updated 21 January

Texas Flyfishers will host a scaled down version of the Danish Casting Games at the 2008 Fly Tying Festival. Fly casters of all skill levels are invited to participate in this competition where your ability to cast long distances matters least and your ability to have fun matters most. The entry fee is $5.00. The games will run from 11.00am until 1.00pm. Winners will be announced at 2.00pm.

There will be five casting stations - Moon Shoot, Tight Loop, Limbo, Salt Water Cast, and Yak Cast. The object at each station is to get your fly into or through a ring in the least number of casts. There are no restrictions on equipment, except that you must use a fly rod and use of a metal hook is prohibited ( a small yarn fly is used instead). Bring your own rod or use one of the ours. To score, add one point (demerit) for each unsuccessful cast. The maximum score from any station is ten. Add the points from each station for your total score. The winner has the lowest score. The distance that your fly lands from the center of the ring in the Moon Shot will be used, if required, as the 'tie-breaker'.

There will be two levels of participation: hotshots and normal casters. Trophies will be awarded to the first and second place hotshots. Those participating in the normal casters category will vie for their choice of a 5 or 8 weight Echo 2 rod for first place and a new fly line for second place. Judges may, and in some cases will, override your nominated participation level.

The five stations:

1. Moon Shoot - The casting ring is 100 feet from the station. Cast to the ring. If unsuccessful, walk to where the fly landed and continue casting from that spot to the target. Repeat until the fly lands in the ring. The judge will record the distance of your fly to the center of the ring.

2. Tight Loop - The casting ring is suspended 5 feet above the ground and 35 feet from the station. Cast a narrow loop so that the fly and line pass through the ring and remains on the opposite side of the hoop when all the cast line comes to rest on the ground.

3. Limbo- The casting ring is 35 feet from the station. A horizontal hazard, suspended three feet off the ground is placed in front of the ring. Use a side arm cast to place the fly under the hazard and in the ring.

4. Saltwater Cast - The casting ring is 40 feet from the station. The caster stands in an elevated casting box as if on the bow of a flats boat, ready to make a quick, accurate cast. The fly is in hand and approximately 25 feet of leader and fly line are out of the rod tip. Sufficient line is off the reel and held with the non-rod hand. Make the cast with no more than 3 back casts. 5. Yak Cast - The casting ring is 35 feet from the station. The caster attempts to place the fly in the target from a seated position on the ground or a kayak.

Danish Fly Casting Games have been held at club meetings and casting expositions. The name serves to honor Poul Jorgensen who lobbied long and hard for an obstacle course for fly casters. Perhaps the world's best-known fly tier, Jorgensen practiced fly tying daily until his death. Indicative of his philosophy, he was often heard to say, "when you feel your fly tying cannot improve, it's time to get rid of your tying stuff and take up golf."

Jorgensen Born and raised in Odense, Denmark, Jorgensen made his home in the United States for over 45 years. Best known for his work with Atlantic salmon flies, Jorgensen was also a talented and innovative tier of salt flies, ultra-realistic flies, bass bugs, and trout flies. He taught angling, authored books, lectured, and produced videos until his death.

In 1969 at age 44, Jorgensen left his engineering job and made fly tying his full-time profession. In 1973 he published his first book, Dressing Flies for Fresh and Salt Water. He has since authored five additional works including his famous Salmon Flies, Their Character, Style and Dressing. In 1980 on his way home to Baltimore from a fishing trip in New Hampshire he passed through Roscoe, New York, and spotted a small fishing cottage for rent. He made his home in that cottage on the banks of the Willowemoc until his death.

Featured in numerous articles including those in the Wall Street Journal and National Geographic, Jorgensen received much acclaim and many honors during his long career, but none that he held dearer than his induction into the Hall of Fame of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in 2001.

Dubbed "a fly tier's fly tier" Poul Jorgensen did much to enrich the sport of fly fishing and the art of fly tying. Poul once told me that fly fishing had been very kind to him and that he wanted to repay that kindness by giving back. I'd say the books have been squared and then some.