Entry Rules

• Fishing will be loch-style with International Rules and flies to create a fair and level 'playing field'.
• There are 17 venues to choose from.  You can enter as many regional heats as you like, although we cannot guarantee you a place (we have a limit of approx. 2,500) and reserve the right to move you to a spill-over, or alternative heat if necessary.  Entries will be dealt with on a first come first served basis.
• The first entry costs £30.  You may enter other heats for a reduced fee of £25.  Entry fees are used to cover some Management costs and prizes.  They are not refundable in any circumstances.
• You will also be charged normal boat fees for your heat and final but you will not need to send this with your initial entry.
• The number of qualifiers at each Regional heat will depend upon the level of participation and will be pro-rata to the overall entry numbers.
• There will also be a Wild Card qualifying place for the captor of the biggest fish at each regional heat.
• If a person or persons qualify more than once, due to multiple entry at the Regional heats, then they will still win their Heat prize, but their place or places will be allocated to the reserve places at the relevant heats on the day.
• There is no geographical restriction and no need to belong to a recognised club or association.
• Competitors will be sent full details of their allocated heat or heats after the closing date.
• Cheques for your entry should be made payable to "LEFC".
• All correspondence and enquries about the competition should be made to John Horsey at:
  
  LEFC, Cheriton, Stanton Wick, Pensford, Bristol, BS39 4BZ. 
    E-mail:lexus@johnhorsey.co.uk

Fishing Rules

The Competition will be fished from drifting boats, adhering to regulations that are based on International Rules and respecting the spirit and tradition of game angling. There may be occasions when the organisers will need to amend the rules for some reason, or local fishery regulations may have to be imposed or the match postponed to a later date; whatever the reason, the match organiser’s decision will be final and binding.

Boat pairings will be drawn beforehand by the Organisers and a list showing pairings and boat numbers will be displayed on the morning of the competitor, prior to the start of the match.

Fishing Rods

One rod, not exceeding 12 feet in length, may be used by each competitor, although spare rods (length as before) may be taken into the boat. Spare rods may not be assembled in any way i.e. no sections may be joined, nor should a reel be mounted nor a fly line attached.

Flies

Fishing shall be with artificial fly only; tandem flies are not allowed and no additional weight may be added. No more than four flies may be mounted on a cast and each fly must be at least 20 inches from the next.

Fly Size

The overall length of the hook shall measure no more than 5/8’s of an inch, from the outside of the bend to the outside of the eye. The overall length of a fly, including dressing when wet, shall measure no more than 15/16’s of an inch (including setae, wing, hackle and tail). Attractor chemicals and the use of light emitters to flies are debarred.

A hook may be single or double provided that in the case of a double hook the angle between the bends does not exceed 90 degrees and when viewed from the side, the bends lie one behind the other.

Non-compressible beads or sequins are not permitted in fly dressings, whether they are constructed from metal or plastic.

Strike indicators are not allowed.  Buoyant flies e.g. "Boobies","Bungs", "Sedgehogs", "Floating Fry" etc, may be used in conjuction with non-buoyant patterns (except in Floating Line Only heats - see below).  The buoyant pattern must be constructed to satisfy the above rules, but must also be capable of catching a fish.   In the event of any query concerning this rule, the Match Organiser's decision will be final.

Flylines, leaders and retrieves

Lines, casts and leaders shall not be additionally weighted. No form of Shooting head line, metal core line or metal core braided leader is permitted. Braided leaders, PolyTips and PolyLeaders are allowed, so long as they do not include any metal content.

A competitor’s rod when working flies or retrieving casts, must be above water level. The "Roly-Poly" style of retrieve where the rod is not hand-held, is allowed.

Floating line only heats

On days specified as "Floating Line Only", anglers must fish with floating fly lines. Any form of "Sink Tip" fly line is not allowed. Braided Leaders, PolyTips and PolyLeaders are also specifically debarred. A short length of braided loop is permissible to attach tippet to fly line. The method of suspending flies under a buoyant pattern e.g. "The Bung" is also not allowed. The organisers expect anglers on "Floating Line Only" heats to approach these days and their rules, in the spirit that they are intended.

