Beat & Access Guide

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1. Introduction

Randomly pairs professional and amateur anglers in a fly fishing tournament for carp and other species on the South Platte River in the Denver area. A pro is someone who collects fees for guiding fly fishing clients. All proceeds benefit South Platte restoration efforts and DTU's Trout in the Classroom program. Disputes are resolved by the Tournament Chairman or an appointed representative. No fishing from bridge decks, see section 4.

2. Duration & sessions

An orientation meeting is held before the event to draw teams and beats, attendance is strongly encouraged. The competition runs a morning and afternoon session. Morning is split into two 1.5 hour blocks: the amateur fishes first, and once the amateur lands a carp both anglers can fish the rest of the morning. If the amateur hasn't landed one by the 1.5 hour mark, both anglers fish the second block. Afternoon follows a classic alternating format, 30 minute turns or until a carp is caught, pro fishes first, with both anglers allowed to fish during the final hour.

3. Fishing beats

A beat is the section of river assigned to a team as their available water, drawn to give all competitors equal opportunity. Beats may include nearby ponds, lakes, or tributaries in addition to river frontage. A competitor may only cast within their beat's boundaries and must stay inside them for the whole session. If a hooked fish swims into a buffer zone or another beat, it may still be played from inside your own beat, but must be landed inside your beat or it doesn't count. Beats are assigned by blind draw at orientation and cannot be changed afterward. Fishing the wrong beat results in disqualification.

4. Teams & competitors

Teams pair a pro and an amateur. Amateurs register first come first served with an entry fee, pros are invited and do not pay. Teams and beats are assigned by random draw the night before at the Team & Beat Draw party, anyone not present has their beat drawn for them.

Equipment: fly fishing only, one rod in use at a time, spares allowed. A single leader of any length or construction. Artificial flies only, single hook, no size or weight restriction, up to three flies at once, no scent or bait. Landing nets must be non-abrasive, preferably knotless.

Landing and measuring: whoever hooked the fish must land it, a teammate may net-assist. Fish must be transferred to the official cradle for measurement under controller supervision. A fish lost while fully in the controller's possession before measurement counts as the South Platte average of 26 inches.

Prohibited: fishing from bridge decks, any watercraft, drones or aerial photography, fraudulent or biased results, poor sportsmanship, and fishing competition waters within 7 days of the event (results in disqualification).

Encouraged: teams may use phones or walkie talkies to communicate, and pros should guide their controller on how to monitor without interfering.

One warning is given for any infraction. A fish caught while breaking a rule won't be scored. Repeat infractions disqualify the team for that session.

5. Controllers

One controller per beat, equipped with a measuring cradle and a spray bottle of dilute copper sulfate for boots, New Zealand mudsnails are present in some beats and the spray helps stop their spread between sections, wash mud off streamside first, then soak boots before leaving. Controllers monitor conduct, resolve questions through the Tournament Chairman, and may not land, net, or transfer a fish themselves, though competitors can assist with measurement if asked. Each eligible fish gets recorded on the scorecard and texted in with species, length to the nearest quarter inch, angler name, beat, and time of capture. Rule enforcement itself belongs to the Tournament Chairman, controllers monitor and report. Controllers should not divulge how other teams caught fish (fly or technique), though general location info is fine, and should avoid spooking fish or interfering, taking cues from the pro angler.

6. Eligible fish

Carp of at least 10 inches qualify for the carp competition. Any other species qualifies for the largest exotic species competition with no minimum length. A fish hooked right at the end of a session must be landed within 10 minutes after time expires. Only fish hooked in the lips or mouth count, intentional snagging is prohibited. Length is measured nose to tail tip in quarter inch increments.

7. Scoring

Carp competition: total length of all valid carp per team. Ties break by longest single carp, then most carp landed, then a coin toss.

Largest exotic species: single largest non-carp fish, nose to tail. Ties break by combined inches, then number of different species, then a coin toss.

$1000 Carp: largest carp over 30 inches by a Slamateur only. No tiebreaker, an exact tie splits the prize evenly unless both competitors agree to a coin toss.

8. Prizes

Carp Cup trophies plus fly fishing prizes for the winning pro/amateur team, prizes for 2nd and 3rd place teams, and a cash prize for the largest carp 30 inches or over caught by an amateur. A separate prize goes to the winner of the largest exotic species competition.