COMPETITION FAQ’S

  • Team Canada positions for international events are awarded by an FFC Selection Committee.  Angler selection is based primarily on individual results at sanctioned FFC Fly Fishing Competitions.

    The World Championships and North America Championships are held every year; the Commonwealth and Oceania championships are held every second year. FFC believes that national and international competition experience is invaluable for anglers wishing to compete at the World Championship level. Accordingly, except in unusual circumstances, anglers wishing to be selected to Canada’s team at the World Championships should first have fished in one or more of the other international competitions. 

  • Competitors from most countries receive financial support from their government or industry, or from their fishing clubs, most of which belong to a national parent organization. Government support has been lacking for Canadian teams and, for the most part, corporate support has been in tackle and equipment. As a result, Canadian competitors have always paid all of their own expenses.

  • During a typical competition, anglers on a posted beat will fish alone, each under the scrutiny of a local controller who ensures that all tackle restrictions and fishing regulations are observed. Those fishing from boats are always paired with a team member from another country, plus a local controller. Whether ashore or afloat, whenever a fish is brought to the release cradle, the controller quickly measures and records its length, then immediately releases it.

    The marking system is quite simple: length x 20 + 100. To qualify, a fish must measure a minimum of 30 cm in length. Each valid catch counts for 100 points, and each centimetre of body length counts for 20 points. Thus, a 30 cm trout would be 30 x 20 + 100 = 700 points, and one of 50 cm would accumulate 1,100 points.

    Rather than give any one competitor an unfair advantage, organizers often make things equally difficult for everyone. For example: If a particular stretch of river is much better than others, in all likelihood it will be placed out of bounds during the competition. If a lake has one bay with springs or an inlet stream that attracts more trout than the other areas, it may also be placed out of bounds. While luck of the draw will decide where each competitor must fish in a river or bank session, everyone involved agrees that the most knowledgeable and hardest-working anglers will be the ones who consistently catch fish, especially under difficult conditions.

    At the end of each day, controllers turn their tally sheets over to administrators who then compile and credit them to the appropriate teams. If you caught fish, you win points; if you got skunked, you do not. In other words, it is much like any other day of fishing, except you had to abide by some rules that were common to everyone participating, and someone was keeping score on how you made out. As mentioned above, points are awarded to individuals for the number of fish they catch at the session. With these points tallied at each session, each angler’s score is then compared and ranked among the competitors’ scores in his or her group, with highest point total getting a first, next highest a second, and so on. If an angler blanks the session, he or she gets a placing equal to the number of competitors in the group. For example, if 20 competitors are fishing a session, but only two catch fish (one catches two and another catches one). The angler catching two will rank number one for that venue, the angler catching one will place number two, and the remaining 18 will rank 20th.

    At the end of the competition, the individual who accumulates the lowest aggregate placing points in the five sessions will receive a gold medal, silver goes to the second place winner, and bronze to the third. For example, if you did very well and placed first in three sessions and second in one session and third in another session, you’d have an aggregate of only eight placing points (1+1+1+2+3=8), very good results indeed! Conversely, if you did not catch a scoring fish at any of the five sessions and you fished in a group of 20 competitors, you would place 20th at each session and would have an aggregate of 100 placing points (20+20+20+20+20=100). In reality, most scores fall somewhere in between these two extremes. It is worth noting that no matter where in the world these championships are held, some individual anglers consistently place in the top 10.

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  • FFC COMPETITION RULES

International Competitions

National Fly Fishing Competitions

National Fly Fishing Competitions

 

Quick Overview

The best place to get information on the National Championships is to read the rules and the rule modifications. [Link to National Competition Rules]

The competition will consist of five three hour-long periods, and will be held at five venues. Competitors will be divided into five groups, which may number as high as 26 per group. No more than one team member is permitted on the same water, and competitors designated as individuals will be assigned to one of the five groups. On streams or lake shorelines, each individual will be assigned a "beat" -- a stretch that he or she will fish for three hours. The group will then move to the next competition venue and fish for another three-hour period - two periods on the two full days and one 3 hour period on Thursday.

