Casting Competition Rules

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Divisions:

Anglers Division

For the average angler or caster who may or may not have competed in a competition before. This division will feature prizes of quality tackle provided by Graywolf Rods and Royal Wulff Fly Lines. Exact prizes to be announced soon.

Open Division

For more advanced casters who have competed before or want to compete against the best casters in the tournament. Awards for the Open division will be medals for the top three spots as well as a $500 cash prize to the winner caster donated by McFarland Rod Company.

Youth Division

For casters 17 and under. Prizes provided by Graywolf Rods.

Rod:

Casters may use their own rod or use one of the rods made available by the organizers. Any fly rod 9’1” or less in length may be used. Rods may be made of any material and designed for any line weight.

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Line:

All casters will use a Royal Wulff Triangle Taper 5wt floating line. Reels with competition lines will be provided by the organizers for use during the competition. No caster will be permitted to use their own reel or line.

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Leader:

All competitors will use a 7’6” 1x leader provided by the organizers. A piece of yarn or completion fly will be attached to each leader.

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Tournament Format:

The competition will consist of two components, distance and accuracy. For the distance portion, competitors will be allowed to stretch line of the reel and make up to 3 practice casts if desired. Once practice casts are made the caster will make 4 qualifying casts. The best two of the four qualifying casts will be counted towards the point total.

The accuracy portion of the tournament will consist of 5 targets. Each target will be approximately 30” in diameter. Targets will be placed at random, unmarked distances. The min target distance will be 20’. The maximum target distance will be 65’ (shorter for the youth division). Casters are permitted to strip off as much line as desired prior to starting, but must start with “fly” in hand and no more than 2’ of fly line outside of the rod’s tip top. Casters will cast to all targets starting with the closest target and progressing to the longest target. Casters may make as many false casts as desired before casting to the first target and between targets. Once the final/furthest target had been cast to, the caster will strip in all line and have fly in hand before beginning the second round of accuracy casts. The second round of accuracy casts will start with the furthest target and then proceed to the next farthest target and progressing towards the closest and final target.

Special Notes:

Any cast during the accuracy portion that touches or ticks the ground in front of the caster will be scored. Ticks behind the caster are not scored. At any time while casting the caster may choose to lay the line down behind the casting line with no penalty. When the caster is ready to proceed they may resume the casting where they left off. There will be a 5 minute time limit for the accuracy portion of the tournament. (This is plenty of time)

Scoring:

For the distance portion each cast will be measured from the casting line to the point where the “fly” lands and comes to rest. Casts will be measured in feet and inches and rounded to the nearest half foot increment. (2 inches rounds down to the foot, 3 inches round up to the next .5 feet). The best two qualifying casts will be added together. This combined score will be multiplied by 3 to generate a total point score for the distance portion. Example:

Cast 1 89’3” = 89.5’

Cast 2 90’2” = 90’

Cast 3 79’10” = 80’

Cast 4 93’ 7” = 93.5’

We would count casts 2 and 4, add together for a distance of 183.5’, and then multiply by 3 to get a point total of 550.5.

For the accuracy portion, each target will be worth 40 points for a total possible score of 200 points per round and 400 points total for the accuracy portion. A score on a target counts if:

1. The fly lands inside the target and comes to rest inside the target

2. The fly lands inside the target initially and then bounces out and comes to rest outside the target

3. The fly hits the edge or rim of the target and bounces out

A cast that results in the fly initially hitting outside of the target and bouncing into and coming to rest inside the target or a fly that lands outside the target and is drug inside the target by the caster does not count and will be scored as a zero.

The caster’s score from the distance portion will be added to their score from the accuracy portion for a final score.

There will be a short demonstration, explanation of the rules, and Q&A session prior to the start of the tournament.

Judges will have the final say on any and all disputes on casts and scoring. Judges decisions are final.

Pre-registration is recommended but not required.  Just send an email to mike@mcfarlandrods.com to register for the event and let us know if you prefer to cast Saturday or Sunday.