Shino, I have stopped provincial angling on the freshwater side now about 5 years. Even club freshwater angling. I thought I would be a bit behind....but actually no, I am still allright, and maybe cause I have been in the freshwater part for about for about 20 years +.
As of the knowledge, that come from info you receive from other provinsial anglers, and springbok anglers.
From my side, I always think it's better to share on what you are doing, even when fishing trials and nationals. If by giving the bait away to people and those other people beat you, and least you shared your secret with others, and it proves that the other person is a bit better than you, so theres homework you have to do, why did he beat you after you gave the bait to him. What did he do better than what you have been doing.
Thats part where you have to do work again, and catch up on what you have missed.