River Competition Rules


  1. Clubs are required to display competition rules at the assembly point and to provide a copy of rules for each angler.
  2. Competitors have the responsibility to familiarise themselves with these rules.
  3. Competitors must have a current membership of their club which must be affiliated to the T.A.F.I. Competitors must produce their membership cards at any competition if requested.
  4. The Council reserves the right to refuse entry of any competitor for an competition without being obliged to state the reason for doing so.
  5. The organising committee reserves the right to alter postpone or cancel the competition.
  6. The organising committee will not be liable for any accidents to any competitors or for any loss of property.
  7. Any competitor bringing the championship into disrepute may be disqualified and at the discretion of M.R.T.A.C. may be barred for a period from competitions.
  8. For all championship competitions only brown trout will be accepted.
  9. For all championships entries will only be accepted from club Hon. Secretaries.
  10. In all senior competitions competitors shall be 17 years or over on the 1st of January in the year in which the competition is held.
  11. In juvenile events, competitors shall be over 12 years and under 17 years on the 1st January in the year in which the competition is held.
  12. Competitors will be confined to the one bank of the river where drawn. They must start and finish from the same place and must have their check cards signed at the start and finish of the competition. Unless the catch has been thus checked and certified by the steward it will not be accepted at the weigh-in.
  13. Stewards supervising competitions must be facilitated in every way and bags must voluntarily be presented for inspection at all starting and finishing points and when required during the competition.
  14. A competitor leaving the vicinity of the river bank unaccompanied by a steward for any period will not be permitted to resume fishing again and shall be eliminated.
  15. A rod not long than 12 feet may be used.
  16. The size limit shall be measured overall tail stroked for all major competitions. Size limit may be fixed by the host club.
  17. Artificial dry and wet fly fishing only. Not more than four files on a cast. Spinning and threadline fishing are not allowed.
  18. Only thigh waders permitted. Competitors observed fishing above normal thigh wader level shall be disqualified.
  19. Where appropriate stretches will be allocated by open draw.
  20. Competitors may not fish back to their own bank.
  21. Competitors may fish all sides of islands.
  22. In the team event if one competitor is disqualified he is disqualified from all prizes both individual and team but it will not disqualify the other team members from prizes.
  23. In the event of equality of weights the greater number of trout wins.
  24. Bank side etiquette and angling courtesy should be observed at all times and anglers should not encroach on or wade through fellow competitors fishing streams or disturb waters on salmon anglers.
  25. Competitors must provide their own measure. Competitors presenting undersized fish at the weigh-in will have their entire catch disqualified. All qualifying fish will be determined by the official measure on the day.
  26. The onus is on all competitors to present fish in a clean and fresh appearance and condition and intact. All fish will be removed from bags creels etc. for the purpose of weighing.
  27. Any competitor being disqualified due to having undersized trout is to be informed by the officials prior to the disqualification being recorded by the recorders. If the competitor in question is not available the matter should be brought to the attention of his team captain on the day or to an officer of his club or association.
  28. All competitors must be present at the starting point prior to the commencement of any competition. Any exception to this rule is at the discretion of the organising club secretary. No competitor may leave before the official depart time.
  29. A competitor may not fish the championship waters for 6 days prior to the championship taking place.
  30. Any competitor noticing any breach of the above rules by a fellow competitor is to report the matter to the organising committee at the earliest opportunity to do so.
  31. In all disputes judges decision will be final and binding and the same applied for any breach of regulations and stewards reports. A competitor may appeal for steward enquiry but must accept the decision of the enquiry.