Fly Fishing Championships - September 23 To 27

[cheeler]

A joint effort between Fly Fishing Canada and the Calgary Fly Fishing Championship Chapter of Trout Unlimited Canada, the championships are strictly a catch-and-release event to provide a focal point that brings fly fishers together from throughout Canada and the world. They not only exchange technical information about their sport, but also address problems concerning conservation, water quality, habitat loss, and other environmental issues. In addition to providing the competitors with a world-class fly fishing experience, our event will showcase our “Blue Ribbon Waters”, engage youth in a week-long series of activities focused on learning to fly fish and conserve fish habitat, and raise money to restore an important side channel on the Bow River.

 

The fishing portions of the event are being held on the Bow River and two community lakes. The Carriage House Inn will be the venue for the Conservation Symposium on the 23rd and Banquet/Auction on the 27th.

 

Websites: http://www.flyfishingnationals.com/ (main website) and http://www.flyfishingcanada.net/ (registration and rules)

 

Participants

We currently some room left for participants but registration will be closing at the end of August. You can register a team of 5 or sign up as an individual and be assigned to a team.

Further information and the rules and rule modifications are available on both websites - be sure to review them and ask questions before signing up.

 

Volunteers

 

We currently require a number of controllers (about 75 total slots to fill) during the Bow River portion of the competition. Morning and afternoon time slots are available and this is a great way to learn a few new tricks and tips. Visit http://www.flyfishingnationals.com/volunteer.html for more information.

 

Spectators

 

The fishing portions event will be open to spectators - more information will be posted once a schedule is set.

 

On Monday September 23 a Conservation Symposium will be held that addresses water quality issues in Alberta.

 

On Friday September 27 a buffet dinner, awards ceremony, entertainment by Jim McLennan, and live and silent auctions will be held to raise funds for Fly Fishing Canada and Trout Unlimited; tickets are only $60.

 

Questions can be submitted via our website (http://www.flyfishingnationals.com/contact.html) or posted here.

 

Additional information will be added as it becomes available.

 

Thank you!

[trailhead]

Just signed up as a volunteer, there is a need for a lot more people. A night at the awards ceremony is in the mix if you do your part. Plus the experience of something unique.

[JasonFlyAbboy]

Great post and event. If you are interested in participating in or learning more on competitive fly fishing look in the events column in this forum for your opportunity this Sunday, August 18.

[gerryt2]

You can contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator directly - Kathy@kavee.net.

[cheeler]

A few updates:

• We still have a need for volunteer controllers on Wednesday morning and afternoon and Thursday afternoon.

• Banquet tickets can also be purchased online - $60 gets you dinner, entertainment by Jim McLennan, and the live and silent auctions.

• More details on the conservation symposium are available on the website; we are asking people to register so we know how many we will have.
  http://www.flyfishingnationals.com/conservation-symposium.html

[RisingBrown]

Any more info in spectating?

[cheeler]

Exact locations for the river beats will not be posted until Tuesday the 24th, in the evening; all I can say right now is that the general area is between the Calf Robe bridge and Policeman's Flats.

[flyfishy]

Just thinking// again!

How about a ffc team!!! Too late?

Sign me up, only if this idea dont suck.

Any takers"

Should of did this last month.

Flyfishy still love the Trout ...

[gerryt2]

Only a week to go before the Championships start and we need you!!

 

A team from BC lost one of their members due to an accident - and bad injuries - they are desperate to find a replacement. Contact David at dlheine@shaw.ca or Andy at andy@flyblaster.ca

 

We still need 6 controllers to work on the Bow River portion of the competition. Morning and afternoon time slots are available wed Sept 25 and Thursday Sept 26. Volunteer training and orientation Monday Sept 23 6:00 - 7:00 PM then a meet and greet session with the competitors (11 teams - 55 anglers) and this is a great way to learn a few new tricks and tips. Visit http://www.flyfishin.../volunteer.html for more information.

[Foothills86]

Hey guys, we still need a controllers and a couple judges possibly. If you are available it is a great opportunity learn how events like this work and to see top anglers in action.

