CEFF Loch-Style Fishing Rules

Flies & 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.

Lines & 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.

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.
a competitor's rod, when working flies or retrieving casts must be hand held and must be above water level.

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.

Fishing Zone
Competitors shall fish within the bounds shown in this diagram and may not fish in their partners' zones.

Out of Bounds Areas
Whilst a competitor may cast into an 'Out of Bounds' area, the boat may not enter these areas whether fishing or not.

Sitting & 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.

Command of the Boat
Command of the boat will change every two hours. Competitors shall change ends every two hours or as mutually agreed.

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.

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-

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 .


CEFF Loch-Style Match Rules

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.

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.

Species & 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.

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.

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.

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 which may be used if agreed by the AGM of the CEFF, Federation or club concerned.

Emergencies
If assistance is required, an oar should be raised to alert officials. 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 official who will treat the incident as though it were a complaint made under CEFF Competition Rule 4 - See CEFF General Competition Rules.

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