National Competition Rules

Police Sport UK

Fly Fishing Section

COMPETITION RULES

1. INTRODUCTION
The general committee of the Police Sport UK Fly Fishing Section (hereinafter called “the Fly Fishing Section”) at their meeting on 20th September 2000 elected to adopt fishing rules that mirror the Confederation of English Fly Fishers (Loch Style) rules. It was further decided that any future and subsequent changes to these rules would be adopted by the Fly Fishing Section.

2. ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER FLY FISHING SECTION COMPETITIONS
Competitors in all Fly Fishing Section competitions and championships. Shall be confined to confined to members of affiliated clubs, who have been sworn in as paid constables; paid police support staff; paid Cadets; retired police officers or retired members of police support staff, as defined by Rule 39 of the Police Sport UK Constitution.

CEFF Loch-Style Fishing Rules
3. FLIES AND HOOKS
Matches shall be fished with artificial fly only. Flies may be dressed on single or double hooks; tandem flies are not permitted. In the case of a double hook, the angle between the bends shall not exceed 90 degrees and, when viewed from the side, the bends must lie one behind the other. No fly shall be artificially weighted. No more than 4 flies, only one of which may be dressed on a double hook, may be mounted on a cast and flies must be at least 20 inches apart. Hooks may not measure more than five-eighths of an inch overall, including the eye. The overall length of the fly may not exceed fifteen-sixteenths of an inch. Suspected illegal flies should be put into an envelope and signed over the seal by the angler/boat partner/boatman. The envelope should be presented to a Match Official at the end of the competition. Attractor chemicals and light emitters may not be used on flies.
4. LINES AND LEADERS
Lines, casts and leaders shall not be additionally weighted. No form of shooting line, metal core line or metal core braided leaders is permitted.
5. RODS
A competitor may use one rod not exceeding 12 feet in length and may have a spare rod of the same maximum length. But only one rod may be mounted. A rod is considered mounted if any two sections are joined or if a reel or line is attached competitor's rod, when working flies or retrieving casts must be hand held and must be above water level.
6. DRIFTING
Boats must be allowed to drift freely during fishing and must not be held on oars, drogues or engine in such a manner as to interfere with, or gain advantage over, any other competitor. Flies must be out of the water whilst the engine is running or the boat is in forward or reverse motion. Trolling lines or flies behind the boat is never permitted. During a match no boat may encroach within 50 yards radius of any other boat engaged in fishing. The water between boats may be shared. The match organiser may extend the 50-yard separation as befits the venue.

7. FISHING ZONE
Competitors shall fish within the bounds shown in this diagram and may not fish in their partners' zones.
Whilst a competitor may cast into an 'Out of Bounds' area, the boat may not enter these areas whether fishing or not.

8. SITTING AND STANDING
Boat seats, thwart boards and the use of tackle boxes as seats are allowed, provided the height of the seat is not more than 5 inches above the gunwales. - Note - 'Backrests' are also allowed on boat seats - Competitors must not stand in the boat when casting or retrieving line. Standing in the boat whilst fishing is allowed only when playing or landing a fish.

9.COMMAND OF THE BOAT
Command of the boat will change every two hours. Competitors shall change ends every two hours or as mutually agreed.

10. DROGUES A single unweighted drogue is permitted, of no more than 60 x 60 inches or 25 square feet. It may be fitted with functional metal fittings such as small link rings and swivels. The only control device allowed is a 'G' clamp. The drogue may be fixed on either side of the boat such that the drift is square to the wind. The drogue must trail no more than 15 feet behind the boat.

11. RESPECT FOR OTHER ANGLERS In congested areas, boats must not deny reasonable access to other boats by undertaking repeated short drifts. Special care must be taken in such circumstances, especially when manoeuvring the boat.-Boats are to keep at least 50 yards from bank anglers.

12. ELECTRONIC DEVICES Competitors may not use electronic devices, such as echo sounders, fish finders or radios during official practice days or match days. MOBILE TELEPHONES are ONLY allowed on PRACTICE DAYS.

13.LOCAL RULES The match organiser hereinafter referred to as the 'organiser', will advise competitors of any local rules, which augment, or otherwise affect the competition rules. Subject to the direction of the organiser, any match shall be fished under the rules of the governing body of the water on which the match is being fished in so far as these rules are compatible with these Police Sport UK rules.

14. BOATMEN/BOAT PAIRINGS Boatmen and Boat Pairings will be allocated by public ballot at a time and place announced by the organiser- or by a computerised draw system.

