1. Each participant will be randomly assigned to a guide and another boat mate for the two days. Day 2 is ideally a new river, guide and boat partner although river assignment may vary depending on conditions and guide.
2. The permissible rivers for fishing in the tournament include the following:
South Holston
From the weir spillover just above the bridge to where the river meets Boone Lake.
Watauga
From the main Watauga River below Wilbur Dam to Boone Lake.
There is no fishing in the lake.
Only drift boats are permitted. No motors are allowed.
3. Fishing begins at 8:30am and ends at 4:30pm on day 1 and 8:30am and 4 pm on day 2. Anglers can flip a coin to decide who starts in the front of the boat, and must rotate every two hours. If one angler loses his three flies and can no longer score, the 2-hour rotation stays in effect. Lunches are provided by the lodge.
4. The guides will measure the size of the fish, keep track of the quantity caught, and enter sizes on each angler’s card. Any fish in the net or hooked when leader touches top eye of the rod qualifies as a caught fish. Any fish posted on the card needs to go to the net and the measuring tray. Only trout qualify for points.
5. The angler selects 8 fish to measure for the card and selects 6 from the card for scoring purposes. Once the angler selects a fish for measurement, the decision cannot be changed.
6. The angler, in consultation with the guide, selects up to three flies each day. The flies can be selected at any time during the day, however once a fly is selected, it must be entered on the scorecard. Once a fly is selected, its size cannot change.
Any fly lost cannot be replaced and if all three are lost, the angler can continue to fish but cannot score. If the fly falls apart, it can be glued back together as long no materials are added.
Color can be added to the flies at any time. Flies with barbed hooks are acceptable. There is a limit of two nymphs each day in the fly selection. So, the third fly, if two nymphs are selected, can be a streamer or a dry fly.
7. Participants pay $1,600 in advance for the tournament costs, lodging and food.
8. There will be a big fish pool for the tournament - $20 per person to participate. Winner proceeds will be split btw the angler and the guide.
9. Point scoring will include number of fish, size of fish, and number of flies kept at the end of each day. Any fish caught on a dry fly gets an additional 20% points on the scorecard. Guides are responsible for confirming totals with anglers and turning in scorecards as soon as possible before dinner.
