Sportcast USA, Casting Tournament, Newport News, VA, April 28 & 29

[Don B]

Sportcast USA Long Distance Casting Tournament Event

 

US Southeast Regional Event - April 28 & 29

 

Riverview Farm Park

 

Riverview Pkwy, Newport News, VA 23602

 

Intersection of Menchville Road and Youngs Road

 

Due to the vague location description, we are providing the GPS location
37° 5'27.85"N
76°31'41.30"W

 

There are several moderately priced hotels in the nearby Newport News area.

 

Due to insurance requirements, membership in Sportcast USA is required in order to cast in the event.

 

Visitors are welcome to visit and chat with the casters.

 

Edited April 9, 2018 by Don B

[frazerp]

Is there a schedule - as I remember Saturday's are pretty much meet & greet & test casting and Sunday the real, reel day.

 

Do you have start times for us far-a-way types - for example coming from DC is 3.5 hrs.

 

Best & keep us potential long casters up to date ...

[FlatWing]

I guess it's a safe bet that Sportcast USA will never again consider the inclusion of true NE casters, other than those who can afford to pay for "reasonably" priced hotel rooms, high gas prices and be capable of driving 10-13 hrs to cast on grass.  Every time I see one of these I really miss the "inclusive" philosophy of Earl (RIP) and Bill H.

 

I know the excuse that the field we used to use in Marlton is now a corn field, but besides the fact that I provided GPS to an alternate field in Vorhees years ago, without reply, and again last year (still without reply), some may recall that we used to use an alternate field right up the street from the one that is now a corn field. That field was part of the park, and I can see no reason to think it is no longer in existence.

 

The obvious conclusion is the "directorship" of Sportcast USA feels the club has sufficient mid-Atlantic/South East membership to sustain itself, and conveniently forgets that the position of the leadership after Earl's death was that it was "our" club, not just the club of those not living in the NE.

 

Just my $.02

Edited April 12, 2018 by FlatWing
spelling

[Don B]

On 4/11/2018 at 1:27 PM, frazerp said:

Is there a schedule - as I remember Saturday's are pretty much meet & greet & test casting and Sunday the real, reel day.

 

Do you have start times for us far-a-way types - for example coming from DC is 3.5 hrs.

 

Best & keep us potential long casters up to date ...

 

Are there scheduled times?  Yes, and are now up on our site.  Thank you for pointing out the issue.

 

On the site, they are at the bottom of the 2018 Sportcast USA Tournament Dates & Locations section

Saturday                 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Sunday                   To be determined by casters on Saturday. Usually 800 AM to 4:00 PM

 

 

Edited April 13, 2018 by Don B

[Don B]

On 4/12/2018 at 9:55 AM, FlatWing said:

I guess it's a safe bet that Sportcast USA will never again consider the inclusion of true NE casters, other than those who can afford to pay for "reasonably" priced hotel rooms, high gas prices and be capable of driving 10-13 hrs to cast on grass.  Every time I see one of these I really miss the "inclusive" philosophy of Earl (RIP) and Bill H.

FlatWing

 

I apologize for not providing timely updates. A person was contacted and asked to provide information and it was not forth coming. There is a small shopping area and commercial buildings next to the field. I was not able to get information from Google Earth to be able to determine who owns the property or contact information. Are you in the vicinity of the field, and could you get needed information for us? 

 

I understand the discontent with so many events being held in the DC area. Kenilworth Park in DC costs $50 per tournament. The Crisfield air field in Maryland is free.

 

Earlier this week it was pointed out that fairgrounds existed in Long Island that might be usable for a casting tournament. The fields were 400 feet or less. One park was found to have a field large enough. Smaller fields that were not close to being large enough, cost from $200 to $325 per day.  Sportcast USA is incorporated in the state of Maryland as a non profit and has limited funds. The available funds do not permit paying for expensive fields. 

 

The Sportcast USA Articles of Incorporation (Art II, Section 4) does promote helping small clubs getting started up. If you desire to follow this path, it should be possible to discuss any help needed on a telcon (after tax season). 

 

On 4/12/2018 at 9:55 AM, FlatWing said:

I know the excuse that the field we used to use in Marlton is now a corn field, but besides the fact that I provided GPS to an alternate field in Vorhees years ago, without reply, and again last year (still without reply), some may recall that we used to use an alternate field right up the street from the one that is now a corn field. That field was part of the park, and I can see no reason to think it is no longer in existence.

 

The obvious conclusion is the "directorship" of Sportcast USA feels the club has sufficient mid-Atlantic/South East membership to sustain itself, and conveniently forgets that the position of the leadership after Earl's death was that it was "our" club, not just the club of those not living in the NE.

 

Just my $.02

 

To my knowledge the field in corn is no longer under the jurisdiction of the park. That may be the case for the second field to which you refer.

Your conclusions are in error. The Board of Directors is working to get the organization back on track (not club as Sportcast is governed by Articles of Incorporation) .

 

Earl was doing his best to move the organization forward. He is missed.

 

[frazerp]

Here's 2 possibilities for Eastern Long Island & wonder how many Sportcast members there are above the Mason-Dixon line - Don or Flatwing is that info available ???

