New Ground Rule at 100th National for Distance Events- The“V” Court
By approval of the Executive Committee, a new “V” shaped court ground rule will be used at the San Francisco 100th National Championship. The “V” court allows tournament organizers the ability to utilize smaller fields, allowing courts to be situated closer together. Distinct sidelines provide for a greater degree of safety for spectators and casters alike. The sidelines define the field such that casters and spectators may be allowed closer viewing by standing outside the sidelines. The smaller “V” court design significantly speeds up pegging and measuring of casts, thus speeding up the total time needed to run an event.
The court size is 50 meters wide at 100 meters out (down field), approximately creating a 30 degree “V” wedge. Court direction will be established directly with the wind just prior to initiating the event. Once set it will remain the same for the entire event. This plays into the strategy of casters to make a stronger first effort with the wind direction in the first round, hedging their concern for subsequent casts should the wind shift to an out of bounds direction. While a V shaped court has been an option under current rules, many casters are unfamiliar with it making this announcement a “heads up“ for them. The “V” court will be utilized during the upcoming Kentucky Open, May 17-18, 2008.
100th Annual ACA National Championships- Dates and Schedule
The opening ceremony, annual meeting will be held at the GGACC clubhouse and the banquet will be the nearby Irish Cultural Center on Sloat Blvd and the Great Highway. Hotel info here. For further questions contact Alice Gillibert. Tournament Reg. Form and other info TBA. Come back soon!
Announcing: Kentucky Open- Dates Schedule & Info
Lexington Kentucky's Blue Grass Sportmen's League invites all ACA casters to the best warm-up for the Nationals! This event will be held at two locations: distance events at Kentucky Horse Park- John Henry Polo Field and accuracy events at the BGSL casting ponds. This year's dates are May 17-18th 2008.
ACA/IGFA CASTING TOURNAMENT A HIT!
Fort Lauderdale, FL- Casters and spectators from around the country and Canada came to cast and watch this inaugural event in South Florida and enjoy perfect weather in the 80s. There is promise that several attendees will form a new casting club down there! Special thanks go to Beth and Andy Statt, Patrick McFadden and Dave Roberts for their contributions running and equipping this event.
On Saturday Feb. 2nd, Steve Rajeff, Henry Mittel, Pam Peters and Bill Clements put on a great demonstration of casting from an anchored fishing boat at IGFA, while Peter Edwards gave wonderful commentary over a public address system. Steve was also "miked" and described ACA events while casting and demonstrating. Casting great Joan Salvato Wulff and her husband; conservationist and cinematographer Ted Rogowski were amongst the crowd. Another famous caster, Ben Hardesty a former Pflueger Pro, and his lovely wife, accompanied Ted and Joan. IGFA President Rob Kramer and ACA President Patrick McFadden were also present. (Sat. photos)
Sunday Feb. 3rd- Markham Park tested the ACA/IGFA Tournament Committee when they arrived on their rented distance field to find 700 uninvited automobiles; due to the unexpected popularity of a nearby 5K run. After delays, the event moved to another location, although it seemed evident the problem caused losses in attendence. Henry Mittel won the day's first event of 1/4 oz Plug Distance in Men's, Pam Peters in Women's and Bill Clements in Seniors. In Angler's Fly Distance, Steve Rajeff took a first, Pam and Bill also took gold in their Divisions. In Two-Hand Fly Distance, Steve surpassed Henry by 4 feet in the second longest cast after tying in the first longest of 267 ft.! Bill won Seniors and there were no Women entered. (Sun. photos)
Monday Feb. 4th- at Tiger Tail Lake Center was a picturesque scene with the sand beach and palm trees. It started with Bass Bug Accuracy in which Steve Rajeff took first place in Men, Walter Hoover won Men's B, Bill Peters won Seniors and Pam Peters won Women. 1/4 Oz. Accuracy was won by Henry Mittel, Bill Clements and and Beth Statt in their Divisions. 5/8 Accuracy winners were Steve, Bill, and Pam. After a quick move back to IGFA, we cast the 5wt. Combination Acc. & Dist. Event.
Steve Rajeff beat Henry by a narrow margin in Men A, Walter Hoover took Men B, Ed Lanser and Bill Clements tied for first in Seniors and Pam Peters took first in Women. (Mon. photos) (Scores)
Long Beach Casting Club Asks Your Help!
To fully restore the clubhouse, due to the recent fire, the club has to raise a lot of money. Monetary donations will be gratefully accepted, and those over $75 will be acknowledged according to IRS rules for tax-exempt non-profit organizations. Please make your check payable to the Long Beach Casting Club Rebuilding Fund and mail it to P.O. Box 90035, Long Beach, CA 90809-0035.
Donations to a fundraising raffle will also be appreciated, as will volunteer labor. For information about other donations, please contact Carole Katz at (714) 731- 6044. Thank you! (Flier pdf)
January 2008 Issue of the Creel
- One of Outdoors Finest Has Left His Legacy
- The Clubhouse Fire at Long Beach Casting Club
- 2007 ACA National Championships
- The ACA/IGFA Casting Tournament
- A Brief History of Tournament Casting in Canada- By Gord Deval
- What Happened to Casting?
- Complete Langley Baitcaster Cleaning- By John Seroczynski