New Rules

Rules
RULES OF 1ST PRAGUE FLY FISHING COMPETITION - ORVIS CUP 2011

Competition details:
•    International open competition in artificial fly lures game fishing.
•    Competition date 30.9 – 2.10.2011, Prague Vltava.
•    The competitors will fish from boats; each boat contains a pair of fishermen and a rower, who is also a referee.
•    The fishing style is catch and release.
•    The competition starts with the sound of a siren (boats and competitors are already on water in the given sector).
•    Fishing can only be performed in the defined sector and according to rules.
•    The competition section will be divided into three sectors (each sector for 16 boats)
•    Maximum number of competitors is 96.
•    Friday  takes place the Draw of the sectors and positions for whole upcoming competition. Necessary participation of each competitor!!!
Draw and rotation:
•    Singles competition with the option of registering a pair of competitors into one boat, other couples will be assigned to boats according to registration order.
•    Competitor disputes in boat are resolved by the rower, possibly referee.
•    The river competition sector is divided by a well visible tape into three sectors (upper and lower weir and area between weirs – middle sector). The competitors will fish gradually in each of the three sectors. The breakdown into groups is determined by boat number, which is decided by lot on the day of registration.
•    Every competitor gets his ID card on which is written competitor’s sectors for all rounds,after third round each competitor will return ID card to an organizer, ID card will be placed in prize draw game.
•    Competitors will be discriminated by the colorful scarf dressed on the neck, arm or other visible place for easy identification.
•    In the event that a competitor(s) withdraw(s) from the competition the organizer will modify the makeup of the pairs as needed on site.
Competition rules:
•    Catches are measured and recorded by the competitor, only in the middle sector it is measured and recorded by the rower.
•    Fish are measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail in a landing net by using a trough.
•    Every fish, which the competitor wants to measure, must be landed in a net.
•    All fish caught and angled at the head part are recorded on the score card.
•    The fish length is measured in centimeters (1cm=1 point).
•    Competitors considerately return fish back in the water by landing net.
•    Spacing between boats is a distance of at least 15 meters (in the middle sector).
•    Fishing is only allowed while sitting, an exception is releasing the fish with the net and when returning the fish.
•    Fishing is performed only with 3 artificial fly lures on single hook without counter spike.
•    In each boat there will be a piece of cloth for possibly check of counter spike by the other competitor or referee.
•    The minimum strength of the line is 0.15 millimeters.
•    Ties must be spaced at least 50 centimeters from each other.
•    The maximum permitted length of the fly fishing rod is 3.65 meters.
•    Fly angling line must have a minimum length of 22 meters.
•    Each boat must possess at least one landing net with a knot free mesh.
•    A competitor can have two rods prepared for fishing; one for fishing, second is folded into two parts stored in a safe spot. Rower is not liable for possible breaking of a rod.
•    A life jacket and protective goggles are recommended.
•    The fishermen fish at their own risk.
•    Entering shore is permitted.
•    Catches over 50 cm must be measured by the called sector´s referee.
•    Every kind of fish over 15 cm long can be recorded.

Rules for the upper and lower weir:
•    The boats must be anchored to the guiding rope by the bow and the
stern using a snap hook and ready thimbles.
•    The boat must be anchored with the bow facing the numbered buoy.
•    Weir sectors are divided into the 2 groups of 8 boats each. In each
 round of competitions the boats will change place each hour. There will be a 15 minute break to change places.
•    In the whole of the middle sector above and under the bridge it is allowed to fish 3 ½ hours without a break.
•    Competitors may fish downstream as well as upstream. They may not infringe on neighboring competitor’s fields by casting into the wake of neighboring boats.
•    Size of the catch (in cm) must be noted on a new page of the competitor’s Points
Book (using big, easily readable numbers), and raise the Points Book to show the number to the referee.
•    After the referee has note the catch in the Points Card, the  competitor can continue with the fishing
•    At the end of the competition the competitor will hand over the Points
Book to the organizer

Prohibited is:
•    To fish outside of the competition section.
•    Anchoring.
•    Fishing from shore.
•    Fishing behind the boat, trolling.
•    To fish after consuming alcohol or other intoxicating substances influencing behavior and vigilance.
•    Using electronic devices to seek out fish (echo sounders, GPS etc.).
•    Using flies with a counter spike and tube flies.
•    Using rotation elements, twister tails, strengtheners and any feeding.
•    Using shooting heads, lines and ties with metal cores, placing weights and float elements outside of the fly's body.
•    Catch signaling in any form.
•    Baiting in any form.
Competition scoring:
•    Each round and sector is scored separately.
•    Partial round scores are determined according to achieved points (1mm = 1 point) during a round.
•    The overall result is a summary of positions achieved in individual rounds.
•    The competitor with the lowest sum of positions is declared a winner.
•    In case of a tie in the sum of positions, these criteria in the following order are decisive
•    Until a final result is achieved: number of points in all rounds, number of fish, largest fish, second largest fish, etc.
Competition results are counted into the Fishing Association standings
Protests:
•    A protest must be filed within one hour following the end of the round with the main referee
•    The security deposit for a protest is 1,000 CZK.
•    If a protest is deemed valid, the deposit is returned; in the other case the organizers will use it to put fish in a section.
•    Protests are dealt with by a committee in the following makeup: main referee, competition guarantor (or competition director), member of the committee appointed ahead of time from among the competitors.
Claims against results:
•    Claims are accepted within 30 minutes following the posting of results.
•    After expiration of this time, they are considered fully valid.
Sanctions:
•    A competitor is immediately disqualified and eliminated from the competition without any entitlement to refund of registration fee in case he violates a ban.
•    In case of violating rules, the competitor receives a warning, next violation of rules results in disqualification and elimination from the competition without any entitlement to refund of registration fee.
(Possible minor changes in the competition rules are possible, but not in a way that it fundamentally changes the course of the competition.)