ROD AND LINE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

ROD AND LINE

CASTING TOURNAMENTS POINTS FOR ORGANISERS CONDUCT OF SUCH MEETINGS (By “Irideus”) When Centeninal celebrations were discussed in this column some time ago the suggestion was made that anglers might well stage district casting tournaments as their contribution to the attractions of Centennial year. More recently reference was made to the successful tournament organised by the Rotorua Rod and Gun Club at Ohinemutu over the New Year weekend, and it was suggested that Hamilton anglers might well emulate their brethren of Rotorua and stage their own contest. It is, of course, easy to make a suggestion and leave it at that, but when the proposal was aired in these notes the writer mentioned that more details might later be given touching the running of such tournaments. In the hope that they may prove of value a few are now provided. Organisation Necessary In the first place, some careful preliminary organisation is necessary. There must be enthusiasm in the organising club and the club must be prepared to spend a little on gear. Once a committee has been formed and a secretary appointed, a suitable venue should be chosen, preferably in a sheltered spot, with room for spectators as well as competitors and officials, and space for the holding of events both on water and land. Details of classes, entry fees, prizes and competition conditions should be decided early, and judges, timekeepers and stewards appointed. And appropriate advertisement, apart from programme sheets, can do much to stimulate interest amonjg general public. An attempt should also be made to get in touch with all anglers in the vicinity, whether clut* members or not. Equipment Needed The following general impedimenta will be needed, in addition to marking boards and pitches: Result charts, timekeepers’ chairs, signal bell or whistle, watches or sang-glasses (the latter are most convenient for timing events), blackboard, chalks* pencils, pads and other stationery, scales (if there is a limit on rod-weight), a surveyor’s tape (if bait-casting events are held on grass), and, if possible, a megaphone. And don’t forget a notice stating that the committee accepts no responsibility for the safety of competitors’ gear. The main item of equipment Is, of course, the marking-board for events on water. This should be clearly marked at three-inch, six-inch and foot intervals up to 100 feet. Some saving in labour may be effected by commencing the numbering on the board at about the 10yd mark, and it should be remembered that the numbering should start from the right-hand end of the board. The casting platform should be firmly set in the stream-bed, and immovable, and great care should be taken in affixing the marking board at the correct distance from the platform (if, as was suggested, the figures do not commence at zero). The main need in the platform is stability, but the planked surface should be smooth, since line is usually dropped at the feet preparatory to “shooting” it out in distance events. The marking-board must, of course, also be staken firmly into the bottom, and should lie just clear of the surface of the water. If there is any current the casting should be done downstream. Accuracy Casting For accuracy casting events, four floating hoops are needed. These should be loin to 18in in diameter and should be placed at, say, four, eight, TO and 12 yard intervals, and anchored by means of twine and bricks. The hoops should be painted white, to assist competitors. Where possible, all events should be staged on water, but since it may be more suitable to hold two events at the one time, if the programme is a lengthy one, bait-casting may be held on a grass court. The shape of such a court is triangular, the competitor standing at the apex of the triangle and casting toward the base. Any casts which land without the bounds of the court do not count. To conform to the rules of the British Fly and Bait Casting Association, the court be of such size that at 100 ft from the competitor’s “ base ” the sides should be 30ft apart. Incidentally, the same rules provide that weights for baitcasting shall be provided by the tournament. committee. They are usually pear-shaped and made of aluminium. Vale of Tournaments Casting tournaments have become very popular in Great Britain in recent years, chiefly through the efforts of the British Fly and Bait Casting Assoi elation, and through the pioneering j work of Lord Glanusk’s Usk Valley i tournaments, and rightly so. As has ; been mentioned before, they are a I truer test of angling skill than the tra- ! rlitional fishing competition, in which ! luck, good or bad, plays such an im- | portant role, and the casting tourney has the further merit of providing useful instruction for the beginners. Nor ■is their beneficial effect confined to beginners, for no matter how veteran an angler may be there are always interesting and useful points which can be -picked up from the observation of ! other angler’s methods.