1ST ANNUAL ORVIS BEND NATIONAL CASTING COMPETITION TO AWARD MORE THAN $10,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES

Competition to be held at The Orvis Casting Course at the Old Mill – a first-of-its-kind 18-hole fly casting course in Bend, Oregon

From September 18-20, 2009, The Orvis Company and Hutch Hutchinson will host a national fly-casting competition at a new 18-hole fly-casting course in Bend, Oregon.  The competition has three open divisions – amateur, advanced, and a women’s-only division.  The competition will be held on the newly created 18-hole casting course adjacent to the Orvis retail store in Bend.  “The casting course was designed for fun, education, and to provide an opportunity to practice essential casting skills before going fishing or during the off-season” said Hutch Hutchinson tournament caster, course designer and Regional Business Manager for The Orvis Company. During the competition, accuracy and distance skills will be tested at selected holes on the course.  “The Orvis Casting Course at the Old Mill is a truly unique place to hold a casting competition,” said Tory Myler, Orvis Retail Marketing Manager.  “Competitors will be challenged not only with distance and accuracy casts using a traditional overhead cast, but also with other fly fishing situation casts – roll casts, reach casts, curve casts, and more.”  A $25 entry fee is required for all competition participants. In keeping with the Orvis commitment to conservation, part of the proceeds from the entry fee will benefit local conservation projects in the Bend area.  The competition is open to the first 76 entrants in each category.  For the entry form and more information about the competition, visit www.orvis.com/bend.  Entry forms and the $25 entry fee must be received no later than Aug. 24, 2009 to be qualified for the competition.