Boat etiquette

The anchoring of boats when fishing, is prohibited. Boats must be allowed to drift freely when fishing and must not be held on the oars or engine in such a manner as to interfere or gain an unfair advantage over either a boat partner or any other competitor. Fishing must be "over the front" of drifting boats and competitors are not allowed to cast behind the boat whilst at drift. If the boat is stationary due to calm conditions, then this rule does not apply. Trolling or trailing of lines behind or under the boat is not permitted whether the boat is drifting or being driven by engine or oars.

During a match, boats must not encroach within 50 yards of another boat when fishing. The water between the boats may be shared. An angler may not fish on his boat partner’s side of the boat unless invited to do so. This area can only be defined by drawing an imaginary line through the middle of the boat between the two competitors, gunwale to gunwale. Looking downwind, the person on the left hand side of the boat must keep to the left of this demarcation line and vice versa.

Thwart boards, tackle boxes and boat seats with back supports are allowed, provided that the seating device, including cushion, is no higher than 9" above the height of the gunwales. Special seats for disabled anglers may also be used. Competitors must not stand in the boat when casting or retrieving line. Competitors may stand when playing or landing a fish.

At the beginning of the Competition, command of the boat will be decided by the toss of a coin and will change every two hours, or as mutually agreed. Competitors have the right to change ends every two hours if they so desire.

A single, unweighted drogue is permitted, but drogue control devices such as lengths of chain, are not. Functional metal fittings, e.g. small link rings, G-clamps and swivels are allowed. The maximum size of a drogue will be 60 inches square or 25 square feet. The drogue may be fixed by up to 2 points, on either side of the boat such that the drift is square to the wind.

Boats shall keep a minimum distance of 50 yards from bank anglers at all times and must respect the rights of other water users. Boats must not deny reasonable access to other boats when in confined/congested areas by repeated short drifts. Special care must be taken in such circumstances, particularly when manoeuvring the boat.

Electronic  Devices

Mobile telephones may be taken onto the boats, must be turned off and may only be used for emergency purposes e.g. illness of a competitor, engine failure etc. Mobile telephones or any other electronic communication device may not be used to communicate with other competitors under any circumstances, either by voice message or text message. Fish finding devices are also banned from use during the day of the competition.

Other match rules and determination of results

Competitors shall not fish before the start of the match and shall not fish from the bank during the match. Competitors must return to the pre-determined fishing zone by the time stipulated and any boat not in this zone at the end of the competition will be disqualified.

Accidentally foul hooked fish will count toward the total bag weight.

Match results will be decided by the total weight of fish; the higher weight taking the higher placing. In the event of equality of weight, the greater number of trout will take precedence. In the event of equality of weight and number of fish, the heaviest individual fish will take precedence.

The Match Organiser will consult with the governing body of the water to agree the individual bag limit for the match. Whenever the "Time Bonus" system is employed, the following will apply - When an angler reaches a limit, he will stop fishing and record the time in agreement with his boat partner. A "Time Bonus" will be added, consisting of an agreed weight, set by the Match Organiser, and added to the angler’s catch for every full quarter hour remaining in the match. At some venues, there may be an element of "Catch and Release" employed.

If both boat partners complete their individual bag limits before match completion, they must both stop fishing and may return to the boat jetty. They must leave their fish in the boat and must not leave the premises. In the interests of etiquette and goodwill, they should not interfere with the prospects of any other anglers.

All competitors must report directly to the weighing-in point immediately after match completion and must not return to their cars or to the car park. Nil returns are required. Any competitor not reporting at the required time will be deemed to have a nil return.

Saftey and Disputes

Competitors should raise an oar to alert Match Officials should assistance be required. During competition hours no boat will be beached except for medical emergencies, damage to boat/oars, failure of engine or being overtaken by storm. In this event the anglers concerned may return by other means, but shall report immediately to a Match Official.

Officials should be on the water during the Competition to investigate any incident without delay. Any dispute or complaint must be reported to a Match Official as soon as possible, but not later than after completion of the weigh-in. The March Organiser will investigate all reported incidents and adjudicate thereon and his decision will be final.

Competitors are advised to wear buoyancy aids and eye protection when either travelling in, or fishing from, boats.  At some fisheries this is compulsory and all competitors must apply.  In the event of dangerous weather conditions, or any other circumstances, the Match Organiser may alter the start time and change the hours of fishing to whatever he or the Fishery Management feel is in the best interests of the competitors. This might mean that the match will be postponed and held at a later date.

If a match date has to be changed for any reason, those competitors will be offered an alternative date/venue.  Entry fees are not refundable under any circumstances.