I will be working Thursday and Friday, and would like to see a few more members from the board out there.

 

Thanks guys and girls,

 

Brian

[cheeler]

We still have opportunities for controllers due to injuries and dropouts!

[twispi2]

I applied but never heard back say about a week or 2 ago

[twispi2]

I m free tonight and tomorrow night if you need help still

[Hawgstoppah]

Tomorrow would be a wonderfully entertaining day to watch these masters fish BWO patterns! Wish I was there!

[cheeler]

For those looking to spectate:

 

The competition sessions run for the next 3 days between 8:30 and 11:30 and again between 1:30 and 4:30 (except Friday, which is only a morning session).

 

Two river sectors will run from the Bankside parking lot down past the 22X bridge; the easiest access is probably to park at the boat launch.

 

The third river sector will be up in the Douglasdale/Mallard Point area. The easiest spot to park will be at the ball diamonds: Douglasdale Ball Diamonds: https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ll=50.937134,-113.995364&spn=0.002745,0.008256&t=h&z=18

 

http://www.flyfishingnationals.com/schedule-of-events.html

[bigalcal]

Will there be bleachers there?

[cheeler]

No but plenty of natural seating courtesy of mother nature. Unfortunately my request for cheerleaders was also denied!

 

Grant Pollock from Global TV also did an on the water interview with Gary Hanke during a practice session; note that the number of teams is 11 and the session length is 3 hours, not 1.5:

 

http://globalnews.ca/calgary/videos/?video-search=fly+fishing

[bcubed]

Tomorrow would be a wonderfully entertaining day to watch these masters fish BWO patterns! Wish I was there!

 

 

bet you could count the number of guys fishing dries with a fingerless hand

[jasonvilly]

Was just out watching my aunt at Arbor Lake, man is it ever cold out there today.

 

One guy with a red toque was slaying them, saw him land 6.

 

Good luck to all.

[cheeler]

Results after day 1 were posted this morning. Today's results will hopefully be posted tonight or tomorrow morning.

 

http://www.flyfishingnationals.com/results.html

 

The last session is tomorrow morning from 8:30 to 11:30 AM!

 

A big thank you goes out to the volunteers who braved the cold, windy morning!

[cheeler]

Another news story about the women competing this week:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/Calgary/ID/2408864078/

[jasonvilly]

My aunt is Shelly in the CBC piece. Sounds like she is having a lot of fun, and 11th after day 1 isn't so bad for a rookie competitive fly fisher.

 

Can anyone explain the results to me? On the website I see placings, fish and points. How does this all work, because if you look at the points after day 1 on the left they don't seem to be in order of highest to lowest, so I can only assume that fish caught and placings come into play.

[cheeler]

The anglers are split into groups so they are fishing against each other on the same session every time, with 2 lake and 3 river sessions. Each group has one person from each team.

 

The fish score for each session is based on the fish length (mm length times 20 + 100 I believe); since there's 11 participants they are ranked 1 to 11 for each session based on the fish score. If any angler landed no fish, they all receive a rank of 11.

 

The rank is then their placings number - the lower the better. So if one person outfished everyone and came first out of eleven competitors in all 5 sessions, their placings would be 5. If someone came in last for all 5 sessions their placings would be 55. For the teams the placings for each of the 5 competitors is added up.

[Muffin]

Very cool. Wish I would have been more involved.

 

Do we have a feel for where it could be hosted next year?

[cheeler]

The final results are not on the website yet, but Tood Oishi took a few snaps of them:

 

http://innovativeflyfisher.com/forum/index.php?topic=1016.msg9158#msg9158

 

The Comorants took the team trophy while there was a last session shakeup for the individuals!

 

The host city for next year has not been announced but it typically alternates between the east and west. There was a lot of interest from the competitors and organizers in doing another national, commonwealth, or even world championship a few years down the road.

 

Another big thank you to all the volunteers who braved the frosty mornings, boredom on slow days, and excitement during the competition!