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Fishing Golf Course: Fly or Conventional?
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September 01, 2009
Fishing Golf Course: Fly or Conventional?
By Tim Romano
The Orvis company has built an 18 hole "golf-style" casting course at the Orvis store in Bend, Oregon. Come September 18th they are launching what they are saying is the largest cash and prize fly casting competition in North America, giving away $10,000. It's called the 2009 National Fly Casting Tournament.
The course has holes named Bonefish Flats, The Beast from the East, Wagonblast, and Black Butte Pond that seem to correspond to the casting style. It was designed for education, fun, and a unique opportunity to "practice essential casting skills before going fishing." Here's the part I find interesting...
...Orvis is allowing not only fly gear but any conventional gear as well for the course. Bait or spinning with plugs. No hooks or lures allowed. That's right, Orvis - letting gear chuckers on their course. What has the world come to? ;) This won't be allowed for the competition, but normal day to day play.
Personally I think this could be a fun way to kill an afternoon with a few of your fishing buddies. Curious, if you went out the the course would you bring fly gear or conventional? Who would win, you buddy with a handful of fly rods or the dude with a couple of bait-casters?
Now if they only let you bring a cooler full of beer...
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Comments (11)
I've played two courses in the last two weeks. Sage had a casting competition in the Cabelas parking lot in Wheeling a couple weeks ago and last week the fly fishing club I belong to set up a course at our outing. It's a lot of fun.
I can see Orvis using the course for customers to try our new rods but for casting pleasure I'd rather be fishing.
I say if you want to compete you should have a 7/8 weight 9 footer with heavy rocket taper for distance and to cut through the wind. The idea is to slap the fly down hard so it stays in the ring.
That looks like it would be a good time but Oregon is a ways off from Iowa, I guess my brother and I will just keep casting to buckets in the yard. Not nearly as cool but its good pratice and the loser buys the beer.
If I went to this course I would go with fly gear for the fun. If say anything over 50 bucks was on the line I would go conventional in a heartbeat and walk away with your money.
That looks like fun. Is this your standard open shot at the hole or do they mix it up a bit and throw in a willow tree overhang? If fly casting how many falses casts are allowed? I'd take one fly rod, and that's a bummer about the no brew situation. Like any good golf course, the beer cart would be makin' some dough.
Fly rods and spey... only own a few conventional rods for Flathead and a bass rod.
i'd go with a few of my bass rods. they should have the control to hit the target and the power for the long "drives"
I love the idea. Just one more activity. Why should this be a problem for the sport/art. What enjoyment I'd have out casting someone with their spinning gear or not. It might bring a better understanding between the two divides.
Both! If I had to choose, fly, but I'd take both and kill a couple days there...seems like a lot of fun and nice layout.
It has been years since I have been to an orvis store. Not since I lived in Vermont as a kid. Every once in a while they would have a fly casting work shop but I have never heard of them leting casters play. I think it's a really good idea to let both kinds of fishermen learn from one another. Both kinds of fishing have its pros and cons. A+
I would like to see a tournement that pits fly casters and casters against one another. Or a course where you had to use both styles.
I think that this is a great idea. I would definitely sign up with a couple of buddies. Puts a fun way of practicing casting methods while still having fun. I am a baitcaster myself but I think that if I was put up next to a fly fisherman, I am pretty sure I would loose. I have faith in myself but I know my capabilities and I have seen fly fishermen and their accuracy with a fly rod.... nothing short of amazing.
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Both! If I had to choose, fly, but I'd take both and kill a couple days there...seems like a lot of fun and nice layout.
It has been years since I have been to an orvis store. Not since I lived in Vermont as a kid. Every once in a while they would have a fly casting work shop but I have never heard of them leting casters play. I think it's a really good idea to let both kinds of fishermen learn from one another. Both kinds of fishing have its pros and cons. A+
I would like to see a tournement that pits fly casters and casters against one another. Or a course where you had to use both styles.
I've played two courses in the last two weeks. Sage had a casting competition in the Cabelas parking lot in Wheeling a couple weeks ago and last week the fly fishing club I belong to set up a course at our outing. It's a lot of fun.
I can see Orvis using the course for customers to try our new rods but for casting pleasure I'd rather be fishing.
I say if you want to compete you should have a 7/8 weight 9 footer with heavy rocket taper for distance and to cut through the wind. The idea is to slap the fly down hard so it stays in the ring.
That looks like it would be a good time but Oregon is a ways off from Iowa, I guess my brother and I will just keep casting to buckets in the yard. Not nearly as cool but its good pratice and the loser buys the beer.
If I went to this course I would go with fly gear for the fun. If say anything over 50 bucks was on the line I would go conventional in a heartbeat and walk away with your money.
That looks like fun. Is this your standard open shot at the hole or do they mix it up a bit and throw in a willow tree overhang? If fly casting how many falses casts are allowed? I'd take one fly rod, and that's a bummer about the no brew situation. Like any good golf course, the beer cart would be makin' some dough.
Fly rods and spey... only own a few conventional rods for Flathead and a bass rod.
i'd go with a few of my bass rods. they should have the control to hit the target and the power for the long "drives"
I love the idea. Just one more activity. Why should this be a problem for the sport/art. What enjoyment I'd have out casting someone with their spinning gear or not. It might bring a better understanding between the two divides.
I think that this is a great idea. I would definitely sign up with a couple of buddies. Puts a fun way of practicing casting methods while still having fun. I am a baitcaster myself but I think that if I was put up next to a fly fisherman, I am pretty sure I would loose. I have faith in myself but I know my capabilities and I have seen fly fishermen and their accuracy with a fly rod.... nothing short of amazing.
Post a Comment