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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
 Posted - 08/03/2006 : 09:09:32 AM
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Yep, we're ready for year three of the casting contest. Here's a link to a page with some details about the time, place and most importantly the REASON FOR THIS event - which is to sponsor the MAINE COUNCIL of TROUT UNLIMITED - TROUT CAMP. One good cause and a great way to spend your Saturday, September 9th.
http://www.maineflyfishing.com/casting.htm
Here's a link to some comments made after last years contest.
http://flyfishingonly.net/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=2262&SearchTerms=contest
If you followed that link and read the posts two things you might have noticed are:
Greg Ponte has won two years in a row.
Both times he had to register twice.
But there’s more to the story:
Last year Greg selected a T3 for his prize. He then donated the rod as a raffle item to raise even more money for the TROUT CAMP. When our Orvis rep heard about Greg's generous act our rep upgraded Greg's rod to a brand new Zero Gravity - which when raffled off was won by one of the kids attending the camp.  Nice.
However, Greg’s winning efforts raised a question or two. One question was if contestants should be able to re-enter after having tried once. After much discussion, it has been decided that since this is a fund raising event and the more funds the better re-entry is a good thing and perhaps even encouraged. 
Another question is what do we do in the case of a tie (which existed until Greg re-entered and out cast his rival) and the answer to that is the same as last year – we put the names of the people with tie scores in a hat and draw the winner.
However, last year I said I was going to put Greg’s rival’s name in the hat 16 times and Greg’s name in only once. It was a joke but some people didn’t see it as funny. My apologies to those people – bad joke – and I promise if we have a tie there will only be one name per person put in the hat. 
So take a look at the Casting Contest webpage at http://www.maineflyfishing.com/casting.htm and see if it might interest you.
Oh, and besides the fun of the casting contest there will be guest fly tiers doing their thing and you are welcome to watch and pick up some tying tips. Also Bill Bentley, Critical Care Paramedic and Registered Master Maine Guide has agreed to do a presentation on wading practices and tips for a safe outing.
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Admin
Forum Admin
USA
502 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 12:55:53 PM
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In reply to a question sent to me this morning about people being allowed to re-enter the casting contest.
No, I don't think it is unfair as all can re-enter. And, one shouldn't assume the re-entry would improve your score.
Greg wasn't the only one to re-enter - BUT - he was the only one to improve his score  the others either tied their old score or did worse.
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Muddler
Frequent Contributor
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 1:05:42 PM
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| Mike, how is this for a twist. Since re-entry is going to be allowed, why don't you make the cost for re-entry significantly higher. Therefore the TU camp makes out even better, and the person that is beaten by the "re-enterer" feels that at least their loss was justified by the fact that the person beating them had to shell out a bunch more money to pull off the victory. I think this would be stellar way to make more money. On a side note I am a good buddy of the person that got beaten by Ponte last year and I think he would have taken solice in the fact that Greg had to shell out some extra bones to beat him. |
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 3:35:15 PM
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Muddler - nice twist. However, we don't actually want to discourage a second or third try. Maybe we'll step it up $5.00 per re-entry - what do you out there think of that idea?
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Muddler
Frequent Contributor
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 7:02:55 PM
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| Sounds good |
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Greg Ponte
Contributor
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 8:32:54 PM
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The ME TU Council thanks Mike and Linda for hosting the 3rd annual fly casting contest at "Fly Fishing Only" for the benefit of the ME TU Trout Camp!
This Fly Casting contest is a fundraiser for the ME TU Trout Camp and it is also fun to participate.
This past June was our 3rd successful Trout Camp at the Evergreens Campground on the banks of the Kennebec River at Solon and all the staff are volunteers! The cost of tuition for the students is $275 but the reality is the camp actually costs the ME TU Council nearly $1000 per student for the week.
Mike has set the rules that a participant may enter as many times as they are willing to pay the fee.
The first year I did not pay close attention to the rules and scored zero points because I did not know I had officially started!
Therefore I paid up again and on my second try I had the high score for the day.
The second year I was tied by another fly caster and decided to pay again because I did not trust lady luck as I felt I had a better shot at winning by casting to a higher score.
Bottom line is, if you want the opportunity to win a fine Orvis fly rod then pay the fee as many times as necessary to have the high score at the end of the day.
Greg Ponte
Executive Director
MTUTC
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Muddler
Frequent Contributor
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2006 : 8:36:15 PM
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| Greg, you won't hear any disagreement on the cause, its a great one. You won't mind paying the upgraded re-entry fee when either Jesse or I beat your first score will you? Just checking |
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2006 : 07:14:20 AM
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Greg, I don't wonder you didn't trust Lady Luck when I was talking about front loading the drawing 16 to 1 I think you made the right choice there 
Muddler, It's not a done deal yet - we may not have the escalating fee – jury is still out. 
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Greg Ponte
Contributor
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2006 : 11:01:24 AM
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Actually I will be at Cape Breton, N.S. during this event so there will be another winner this year.
Having discussed this Sept. 9th fly casting contest with Jesse back in June during the MTUTC week my prediction is he will win and will choose a saltwater T-3 rod to fish for striper's.
If he does not win he will definitely make sure by his score that all the participants know they are in a competition!
