many of which are in the 18 to 20 inch mark, are very streetwise and often rise to your fly, only to turn away sharply at the last second. Talk about survivors! There is Grayling everywhere and if the trout are tough, well the freely rising grayling keep you on your toes.

Working the river

That night another feast at the Borgo Palace and again, great food and wine that just kept on coming and coming until around midnight, when we joyfully retired to our rooms. The Saturday was a big day. The organisers had erected a number of marquees in the Piazza della Liberta (town square) up in an ancient walled town of Arezzo, about twenty minutes by coach from the Borgo Palace at Sansepolcro. Invited fly tyers from all over Italy and various parts of Europe and USA were busy showing their skills and various tying styles. It was a time to watch, meet these great tyers and just savour the environment. There was an area set aside for the Judges to take turns tying a couple of flies and then let another in the chair to do his or her bit.

Top left Agostino Roncallo Italy, top right Antonio Rinaldi Italy Bottom left, Gregory Vervier Belgium and Herman Broers Netherlands

On the first floor of the town hall was a large, open area and this was the scene for lunch. Not one but two Sommeliers were in attendance to serve and give advice on the fine wine selection from the district. That lined the first table which was followed by a selection of breads and cheese and finally a huge selection of preserved meats. One of the most common phrases being heard around the crowd was, “have you tasted that?”

The Sommelier in action

What a lunch that was

The Italian lifestyle dictates that lunch can last for a couple of hours or more. Some shops close around midday and open again around 3 or 4pm. I believe there are no real trading hours; you can suit yourself as to how you operate your business. What a great way of life. The afternoon was again all about chatting and watching some great talent.

The Scuola Italiana di Pesca a Mosca (SIM) stand, Italy's leading fly casting/fishing school.. Alfeo Busilacchio standing and the President Osvaldo Galizia in front of stand. I didn't meet the fly tyer.

La Pesca magazine is one of Italy 's leading publications L-R ClaudioTosti, yours truly and Federico Renzi, who has a regular fly tying column in this very popular magazine.

The guys from SIM were there supporting the WTO and showing their casting skills ( see SIM Report on Mick's site ) and it was great to see Italy 's best casters in action. I even had the opportunity to meet the great Roberto Pragliola who is highly regarded as the best of the best.

Marino Di Luca, Roberto Pragliola, Al Caucci and Mick Hall

The great Roberto Pragliola in action

The Gala Dinner that night was packed. Some 300 people were seated and I believe another 200 plus tried to book in but sadly missed out.   Hans Van Klinken and a happy Steve Thornton at the Gala dinner

As with all gala dinners, there is a heap of thankyous and announcements. The winners of the World Tuscany Open were announced (see website www.moscaclubaltotevere.it )

and the guests and Judges were individually thanked and called up from the floor to receive a silver statuette of a fly fisher playing a trout.

At the end of all the formal announcements, the President, Mauro Raspini, disappeared only to return dressed in flowing robes and wearing an ancient traditional head piece, the kind that they use for formal celebrations, etc., at Italian Universities.

An announcement was made in Italian and then Hans van Klinken (Klinkhamer fame) and yours truly were called up front. We each had to place our hands on a copy of the Isaac Walton's “Compleat Angler ” whilst a declaration was being made that both Hans and I were now officially honorary life members of Mosca Club Altotevere and that we were now both President of the club for one hour!

The Swearing in and what an ordeal it was, lots of pomp and pageantry as one would expect. All good stuff

L. The President Mauro Raspini and Federico Renzi reading the decree This decree was sealed by dubbing a cane fly rod on our shoulders and the sipping of Italian red wine from a special silver tasting dish. What an honour. It was 3 am when we got to bed.

Sunday saw us back up at Arezzo , blending with the fly tiers and the various exhibition stands which featured a number of clubs and some commercial stands. For me it was a bit of a problem trying to find any semblance of intelligence, or what was left of it, after the night before! The lunch was back up on the mezzanine and those that were there the day before knew what they were in for. That night it was another feast at the Borgo Palace and it was a time to say goodbye and thankyou to our hosts. To the President, Mauro Raspini, Federico Renzi, Luca Castellani and all of the team behind the scenes, I congratulate you and both Alaine and I thank you for your hospitality and friendship. Ciao my friends, Mick Hall

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