4th Annual One Fly Event

September 13, 2008 - 7:08pm — JYork

Fishing Contest

The 4th Annual "One Fly" will be held on October 11th at the Girard Borough Park Pavilion, Girard, PA. THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE!

Anglers will be required to register/check-in at the pavilion from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. To keep this event at a manageable level, a maximum of 60 anglers will be permitted to compete. Fishing will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p. m. Lunch and the awards ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Basic Rules:

All fishing must be done in Erie area tributary, public waters so that everyone has an equal chance
You may use ONE FLY of your choice that you supply
Contest organizers will record the fly you choose to use
The object of the contest is to see how many fish you can catch in the allotted time, using only One Fly!
If you lose your fly in the contest, you are out of the competition; BUT, if you are able to recover your fly, you may re-tie and continue
No re-rigging allowed!
If you break off three feet of tippet, you have the choice of either joining the broken strands or re-tying to the leader
All competitors should bring an extra fly of the same type they are fishing with to be put in a fly box at the sign-in as a consolation prize for the "1st out" angler.
Keep track of the time when you break off!

Two-person fishing teams will be selected by a "blind draw". If an angler has a "significant other" or a minor child (under 16) that they would like to have as their partner, then they can form a team. Special arrangements will be made if there are any beginners. A "Contest Mentor" will accompany the "newbees" team, and provide instructions to help them catch fish. Volunteering to be a Contest Mentor is encouraged and welcomed! First- timers can get rigging advice if they want to fish without having a mentor fish with them. Since there are two-angler teams, if a team member breaks off their fly, they will be allowed to help their partner who is still in the competition. Remember there also are "team" prizes. Team members will verify the catch and length of each other's fish. Hopefully all people will practice "Catch and Release", but fish may be kept. A "caught fish" is considered one that is landed, measured, released, or kept. You may use any rod/reel combo you wish, but it is a Fly Fishing contest. Flies may be fished from a noodle or spinning rod at the judges discretion. All flies must be presented to the judges before being used, and they may be marking the flies for identification. No spinners, no live bait, no power bait, and no jigs permitted.

Scoring will be as follows:

1 point for every inch of steelhead caught and measured to the closest tenth. That means that a 25 1/2 inch fish would equal 25.5 inches and score 25.5 points.
Brown trout are a double point fish
Other fish species earn .25 point per inch; so if you can catch 200 inches of carp, you have 50 Points!

Prizes will be posted as they are donated, and more prizes are anticipated to be donated. At this time the prize list is as follows:

1st Place Individual: A fully restored antique bamboo fly rod and period correct reel.
2nd Place Individual: An antique fiberglass rod and period correct automatic reel. (This has come to be known as the "Worm Waster" prize). This year it will be an original Shakespeare Wonder Rod and reel.
1st Place team: each angler on the team receives a fly box containing thirty to forty flies.
Biggest fish: Fly box containing thirty to forty flies (unless this angler also happens to be a team prize winner, and then this prizde will move down to the next person.
1st angler out: One fly from each of the other competitors.
All competitors receive a "memorial" fly tied by a new fly tier!

All decisions of the judges are "final".

The contest purpose for the "One Fly Event" is to provide a rendezvous of a sort for the steelhead, fly anglers; similar to the Oil Creek outing held in the spring. It is free because contest organizers and most anglers detest attempts to commercialize and charge for fishing on the tributaries. Everyone is welcome, even fishing guides and their clients; but they cannot charge clients for their time participating in the One Fly Contest.

Some added information: "Skip" has volunteered to do the cooking; so if you wish to bring some burgers or hot dogs, please feel free to do so. Just let us know so we can adjust accordingly. Free sodas, hotdogs, and chips will be available. If you want to bring any other foodstuff, please feel free to do so. This event is for the fly anglers, and you are encouraged to participate and invite others. If anybody wants to contribute any prizes to be given away, once again, I encourage you to do so. It is deeply appreciated. And recognition will be given to contributors, and those who wish to advertise their business. Each year we have had various fly tiers and rod builders donate items, and last year EVERYONE who attended left with something. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU for making this event happen. I would recommend bringing a digital camera and a pencil/pen to record all catches.

THE GREEN ROOF INN, located just outside of Girard, will provide a discount to any "One Fly" visitors for the weekend. Call: 814-774-7072, or visit their website. CROWLEYS RESTURANT, next door The Green Roof, is the recommended place to eat during your stay. Just mention that you are there for the "One Fly".

28 ENTRANTS TO Date: D-nymph, Bughawk, Indsguiz, Pxatim, Skip, Skeeter, Fishin Coyote, Cold (1), Mikastorm, Erieboogieman & daughter, Mook14, cooljauman, Worm waster, bowmandjk & G/son, Kildeer & wife, Doubletaper, Mikeg, anadromous, Rex_of_Angli, woolybugger, joedv1218, clinchnot/w, Old brown trout, eyeofhorus, and eejib.

If you wish to attend, then list your name (s) in an email reply. If you want to bring food, then list that also. If you wish to contribute to the prizes, let us know. Please send all emails to: hemilovr@hotmail.com.

Suggestions on ways to make the One Fly Event more enjoyable are appreciated.

Hope to see you there.

Read more stories about Lake Erie Fishing at http://www.fishsteelheadalley.com/

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