In the February issue of the FLYER it was stated that there are six fly casting events in the big casting tournaments, three of which are accuracy events. The basic rules for the DRY FLY event were introduced to you in the February issue. The DRY FLY event is undoubtedly the “easiest” of the accuracy events to participate in and also one of the most competitive. In this issue of the FLYER you will find the basic rules for the TROUT FLY ACCURACY event. This event as you will find requires a bit more skill in rod handling and line control. TROUT FLY ACCURACY is a fun event in which to participate and also it is very competitive. The American Casting Association can provide the full facts on tournament casting. (www.americancastingassoc.org)
TARGET COURSE The targets are 30” in diameter rings floating in water. The nearest target is 20’ to 25’ from the center of the edge of the casting platform. The far target is 45’ to 50 ‘ away from the casting platform.. The other three targets are set at random distances between the nearest and farthest.
ROD, REEL, LINE, LEADER AND FLY The rod cannot be longer than 8’ 7”. The reel is unrestricted. The line must be a standard double tapered floating line in a 6 weight and not marked to indicate distance. The leader cannot be less than 9 feet. The leader tippet must be at least 18 inches long and does not exceed.008 inches in diameter. The fly must be an official ACA trout. The fly may be oiled.
TIME When the caster’s final forward cast lands on the water he has 6 minutes to finish the course of three rounds or 15 targets.
METHOD OF CASTING Casting one-handed the caster starts the complete round of 5 final forward casts with the nearest target. The false cast in which the line, leader, and fly are moved through the air without intentionally striking the surface in front of the casting box is the mechanism for letting line out and measuring distance to the next target. The caster must not pick up the fly in preparation for the next target until the judge calls “score”.
SCORING AND PENALTIES A fly falling within or on any portion of the target on a final forward cast shall be scored a perfect. For each foot or fraction the fly misses the target on a final forward cast a demerit of one (1) is assessed. Maximum demerits for any single final forward cast shall be two(2). Penalties of one(1) demerit can be charged for the following: sunken fly, ticks, improper strip, improper retrieve, improper cast.
METHOD OF CASTING The caster retrieves the line without placing it on the reel and begins with fly in hand and no more than leader plus 2 feet of line extending beyond the rod tip. The caster then false casts as many times as required before the final forward cast to the nearest target. Caster must not hold coiled line in hand before or during cast to the nearest target. After the first target the caster goes to the next nearest target and through to all five. Line must be extended only while the fly is in the air. Only one (1) false cast is allowed between target (2) and five (5).
SCORING AND PENALTIES For each foot or fraction the fly misses the target on a final forward cast, a demerit of one (1) is assessed. Maximum demerits are two (2). Penalties of one (1) demerit can be charged for the following: ticks, improper strip, improper retrieve, additional false cast., Two (2) demerits for failure to begin with fly in hand.
METHOD OF CASTING A roll cast is defined as one in which the fly does not intentionally leave the water until the rod is in the deliberate forward motion. The round consists of no more than fifteen (15) roll casts at the target course. The caster strips line to measure the closest target with fly on the water. The caster then roll casts to the first target and continues until a perfect is scored and then proceed to the next nearest target and so on. A caster remains on a target until scoring a perfect.
SCORING AND PENALTIES False casting is not permitted and a penalty of two (2) demerits shall be assesses. Two (2) demerits shall be assesses for each target not hit within the allocated fifteen (15) roll casts or if time expires. The caster’s score is 100 points less the total number of demerits for accuracy and penalties from the three rounds.
Wayne Taylor