Fastest Known Fish (FKF)
The best fish - where they are, who caught them, and how fast?
If you are not a trail runner, you have likely never heard about the Fastest Known Time (FKT) trend. We'll briefly explain. Simply put, an FKT is established as the fastest known time on a certain route (that is at least five miles long or has 500 feet of climbing). Once established, others can then try to take the FKT by documenting completion of the same course in a faster time.
Which brings us to our version; the Fastest Known Fish (FKF)!
The FKF premise is similar to the FKT, but infinitely more challenging (and cool), as you must catch a fish and optionally drink a beer (or spirit) as a part of your "fastest" effort! Here are the rules for us to consider a submission, either in establishing a new FKF or in earning an established one...
What qualifies as an FKF?
Must be at least 5 miles long and/or 500 feet of vertical gain.
Should not be established in dangerous areas or areas known to contain fisheries known to be sensitive.
A fish of some kind must be caught as a part the effort (i.e. you may not bring a frozen fish along with you just to differentiate it from an FKT).
Must only entail running / hiking (i.e. no mountain bikes, ATVs, and/or horses).
Must be interesting enough that someone else in their right mind will feel compelled to attempt it after you.
Start and finish at a publicly relevant and easily identifiable location (i.e. not your front porch in Westcliffe) and keep the course entirely on publicly accessible lands
Optional extra credit: A drink of some kind (beer, wine, whiskey) can be optionally consumed at some point during your effort.
What are the rules for submissions?
You must provide all of the required information to be considered for an FKF
A robust route description that details the start / finish of the route, any important turns landmarks, or hazards, etc…
The original course data file copied directly from your device - GPX preferred.
A link to your activity on Strava, Garmin Connect, etc.
A trip report containing the important and entertaining details (i.e. what was the fishing destination, what fly did you use, what were you thinking about while running, etc...).
Photos, submitting the original file (image files directly from the device contain valuable data that is removed by social media sites).
Fish pictures- Please ensure that all fish pictures have a time and location stamp associated with them. A good app for this is Solocator which captures all of this information.
Start / finish pictures- Again, please ensure that these photos have time and location stamps so we can match them up with your GPX files.
What are the different categories of FKF?
Single fish, one way
In this category, the clock starts once you begin running and stops once you have reached your destination waterbody, caught / photographed / released your fish, and consumed your drink of choice, and stopped your recording device. You may then continue to fish and return to the trailhead at your leisure.
Single fish, round trip
In this category, you are on a running clock which starts and stops at the trailhead. You can continue to fish after your first fish, but the clock cannot be paused. Your fish picture must contain documentation (i.e. time and location stamp) to fall within the time and location range documented in your submitted GPX file.
Multiple fish, one way
In the multiple fish category, a FKF route can be established as a multiple waterbody challenge (e.g. a fish from two or more different lakes along a route) or a multiple species challenge (e.g. a brook trout and rainbow trout along the same route). Rules are the same as above (1), but the clock is running and only stops with the last fish caught / photographed / released. All different fish must be documented with photos to have been caught within the time and location range documented in your submitted GPX file.
Multiple fish, round trip
Same rules as the Multiple fish, one way category, but a round trip
Again, the clock is never stopped until you are back at the trailhead.
All different fish must be documented with photos to have been caught within the time and location range documented in your submitted GPX file.
How do I propose / submit a FKF route?
To submit a new FKF Route, please use this Google Form and make sure you have read through the above guidlines
To submit a new FKF Attempt Report, please use this Google Form and make sure you have read through the above guidelines