Fly Casting Events (General Info)

The BFCC currently offers fly casting events for fly anglers, tournament fly casters, and an annual event for team casting. To focus on majority interests at present, we are initially offering distance-casting events only, but intend on adding accuracy and other unique technique-building games as UK casting diversifies. Relaxed rules for fly fisherman's events with an emphasis on personal best efforts are the primary goals of the BFCC, while rules for tournament-grade events will be in line with the International Casting Sport Federation (ICSF), and/or the American Casting Association (ACA) to prepare potential international casters for these top-level competition. This way those who aspire to European, US, and World level competitions can be familiar with what is expected. Please read below and become familiar with the casting events on offer including the equipment associated with each event. Please do not forget to read the GENERAL RULES section.

Angler's Fly Casting Events

Fly Fisherman's #7 Distance: This event is generally for inexperienced competition anglers.

Since the majority of UK fly fisherman use rods in the 6,7, & 8 AFTMA weight divisions, we feel that this competition is the best way to introduce fly fishermen/women to distance casting without resorting immediately to the use of stiffer tournament rods with long shooting heads. To maintain a sense of fairness, the BFCC will provide a suitable fly casting outfit (historically a 7 weight outfit) for this event, however casters are permitted and encouraged to use their own rod while we provide the line/reel combo. Trophies, Casting Certificates & Proficiency Casting Badges modelled after the coveted 55 yard club badge will be on hand to commemorate your casting efforts. Perfecting your distance-casting skills with your own tackle will convert into better and more enjoyable fly fishing whether using WF, DT, Hi-D full-line, or Shooting Head lines.

General Equipment & Casting Time Limits:

Fly Fisherman's Distance TEAM event: Following on from the success of this type of event at the last tournament 2006, teams composed of three (3) casters each are invited to cast against other casting teams from all over the U.K. The winning team will be the one with the longest combined total of top distances cast by it's members.

 

Fly Fisherman's #5 (or #7) Distance: Generally for experienced competition casters.

General Equipment & Casting Time Limits:

 

5 Weight Fly Casting (EXPERTS) Distance with Floating Line: To acommodate the interests and goals of our more experienced UK fly fisherman, we have fashioned this event to allow these casters (and anybody else interested in casting light lines) to push the distance-casting envelope. This event is extremely popular in the USA where large money prizes and exposure on the telly, e.g. ESPN & Outdoor Life Network (OLN) have brought in the big names of fly casting/fishing. Currently in the USA, Sage, GLoomis, and other top rod brands matched historically to a Scientific Angler's XXD WF line, are being used in the 5 weight distance event since these outfits often produce fast tip and line speeds, however, a caster's technique is just as important, so bring your own gear and have a go and experience fly casting's distance frontier. More detailed information on the ISE 5 weight 'Best of the West' USA competitions & full line 5 weight distance casting techniques can be found on http://home.att.net/~slowsnap/ and the fly casting board threads (and big hitter's movie clips) of http://www.sexyloops.com/

General Equipment & Casting Time Limits:

 

Angler's Fly Distance: This popular casting event has its roots in the USA and the American Casting Association (ACA), but its gaining interest in the UK for those who want to cast shooting heads without incurring a hernia :-) This is a hybrid casting event which challenges the caster to use a very light (in tournament terms) rod matched with a very light shooting head (19 grams) to cast quite enormous distances. The rod, which is AFTMA rated to cast 10/11 WF lines, is nimble enough to be used in fishing situations (e.g. saltwater or fishing with large pike flies). Those who want to marry long distance with precision casting strokes and impressive overhang lengths will be attracted to the angler's fly distance event. American casters Steve Rajeff and Rene Gillibert have cast to a whopping 190 feet in this event--casting off of flat ground! Saying that, some BFCC casters may want to look into this outfit for their 55 Yard Club qualification!

General Equipment & Casting Time Limits:

  1. ROD: shall not exceed 9 feet 1 inch in length (with a one inch length tolerance). The rod can be of standard manufacture or custom built. We recommend using a blank similar to the purpose-built GLoomis TF-10810 Angler's Fly Rod blank or similiar 10 weight blank. Casters may elect to tape ferrules with insulation tape for safety.

  2. REEL: must be attached to the rod and has the capacity to hold the complete fly line outfit.

  3. SHOOTING HEAD: shall not be longer than 31 feet nor shorter than 28 feet and shall way no more than 19 grams. We recommend purchasing a Scientific Anglers T19 which is purpose-built for this event. Leader loops are permitted.

  4. LEADER: shall not be longer than 3 metres and will be constructed of unweighted nylon (e.g. Stren).

  5. RUNNNG LINE: Unrestricted.

  6. Wool (yarn).

  7. Other equipment regulations will be in compliance with ACA rules see (http://www.americancastingassoc.org/) since this event is not have an equivalent ICSF category.

  8. Distance Badges to be attained: 45 yards and up.

  9. Time Limit: 5 minutes.

 

The '55 Yard Club' Fly Distance Qualification: This event was created by Mike Marshall (former British Casting Champion) and Iain Thomson APGAI of the British Casting Association (BCA) to encourage fisherman to take up distance fly casting. For those fly fishermen and women who really want to learn how to chuck a line to the horizon (because we all know that's were the fish are located!!!), then this event is for you! Furthermore, fly casters who gain this coveted casting qualification are authorised to wear one of the most handsome badges in casting (go to the 'Distance Clubs' on this section on this websiteor look at the article in Trout Fisherman magazine, June 2003, page 17). To hit the 55 yard mark and beyond one must use tournament-grade rods with a balanced shooting head outfit. With proper distance-casting tuition (see our 'Tuition Section' for advice) and dedicated practise, the majority of casters who apply the proper rod loading, hauling and shooting techniques will make the grade. So how do you qualify for the club? Simply, you must hit a single cast on or over the 55 yard mark on flat ground without the aid of a platform at one of our BFCC casting events, unless other arrangements are made with the agreement of the BFCC committee. To encourage casters to use their 'heads' as well as their 'muscles' for this competition, we have made the rules sufficiently broad to allow people to develop and experiment with a wide range of equipment ideas and principals.

General Equipment & Casting Time Limits:

 

Tournament Grade Events

Single-handed Fly Distance (BFCC Event T38): This casting event (ICSF event 2) is the one which attracts those distance junkies who have met the challenge of the 55 yard club goal and now want to hone their distance-casting skills by competing with other like-minded casters at the Local, National, European, and World levels. Unlike the 55 Yard Club qualification, this event has more restrictions since we are complying with international rules. Those who perform well in the BFCC events will be invited to be part of the British fly casting team which would in turn represent Great Britain in ICSF-sanctioned casting tournaments.

General Equipment & Rules:

 

Double-handed Fly Distance (BFCC Event S120): This event is the challenges the casters ability to master rod weight and length versus strength and technique. Casting a double-handed salmon rod (especially tournament rods to 17 foot) is very popular in the USA & Europe, and is arguably the most physically demanding of all fly casting events. A full double-handed casting outfit will be provided by the BFCC.

!!!!STOP PRESS!!!!: Because many anglers are not used to casting a 17 foot/120 gram salmon outfit, we are offering 3 lighter classes for our casters to try out. They are:

55 Gram Class

95 Gram Class

112 Gram Class

 

General Equipment & Rules: