Fly anglers across the country are checking their equipment and packing their bags as the curtains open on the first of two qualifying competitions for the 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games.
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| The march toward Reno-Tahoe's Truckee River begins later this month in Pennsylvania. |
"We are set for two great events in the next month," said Cadence Harkins, assistant director of the Great Outdoor Games. "We're in Pennsylvania for the eastern Fly Fishing Challenge next week and then we head out to Idaho in early April for the western event."
Day one of the three-day event will be an open casting competition that will narrow the field to the 18 anglers invited to fish on day two.
On day two, anglers have two hours in which to catch and declare their longest fish of the day. The six anglers with the longest fish will go on to compete on the final day. The top three final catches will net invitations to the 2003 Games July 10-13 in Reno-Tahoe.
"A lot goes into these events," Harkins said. "Competitive fly fishing is a pretty new idea, and we're going to great lengths to protect our reputation for low-impact events that showcase the fisheries we visit. Frankly, we're trying to exceed the standards of our competitors, anglers who enjoy these fisheries and want to protect them for future enjoyment. If we can live up to their standards for conservation, we're doing something right."
In addition to telecasts with the potential to attract fly angling enthusiasts to featured locations, ESPN will also donate funds to the Henry's Fork Watershed Council for river stewardship programs and a similar program in Pennsylvania.
"We had an excellent experience with ESPN," said Lt. Bill Crain of New York's Environmental Conservation Police, whose officers oversaw the fly angling competition at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games in Lake Placid. "We found ESPN staff very receptive. Whatever we requested, ESPN eagerly complied with, and to my knowledge, we didn't lose any fish.
"(The anglers) are concerned with the fisheries. It's not just their living, its an avocation. They really love fishing, fly fishing, and the trout. A great deal of professional skill and care was used in handling our fish."
Competitive fly fishing is still a relative rarity, but at the 2003 Games, the world's 12 best fly anglers cast for the single longest fish of the day. The challenge? Anglers must decided whether to release the fish they have in hand before casting for a longer one. All fish caught will be released.
Qualifying Criteria
Automatic invitations will be extended to the three medal winners from the 2002 Great Outdoor Games: Gold, Pete Erickson, Boise, Idaho; Silver, Andy Fisher, Cody, Wyo., Bronze, Chuck Farneth, Little Rock, Ark.
The top three anglers from the eastern ESPN Fly Fishing Challenge, Spring Ridge Club, Penn., March 19-21, 2003.
The top three anglers from the western ESPN Fly Fishing Challenge, Henry's Fork of the Snake River, ID, April 8-10, 2003.
Three competitors will be selected at the discretion of the sport organizer.
Qualifying Competitions
Rules and Regulations
Based on their 1-18 seeding from the casting competition held on day one, each angler will have a choice between three two-hour fishing flights and their location on the river on day two, the first of two fishing days.
Anglers will fish for the longest trout they believe they can catch during their flight from drift boats, which will be provided.
Wade fishing will be allowed, but the anglers must begin their flight in their boat.
Fishing will only be permitted within the actual river boundaries; fishing from or into tributaries will not be permitted.
Trout will be the only fish measured for competition purposes and will be measured to the closest quarter-inch.
Once the angler has designated a trout as his or her catch during that flight, he or she is done fishing and the length of that trout isrecorded as his or her Official Length.
The six anglers with the longest Official Lengths will advance to the Finals.
Casting scores will be used to resolve ties.
A provided oarsman will act as the tournament official and will verify measurements and ensure that all fish caught are returned to the river alive. A camera operator will also accompany each angler.
Once an angler has designated a fish as his or her catch, he or she must cease fishing and return to the check-in location.
All measurements will be held confidential until the results announcement at the end of the day.
Finals
The six anglers advancing from Day One will have their choice of location on the river based on their Day One standing.
Anglers will fish for the longest trout they believe they can catch from drift boats, which will be provided.
Wade fishing will be allowed, but the anglers must begin their flight in the boat.
Fishing will only be permitted within the actual river boundaries; fishing from or into tributaries will not be permitted.
Trout will be the only fish measured for competition purposes and will be measured to the closest quarter-inch.
Once the angler has designated a trout as his or her catch during that flight, he or she is done fishing and the length and girth of that trout are recorded as his or her Official Length and Official Girth.
The angler with the longest Official Lengths will win the tournament. Official Girth measurements will be used to resolve ties.
A provided oarsman will act as the tournament official and will verify measurements and ensure that all fish caught are returned to the river alive. A camera operator will also accompany each angler.
Once an angler has designated a fish as his or her catch, he or she must cease fishing and return to the check-in location.
Equipment Regulations
Competitors may choose any rod weight and length with corresponding reels and lines.
Lines may be sinking or floating.
Lead split shot will not be permitted.
Competitors may choose any length and diameter tippet.
Competitors may have spare equipment on hand, but will only be permitted to have a maximum of three (3) rods on the river.
Competitors are allowed a single, barbless hook per fly, and may only fish with one hook at a time.
Flies can be wet or dry, weighted or unweighted.
Rods and flies will be examined before the competitors enter the water.
Sport Organizer
Yellow Dog Trading Company
Arkansas' largest waterfowl guiding operation handles over 1,800 hunters annually. The Yellow Dog Trading Company, based in Little Rock, Ark., also guides nearly every river, lake and stream in Arkansas and Missouri.
Spearheaded by Justin Tackett, an expert retriever trainer and fly-fishing guide for more than 10 years, Yellow Dog is also an outdoor travel agency, booking operations for many of the finest hunting and fishing lodges in 31 states and 13 countries.
Tackett and Yellow Dog have organized the retriever trials and fly-fishing competitions since the inception of the Great Outdoor Games.
Telecasts
Both ESPN Fly Fishing Challenge events will air later this spring, prior to the Great Outdoor Games. The eastern event will be telecast Saturday, April 5 at 10:30 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2 and will re-air on April 11 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The western event will be telecast Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. on ESPN2 and will re-air June 20 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Additional Information
Top outdoor athletes from around the world compete for entry into the ESPN Great Outdoor Games, set for July 10-13 in Reno-Tahoe. The ultimate championships for outdoor sports features one-of-a-kind, head-to-head competition in timber and target events, sporting dogs, and fishing. In addition to entertaining large crowds on site, the ESPN Great Outdoor Games also draws a worldwide television audience airing on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports.
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