15. HOURS OF FISHING The organiser shall fix the hours of fishing. In the event of dangerous weather, the organiser may change them, or the date, as necessary. Competitors shall not fish before the start time and must begin from the start zone. They must return to the finishing zone, in the boat in which they set out, no later than the match finish time.

16.SPECIES AND SIZE OF FISH
Trout are the only permitted species. The organiser will specify any limitations, eg restrictions on brown trout, or the minimum size that may be weighed in. To prevent competition results being distorted by an individual fish, the organiser may fix a maximum weight, usually 4 lbs. In this event, the trout would weigh 4 lbs for the bag-weight but be credited with its full weight for any heaviest fish award.

17. WEIGHING IN If both boat partners reach their individual bag limits early, they may leave the water and hand in their bags to an official. The fish should be collected from the official and presented at the weigh-in. All competitors must report directly to the weigh-in immediately after the match finish time. Nil returns are required. Anyone not reporting within 30 minutes of the end of the match will be deemed to have a nil return.

18. PLACINGS Competition results will be decided by the bag-weight of the fish, the higher weight taking precedence. If weights are equal, the greater number of trout will prevail. If there is still a tie, the heaviest individual fish will take precedence. The organiser and the water authority will agree a bag limit per individual. When a competitor reaches that limit, the time is to be recorded by agreement with the boatman and/or boat partner. A time-bonus weight, set by the organiser, will be added to the angler's catch for every full quarter of an hour remaining in the competition.

19. PRIZES There shall be no individual prizes or sweepstakes among the competitors.

20. END OF COMPETITION All competitors (except as in circumstances outlined in rule 15) shall present their fish at the weighing point immediately after the end of the competition. Nil returns are required. Any competitor not reporting to the official weigher within 30 minutes of the end of the match will be deemed to be clean.

21. ROD LICENCES Competitors are required, where appropriate, to hold a valid rod licence and be prepared to show it on demand.

22. COMPLAINT/DISPUTES There will be a briefing immediately before the match at which time the Police Sport UK officials may issue special rules of the day if circumstances require. Any questions or problems should be raised at that time by team captains. If there is a dispute during the match, competitors should raise an oar to attract the attention of an official. At the end of the match, team captains are responsible for gathering their teams and bringing them to the weigh in point. If there are any disputes these must be brought to the attention of an official before the end of the weigh in.

23.COMPLAINT/DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The existence of a dispute or complaint on any matter in any match shall be immediately intimated to the Secretary who shall inform the Chairman / Vice-chairman. A sub-committee consisting of five representatives of the regions taking part, excluding representatives from the region(s) which the complaint is about, shall be at once, convened to investigate the matter and adjudicate thereon. The decision of the sub-committee shall (subject to the paragraph below) be final.The Police Sport UK Fly Fishing Section Committee shall have in place a procedure for dealing with matters of complaints, discipline and grievance arising out of the activities of the Police Sport UK Fly Fishing Section. Such matters will always be notified in writing and any aggrieved person shall have a right of personal hearing before a panel comprising not less than three members of the Committee, before any final decisions are made. In all cases the rules of natural justice shall apply.

24.EMERGENCIES
If assistance is required, an oar should be raised to alert an official(s). During competition hours, a boat may be beached only in an emergency such as medical, boat or severe weather problems. In these circumstances, the competitors may if necessary return by other means but must report immediately to an offical who will treat the incident as though it were a complaint made under Police Sport UK Competition Rule 23(above).

25. ADDENDUM These rules have evolved over many years to try and ensure a fair and enjoyable competition for all involved. Competitors are expected to observe the spirit as well as the letter of these rules and are reminded of the unwritten rules and courtesies of the boat.

26. SAFETY Competitors are strongly advised to wear buoyancy aids and eye protectors when either travelling in, or fishing from boats.

27. INSURANCE The Council of Police Sport UK has taken a limited liability Personal Injury Policy of Insurance to cover any Competitor, Official or Committee Member of Police Sport UK aged between 16 and 65 years, who is participating or officiating at any Championships organised on behalf of Police Sport UK, and who as a result of receiving serious bodily injury, dies or is permanently disabled resulting in their being retired from their Force. A condition of the Insurance Policy is that notice must be given to the Insurance Company of any Injury which might give rise to any claim, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case within 21 days of the occurrence. In order to comply with requirements both the organisers of the National Championships and the Police Sport UK office must be informed of any such incident immediately. These conditions must be brought to the attention of all Competitors by their inclusion in Entry forms for the Championships. Competitors requiring additional Insurance cover are advised to consult their own Insurance Companies.