1. GENERAL
The 5wt Combination event consists of accuracy and distance casting with a 5-weight line. The accuracy and distance parts may be cast as separate event(s) according to the following rules and regulations.
2. EQUIPMENT
A) Rod – Rod length shall not exceed nine feet (9’) overall. A measurement tolerance of one inch (1”) shall be permitted. Only one rod may be used during the course of the event unless the judge declares a damaged rod as unusable.
B) Reel – Unrestricted, must be attached to the rod for all scoring casts. The line and leader and any backing used to compete in the event must fit completely onto the reel and must be carried on the reel prior to the event.
C) Line - The line shall consist of optional, unrestricted backing and a floating, weight-forward fly line that meets the following specifications (recommended Lines):
i) Length - The fly line must be at least 88' long. The front 88' must be one piece and free of splices.
ii) Running line - The part of the fly line between 42' and 88' from the tip is considered running line. It must be level except for manufacturing tolerances. The diameter of the running line may not be less than 0.031" and not more than 0.037".
iii) Head - The head is the heavy front part of the weight-forward fly line including the tip section and all tapers. The head must be 35' to 42' long, i.e. the diameter of the level running line must be reached no less than 35' and no more than 42' from the tip of the fly line.
iv) Weight - The mass of the first forty feet (40') of the fly line plus the mass of the leader shall not exceed 12.50 grams (193 grains).
v) Specific gravity - All parts of the fly line must be of floating material.
The line shall meet the above specifications without stretching after it is stripped from the reel for verification by tournament officials.
D) Leader - Shall be constructed of monofilament with a minimum of 7' and a maximum of 9 1/2' in length with a maximum tippet diameter of .009" (including any knots) and minimum tippet length of 18". The length of the leader is measured from the tip of the fly line to the eye of the fly.
E) Fly – A single tournament dry fly with hackle not less than three-fourth inch (3/4") and not more than one (1) inch in diameter may be attached to the leader at the tip end. An attached or lost fly may be replaced at any time with a fly approved by the judge.
3. COURSE
A) Accuracy – A square casting box four feet (4’) on each side and five (5) targets shall constitute the course. The course may be laid out on any suitable casting surface such as water, grass, or carpet. The casting box may be at the same level as the targets and, if elevated, should not be higher than 18”. Each target consists of two concentric rings with outer diameters of thirty inches (30”) and fifty-four inches (54”). The ring cross section shall be no more than 1.5”. The outer ring must not have a cross section larger than the inner ring. Each target shall be secured in place so that the total movement for any reason will not exceed one (1) foot in any direction. The first target shall be centered in front of the casting box at a distance of 20’-25’. The second target – called the obstacle target - shall be located directly behind and touching the first target. The third and fourth targets shall be at a distance of 35’-40’ and 45’-50’, respectively. The fifth target – called the bonus target - shall be at a distance of 60’-80’, depending on the level of the competition.
B) Distance – The casting box used for distance has the same dimensions as the box for accuracy. If accuracy and distance are cast as a combination, one and the same box is used for both. The distance will be measured along a real or imagined centerline extending perpendicularly from the front edge of the casting box. The space available for landing the fly – the casting lane – must extend at least five feet (5’) to each side of that centerline. Lines perpendicular to the centerline, or other means that do not obstruct the casting nor the retrieval of line, may be used to mark certain distances and to determine the position of the fly to the nearest foot.
4. TIME
A) General – Each caster shall be allotted time for preparing for the event and time for casting the event.
B) Preparation time – Preparation time starts when the judge has called up the caster and declared the casting box as “open”. The caster may use prep time to strip line off the reel and arrange it on the ground in any practical way – with or without assistance. Preparation time ends when one (1) minute expires or the caster declares readiness for start, whichever occurs first.
C) Casting time – The time allotted for casting the 5wt combination shall be five (5) minutes. If accuracy is cast as a separate event, the allotted time shall be three (3) minutes. If distance is cast as a separate event, the allotted time shall be three (3) minutes. The following procedure shall be used to start the casting time. When the caster appears to be ready for the event, but not later than fifty seconds after the beginning of prep time, the judge shall ask: “Caster ready?” Upon a positive reply from the caster or when one minute of prep time has expired, the judge begins the casting time by calling “Start.” No score can be obtained from casts completed after the casting time has expired. A cast counts as completed during casting time when the forward motion of the rod has stopped before time expires.
D) Time Out - There shall be no time out for any reason except for outside interference as determined by the Judge. The judge shall only consider unusual interfering circumstances such as third persons, pets, or trees in the course or in the back-cast area as outside interference.
5. METHOD OF CASTING
A) Combination – The 5wt-combination casting program consists of the accuracy and distance casting as described in sections 6 and 7. A caster must complete all accuracy casts before any distance casts may be scored. There is no time-out or break between the accuracy and distance parts.
B) Casting Style – Unrestricted.
C) Definitions
i) A caster is considered in the casting box when at least one foot is on or above the casting box and no part of the caster or any attached clothing touches the surface in front of the casting box.
ii) When the intact line, leader, and fly settle on the surface or targets in front of the casting box, it shall be considered a final forward cast.