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Muddler
Frequent Contributor
USA
245 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2006 : 11:27:43 AM
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| Jesse will have his work cut out for him, but if for some freak reason he is able to win, I fully intend to outfish him using his own rod on our annual BFC alumni trip to cape cod for stripers. Last season we fished a set of flats near Mashpee, MA and got into some huge stripers that were sunning themselves in about 2ft of water. A melee of clousers and decievers filled the air as we hooked up time after time with 30 inch fish. Nothing compares to cape cod striper fishing during the 2nd week of June. |
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Bokluvva
Active Member
United Kingdom
93 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2006 : 5:14:51 PM
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Hey.... just to say that I have fished with Greg. He is fantastic with that rod in his hands. Good on him for winning the prize. I would have thought that instead of trying to oust him as a contender you guys would get out there and practice... then take on the champ fair and square... that way you know who is best.
Besides next year I will be there to take the honours! See you at the Ockey. |
If you are goin to the water you might as well fish. |
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ffo sis
Starting Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2006 : 09:58:42 AM
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Yes Mike - please put me in for an entry.
I'll pay you on my next trip to Maine
SIS |
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2006 : 10:10:09 AM
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Done,
Your credit is good  I'd cast for you but I can't enter  |
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ffo sis
Starting Member
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2006 : 10:27:22 AM
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| How about Linda? |
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2006 : 08:36:57 AM
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Sorry - can't get that one past the judges  |
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/15/2006 : 5:57:16 PM
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Good News - at least if you want to test cast a new Zero Gravity Fly Rod.
Our Orvis Rep is going to make it up for the casting contest and he's agreed to re-open the Zero Gravity Days Promo where we give you a hat and a $10.00 gift certificate if you try a Zero Gravity Fly Rod.
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2006 : 2:39:17 PM
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More Good News
Ed "Muzzy" Muzeroll
Salmon Fly Tier extraordinaire
will be here set up and tying.
Don’t miss the chance to see Ed tie. Heck, you can even ask him some questions. And if you decided you just can’t tie a fly like the ones he ties – well – then maybe you’ll want to buy one of the framed mounts he’ll have on display.
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 12:02:38 PM
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Bok asked about the rings and so I thought a picture or two would explain better than I could. I hung these out this morning and took three tries - my scores 35, 25 and 35 - it's harder than you think.
The 1st ring is 34" and the rest of them are 16". You would think hitting a 34" ring at 25' would be easy but it isn't. You don't have the full weight of the fly line out - there might be a breeze - and they do move a little.
However, all in all with practice and a little luck you could win a free fly rod. That is - if you enter - like they say in the lottery, you can't win if you don't play
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2006 : 08:29:07 AM
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More good news - you don't even have to enter the casting contest to win something. We've decided to give away some door prizes and all you have to do to win one is show up and register for a drawing.
You don't even have to stay to win your door prize - if your name is drawn we'll send the prize to you.
Now that may sound like it takes the focus off raising money for the Trout Unlimited Trout Camp, but it really doesn't - we figure if we can get you here you'll see how much fun the casting contest is and maybe you'll register for that also - even if you don't stick around to cast |
Edited by - Mike Holt on 09/07/2006 08:29:33 AM |
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calvin kidder
Frequent Contributor
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2006 : 11:27:41 PM
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| mike i'm sorry i did make it up but will be up some time in the next couple of week to make a donation tight lines |
calvin kidder |
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Bill Blake
Frequent Contributor
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2006 : 11:50:31 PM
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Mike,
Who won?
Well regardless, I guess I'm going to have to start practicing to 16 inch targets. |
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Mike Holt
Member
USA
2807 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2006 : 07:15:06 AM
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Ladies and gentleman there was a three way tie for first place and those three were
Richard Corbett – Andrew Wilke –Jessie Robbins
And of the three the luckiest one was Richard Corbett
because when we threw the three names in a jar and drew one – Richard’s name was the one that was drawn.
The winning score – a mere thirty points.
It was a hard fought race with each of the three entering three times – no wait Corbett entered 4 times – and people were rooting for Jessie who came so close to winning last year.
One fan even laid out $15.00 so Jessie could take another try he was so sure Jessie was going to take the lead. Alas for poor Jessie and his sponsor that was not to be but that sponsored try was the one that got Jessie his 30 points.
So when 4:00pm came around the responsibility of drawing a name out of the jar fell to an unsuspecting customer (who shall remain nameless due to death threats – not really  ) who just happened to be here at that time and Richard’s name was the one he picked out of the jar.
Richard – smiling – went home with a catalog to review. He could have picked any of the 60 some odd rods we had on the rack but he didn’t want to make any rash decisions. Instead he was going home to review his present compliment of rods and planning to fill any gaps he may have when it comes to rod selection.
A big thank you to all who came to compete and to those who were generous enough to just flat out donate even though time or distance kept them from competing.
With 28 contestants at $15.00 each a little simple math tells you we raised $420.00 BUT that’s a wrong answer .
Instead we raised $600.00 and a couple of people have indicated they will be sending a check or calling in a donation to add to that.
So all in all a successful fundraiser and fun time.
Thank you one and all. |
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rmadigan
Frequent Contributor
USA
164 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2006 : 10:27:10 AM
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Great time Mike. I will be there next year and hopefully I will have practiced enough to be competitive.
Maybe we could get some local and corporate sponsors to donate drinks/burger/hotdogs/prizes for even more money to give to TU??? just a thought. |
"Fishin' is the mission" |
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