Orvis Casting Shootout

saturday, June 8

7:00 AM – Qualifier
1:00 PM – Finals at International Bridge in Mountain House Gear Town

The Orvis Casting Shootout competition challenges participants head-to-head in a variety of fly fishing events including a combination distance and accuracy challenge that will test the best of the best.  

saturday, June 8

7:00 AM – Qualifier
1:00 PM – Finals at International Bridge in Mountain House Gear Town

CATeGORIES:

Pro Open – Men*
Pro Open – Women*
Amateur Open – Men
Amateur Open – Women
Youth – Boys (12–18)**
Youth – Girls (12–18)**
Youth – Boys (11 & Under)**
Youth – Girls (11 & Under)**

**These categories only participate in the morning session at the Ford Park Athletic Fields.

*Pro division is designed for anglers who are in the fish industry (Pro competitors, fishing guides, sponsored athletes, etc) or anglers that have qualified for Finals at past GoPro Mountain Games.

FORMAT & RULES:

• Anglers must have a 2024 Colorado fishing license.
• Anglers will be required to provide all their own equipment, including flies.
• Anglers must abide by all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Athletes are encouraged to use reef safe sunscreen during all competitions.
• All or part of this competition is conducted on Public Lands under a special permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

QUALIFIER RULES (Accuracy and Distance):

• Start position for the competition will be picked at random and anglers must adhere to the position they are given.

MANDATORY EQUIPMENT:

• Only 9-foot, 5-weight, standard production rods (no custom rods) can be used during the casting portions of the competition. All rods will be inspected.
• A reel, line, leader, and fly will be provided for you. Please remove your reel from your rod before the competition.
• Provided leaders will be between 5 and 9 feet long.
• The “fly” used will either be a yarn with no hook or a hook-less fly pattern of the Event Specialist’s choice.

accuracy:

• Three accuracy targets will be placed at varying distances on dry land.
• Anglers will attempt three casts at each target.
• Targets will consist of one ring that is worth 100 points.
• When the fly lands within and/or on the edge of any ring, it is considered an achieved target.
• The first place the fly hits the ground will be judged, not bounced, shifted and/or moved casts.
• If any cast touches the ground on a forward cast, known as a “tick”, that attempt will result in an immediate score or forfeiture of that cast.
• The total number of achieved targets will be multiplied by three (3).
• There is a possibility of 2,700 points in the accuracy casting.

distance:

• The distance cast will be judged on actual distance within a casting lane.
• Anglers will have three (3) distance casts and they all count toward the overall score.
• A cast will be forfeited if any portion of the fly line, leader, or the fly itself lands on or outside the casting lane.
• If any cast touches the ground on a forward cast, known as a “tick”, whether inadvertent or not, it will result in an immediate score or forfeiture of that cast.
• Distance will be measured in feet and rounded to the nearest (down or up) whole foot. Only casts longer than fifty (50) feet will be counted. Again, all three casts count!
• The three distance casts will be added together and multiplied by three (3). There is a possibility 2,700 pointsof This number will then be added to the total from the accuracy portion.

timing & total score:

• Each angler will have one (1) minute to prepare (strip out line) once they have stepped into the casting box.
• Anglers may not finish the practice round by casting at target Number 1.
• Anglers must then place the fly back in their hand.
• The judge will clear the clock and the angler will then have two and a half (2 ½) minutes to complete the three casts at all three accuracy targets and all three casts for distance.
• When time expires, the caster will be considered finished with the course and the score achieved when the clock expires will be considered final.
• There is no “time-out” for any reason, except for outside interference as determined by the Event Specialist and/or appointed judge.

longest huck/bonus:

• As long as time permits, anglers will have one (1) distance cast, also known as a huck, and it will count toward the overall score.
• Fly line, leader, and/or the fly itself can land outside the casting lane.
• Only huck casts longer than fifty (50) feet will be counted. Only one huck counts!
• The huck will be multiplied by three (3). This number will then be added to the total from the accuracy and distance portions.
• There will be a longest huck winner for each category.

species slam bonus:

• Anglers competing in the Orvis Species Slam can earn bonus points at the Orvis Casting Shootout
• An additional target will be set up at the Casting Shootout venue
• Competitors will get one cast to earn bonus points
• Bonus points available: TBA

final rules (accuracy only):

• Start:
  • Anglers making it to the Final round will compete in the reverse standing order. For example, the angler who had the lowest score, but still moved to the Final round, will cast first. The angler with the best score coming out of the qualifier round will cast last.
  • In the event there is a tie within the top casters, the higher position will be determined by the longer huck coming from the qualifying round.
• Accuracy:
  • Five (5) accuracy targets will be placed at varying distances both in the water and on dry land. The course may be altered depending on water conditions but will remain set once the first caster in each category has begun.
  • Anglers will attempt three (3) casts at each target.
  • Each achieved target results in one (1) point.
  • When the fly lands within and/or on the edge of a ring, it is considered an achieved target. The first place the fly hits the water or ground will be judged, not drifted and/or moved casts.
  • If any cast touches the ground on a forward cast, known as a “tick”, whether inadvertent or not, it will result in an immediate score or forfeiture of that cast.
  • There is a possibility of fifteen (15) points in the accuracy casting.
• Timing & Total Score:
  • Anglers will have one (1) minute to prepare (strip out line) once they have stepped into the casting box.
  • Anglers may not finish the practice round by casting at target Number 1.
  • Anglers must then place the fly back in their hand and the judge will clear the clock.
  • Anglers will then have two and a half (2 ½) minutes to complete the three (3) casts at all five (5) accuracy targets.
  • There is no “time-out” for any reason, except for outside interference as determined by the Event Specialist and/or appointed judge.
• Bonus:
  • So long as time permits, anglers will have one (1) accuracy cast, also known as the money shot, and it will count for two (2) points toward the overall score.
  • If all accuracy targets are achieved and the bonus target is achieved, there is a possibility of seventeen (17) points in the Final round.

2023 RESULTS

PRICE

EARLY BIRD // February 1 – April 4, 2024
$55 – Pro Open – Men & Women
$50 – Amateur Open – Men & Women
$20 – Youth – Boys & Girls (12-18)
$20 – Youth – Boys & Girls (11 & under)

STANDARD // April 5 – May 28, 2024
$60 – Pro Open – Men & Women
$55 – Amateur Open – Men & Women
$25 – Youth – Boys & Girls (12-18)
$25 – Youth – Boys & Girls (11 & under)

EVENT WEEK // May 29 – June 7, 2024
$75 – Pro Open – Men & Women
$70 – Amateur Open – Men & Women
$30 – Youth – Boys & Girls (12-18)
$30 – Youth – Boys & Girls (11 & under)

NEW FOR 2024!
FISH COMPETITION COMBO
Sign up for more than one fish event and receive a 10% discount off all events. Eligible events include YETI Catch Wars, Orvis Casting Shootout and Orvis Species Slam.
BUY NOW

PAYOUT

TOTAL PURSE: $3,000

PRO OPEN MEN
1st – $750
2nd – $500 
3rd – $250

PRO OPEN WOMEN
1st – $750
2nd – $500 
3rd – $250 

PRIZES

Prizes to be determined.