6. ACCURACY
A) Initial – The caster must begin while meeting the following four conditions simultaneously:
a) The caster is in the box.
b) Caster does not hold loose line in any way that could indicate distance to any target.
c) No more than two feet of fly line are extended beyond the rod tip.
d) The caster holds the fly in hand.
No final forward cast will count as a scoring cast until the caster has met all four conditions simultaneously during casting time as determined by the judge.
B) Target order – After meeting the initial conditions, the caster shall make a total of eight (8) final forward casts at the targets in the following order: first target, third target, fourth target, first target, obstacle target, third target, fourth target, and bonus target.
C) Scoring – Each final forward cast shall be scored where the fly first strikes the casting surface, any portion of a target, or the platform in front of the casting box, regardless of where the fly may ultimately settle. The casting surface inside of the center ring and any part of the center ring above the casting surface scores 500 points. The casting surface between the center ring and the outer ring and any part of the outer ring above the casting surface scores 300 points. Anything outside the outside ring scores 100 points.
D) Total Score – The total score for accuracy is the sum of the scores achieved on all targets, at which the caster has cast during casting time, minus the sum of all assessed penalties. In a 5wt combination event, this accuracy score will be added to the distance score.
E) Penalties – Penalties are assessed towards the score on the next target at which the caster is supposed to cast. Multiple penalties may be assessed as appropriate. The sum of all such penalties shall be limited to the score achieved at that target. The penalties are:
a) Tick – Should the line extended beyond the rod tip, the leader, or the fly strike the casting surface in front of the casting box or any target when no final forward cast was performed, it shall be scored a tick. The penalty for a tick shall count during the entire casting time, whether caster is in or out of casting box and whether or not the fly is on. The penalty for each tick shall be 10% of the score achieved on the next target.
b) Obstacle target – The objective when casting at the obstacle target is to have the line and leader settle without crossing any part of the first target – the obstacle. In case the caster fails to meet that objective, the following penalties are assessed: 400 points if the settled line or leader crosses the inner ring of the first target, 200 points if the settled line or leader crosses the outer ring the outer ring, but not the inner ring, of the first target.
c) Out-of-the-box – A penalty equal to the entire score achieved on the target shall be assessed if the caster performs a final forward cast without being in the box.
d) Illegal strip – A penalty equal to the entire score achieved on the next target shall be assessed if the caster measures line along the rod.
e) Early retrieve – A penalty equal to the entire score achieved on the target shall be assessed if the caster lifts the fly off the casting surface after making a final forward cast before the judge calls “score.”
f) Lost fly – No penalty shall be assessed for the loss of a fly or for a lost fly falling onto the casting surface. A lost or attached fly may be replaced at any time with a fly approved by the judge.
7. DISTANCE
A) General – When the casters transitions from the accuracy part to the distance part in a combination event or when the caster begins a distance-only event, no special conditions (such as those required for the accuracy part) need to be met.
B) SCORING – The point where the fly first strikes the casting surface in front of the casting box during a final forward cast is used to determine the distance of that cast. All distances are measured along the real or imagined centerline extending perpendicularly from the front edge of the casting box. A real or imaginary square is placed such that one edge is on the centerline and the other edge crosses the spot where the fly first struck the casting surface. The distance of the cast is the distance between corner of the square and the front edge of the casting box. The distance shall be determined accurate to the nearest foot. The score is the number of feet times ten (10).
C) Number of casts – The caster is permitted to make any number of casts during the allotted time. In a 5wt combination event, the scores of the best two (2) casts will be kept and the sum of their scores will be added to the accuracy score. In a distance-only event, the two (2) best casts will be kept. The caster’s longest cast is used to determine the score. The second longest cast shall be recorded, but is only used to break a tie. If a tie still exists, the cast-off procedure described below will be used.
D) Penalties –
i) Ticks – There are no penalties for ticks.
ii) Out of the box – If a caster performs a final forward cast without being in the box, the cast is invalid and has a zero score.
iii) Out of bounds – If a cast was directed such that the fly cannot land on the casting surface, the cast is invalid and has a zero score.
iv) Early retrieve – If a caster retrieves line before the judge calls “score”, the cast is invalid and has a zero score.
v) Lost fly – No penalty shall be assessed for the loss of a fly or for a lost fly falling onto the casting surface.
8. CAST-OFFS
In case of a tie for any place earning an award such as prizes or medals, cast-offs shall be performed to determine the final order. The rules for the cast-offs differ slightly from the regular event rules as outlined in the following.
A) Combination Event – The casters are given two (2) minutes of casting time to perform the following casts: accuracy casts at the first target, the obstacle target, the third target, the fourth target, and the fifth target, then any number of distance casts of which only the best cast is added to the cast-off score. The general procedure including prep time and initial conditions remains unchanged.
B) Accuracy Event – No changes to the event rules apply. Tied casters cast again until the tie is broken.
C) Distance Event – The casters are given one (1) minute of casting time to perform one (1) cast. The longer cast wins. The general procedure including prep time remains unchanged.
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