On lakes and impoundments fished by boat, the anglers can go anywhere they wish. Boats are provided at each lake, and every attempt is made to match them so everyone has a level playing field. Boats are also available on the practice lakes for the practice period. Transportation to and from the lakes is provided only on competition and official practice days. Early and late arrivals on any other day will have to provide their own transportation.

I’m off by myself here. How do I sign up as a competitor?

Sign up as an individual competitor. Most competitions have individuals that end up forming teams.  Teams offer camaraderie, shared information, fly patterns and a great opportunity to learn from one another. There are several Fly Fishing Leagues running FFC Sanctioned Events across Canada.  Sign up and compete!

·      BC Competitive Fly Fishing League

·      Alberta Competitive Fly Fishing League

·      Eastern Canada Fly Fishing League

 

Is preference given to those whom apply as teams?

No. There is usually a limit to total anglers and once that is reached the event is full.

 

What are there the charges or entry fees?

The entry fees are set by the event organizers. Generally, a National entry fee will cost around $350-$400 Canadian for each competitor, whether on a team or not. The fees apply to additional team members such as alternates, coaches and road managers. Fees do not apply to guests who accompany the team members: uncles, aunts, wives, etc. (who are very welcome to volunteer in most cases).

Additional costs to attend a Nationals include but are not limited to:

·      Meals

·      all travel costs

·      lodging

 

Transportation may be provided to the different venues for official practice days and competitions, however, in most cases transportation logistics are up to the team/competitors to organize.

 

What medals are available?

Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded to winning teams. Similar medals will be awarded to individuals who may or may not be affiliated with a team. Scores are compiled for teams, but also for individuals.

 

What constitutes a team?

A team is made up of five competitors plus, if you wish, an alternate in case someone is unable to fish. You may add a road manager and a coach, if desired, but they are subject to an entry fee. Someone must act as Team Captain to represent the group.

 

What if I can’t hook up with a team in my Province/Territory?

You can compete as an individual and be placed on a team with other individual registrants from across the country. This is how new teams are formed and is encouraged!

 

Can I bring my family, wife or a few friends?

You bet! The more the merrier, and to make their experience complete they can volunteer to help with the events! This will allow them to attend live entertainment, fly tying sessions, and all the niceties planned to look after our precious volunteers. In fact, we will probably be criticized for looking after our volunteers better than competitors and exhibitors.

 

I know that all competitions are catch and release but how do they score the fish that are caught?

The marking system is quite simple: length x 20 + 100. To qualify, a fish must measure a minimum length set by the organizers of the event. Each valid catch counts for 100 points, and each centimetre of body length counts for 20 points. Thus, a 30 cm trout would be 30 x 20 + 100 = 700 points, and one of 50 cm would accumulate 1,100 points.

 

How are the winners determined?

Each angler’s score is calculated for a session and then compared/ranked against other competitors’ scores in his or her group, with highest point total getting a first, next highest a second, and so on. If an angler blanks the session, he or she gets a placing equal to the number of competitors in the group. For example, if 10 competitors are fishing a session, but only two catch fish (one catches two and another catches one). The angler catching two will rank number one for that venue, the angler catching one will place number two, and the remaining 8 will rank 10th. At the end of the competition, the individual who accumulates the lowest aggregate placing points in the five sessions will receive a gold medal, silver goes to the second place winner, and bronze to the third. For example, if you did very well and placed first in three sessions and second in the other two sessions, you’d have an aggregate of only seven placing points (1+1+1+2+2=7), very good results indeed! Conversely, if you did not catch a scoring fish at any of the five sessions and you fished in a group of 10 competitors, you would place 10th at each session and would have an aggregate of 50 placing points (10+10+10+10+10=50). Most scores fall somewhere in between these two extremes.

 

If I win, will FFC pay my way to international competitions the following year?

No. Any revenue generated by Fly Fishing Canada is used for Conservation projects and Youth issues and events. Your best bet is to gain sponsorships from your own community and see that your sponsors get plenty of ink in your local newspapers and other media outlets. After all, you've won an opportunity for what may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you will be representing your country at the highest level attainable in your beloved sport.