Lordy knows, I have found little interest in long casting from local surfcasters.

1) Our beaches only require it occasionally.

2) Maybe once there are no fish left.

3) Anyway they are 99% spinners & buy off-the shelf stuff.

No reason not to keep trying, that's what fisherpeople do - even if they go home empty handed ...

 

[Don B]

" Here's 2 possibilities for Eastern Long Island & wonder how many Sportcast members there are above the Mason-Dixon line - Don or Flatwing is that info available ??? "

 

Well, I come from the most southern state that is west of the Mississippi river. So, that counts me out. There may be about 3 previous members from New York and a couple of folks from New Jersey that may be interested in learning distance casting.

 

Thank you for the examples. They provide enough information to go forward.

Usually the requirements are:

Low or no cost casting field

Low cost hotels

Minimal driving distance for folks

 

Are the fields seasonal and limit availability until crops are harvested?

 

The other thing is having people from the local area who are willing have the commitment to form a club and work together.

 

Thank you again,

Don

 

[FlatWing]

Don:

 

I am currently dealing with health issues related to my permanent disabilities, and, unfortunately, since Nov 2016, my wife is also facing serious health issues, so I do not see myself being able to pursue the particulars of the field I passed on in Voorhees, NJ.  Also, the field in question is farther away from me than the corn field we used to use in Marlton, NJ. The alternate field up the street was a dedicated field that served as a municipal park, with which we sometimes had to deal with somewhat oblivious folks walking their dogs onto the field, so I would be surprised if it no longer existed as part of the Municipal Park system in Marlton.  The corn field was, at the time that we used it, posted as part of the open space preservation program at either the state of municipal level (likely the latter) which is why the municipal park had jurisdiction over its easement and use. Obviously, something changed in the easement, since, by definition, an open space preservation easement maintains a constant wildlife environment, with which harvesting is incompatible (think destruction of burrows, partridge nests, etc. by farming equipment).

 

Before my disability retirement from the DoN (NAVAIR Lakehurst), I had pretty much secured the use of a field larger than SportCast requires on the McGuire AFB part of JBMDL (Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst). This would have been free, since DoD is not allowed to make a profit.  According to Charlie P., the fact that all visitors to JBMDL would need to have US citizenship was a show stopper.

 

After Hurricane Irene, and especially after Superstrom Sandy, and the resultant 50-year  Army Corp of Engineers beach replenishment program, which promises to eradicate surf zone structure (jettys, troughs, holes and points) from Monmouth County south thru Cape May County, I thought there would be considerable interest in distance casting in NJ.  Quite to the contrary, I find that most anglers I encounter in Ocean County are still adamant in their assertion that casting more than 40 feet is unnecessary, even though they follow on by stating that they only catch Schoolie Bass (i.e., those shorter than the minimum 28 inch length allowable for keeping).  For this reason, I feel that any attempt to start a locally based Casting Club, even one that was focused on Fisherman Cast-A-Muck contests, would be an exercise in futility.

[frazerp]

Thank you for the examples. They provide enough information to go forward.

Usually the requirements are:

Low or no cost casting field

Strawberry Fields is a NFP or at least a hamlet venture - I'll check it out, as well as Hallockville (there is a new NYS park right next door, pretty much the same depth).

Low cost hotels

sort of high end, unless off season

Minimal driving distance for folks

80 miles from NYC. less if from CT, MA, etc., but there are ferry costs.

 

Are the fields seasonal and limit availability until crops are harvested?

I'll check it out - pretty much nothing in early spring or late fall ???

 

The other thing is having people from the local area who are willing have the commitment to form a club and work together.

Seems we are trying to work this out ...

 

Sorry for the color issues - can't quite get used to SOL's options ...

 

[Don B]

FlatWing,

 

I am sorry to hear about your physical issues and your wife's health problems. New discoveries in health care are frequently being made. Do not give up and stay as active as is possible. Both mentally and physically.(easy to say, but may not be easy to do)

 

If I recall correctly, the Marlton field cost $40/hour to rent. That's about the same as some other places.

 

" According to Charlie P., the fact that all visitors to JBMDL would need to have US citizenship was a show stopper. "

I only recall seeing non US citizens cast at two Sportcast USA event in Marlton. Jeremy Schraeder & friends and Peter Thain giving lessons. Perhaps McGuire AFB is still an option. (Thank you)

 

 

 

 

 

[Don B]

Frazer,

 

You are on track.

 

"The other thing is having people from the local area who are willing have the commitment to form a club and work together. "

A club is often nothing more than a group of people with a common interest.  While a club with a charter is not necessary, a strong commitment to hold an event is required for obvious reasons.

 

I did notice that a Lion's Club is associated with one of the fields. Since the Lion's are normally associated with community service, they may be an excellent source of help and guidance.

 

If you can work out some of the details, counting yourself, I believe there can be 3 or 4 Sportcast USA members to help with an event in your area.

 

Let's take this off line for coordination and detailed info.

 

Thank you,

Don

[jsid6g]

What kind of distance was achieved in your outing don't keep it quite