National Fly Fishing Championship

[tippet7]

I got this from 9 news out of Denver this morning.

Video-9news.com fly fishing video report

LARIMER COUNTY – It's been said that fly fishing is the most fun you have standing up. This week, there were around 70 men and women fishing the waters of Northern Colorado who would agree.

"Worth every minute," said Brian Kimmel of Gallatin Gateway, Montana. "Definitely."

Fly rod in hand, Kimmel was competing in the National Fly Fishing Championship. Many of the best anglers this country has to offer hit the waters of the Big Thompson River, the Poudre River and Red Feather Lakes with their eyes set on a trout and a gold medal.

"This competition is probably the pinnacle competition these days," Kimmel said after finishing the first round of the first day.

The championship is the culmination of regional competitions held across the United States. Fifteen anglers move on from this contest to compete as part of Team USA at the 2008 World Championships in New Zealand.

There was a volunteer, like Steve Thrapp, for every competitor. Their job was to monitor the anglers and their catch.

"We lay the fish in the trough, measure head to tail and then release them back into the river as quickly as possible," said Thrapp.

While watching the fabled fly fishing motion, the idea of competition may seem out of place.

"A lot of fly fishermen don't agree with competition, but you've got to have a US team to represent the country and the world," said Colorado angler Steve Parrott, who competed for a spot on Team USA.

Not everyone in this competition was looking to fish their way onto Team USA. Anglers from England, Ireland, and Canada traveled here just for a chance to win a medal. There are no cash prizes in the National Fly Fishing Championship.

Aside from medals and Team USA, the anglers were lured here by the beauty of the water.

"Trout don't live in ugly places," Kimmel said as his fly line delicately drifted through the cold water of the Poudre.

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Nice video and a good story. Thanks for posting it. Didn't we have one of our own at the championship? Seems I remember someone, can't remember the name, that was trying out for Team USA.

John

[Danoinark]

John

MOtroutbum if I recall.

Dano

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Dano - I think you're right. I was leaning that way, but just wasn't sure.

MO - you out there? Let us know how it went.

John

[motroutbum]

yeah i was there. Brian Kimmel was on my own team. I ended up 43rd over all. I was sitting in the top 20 after the first day. I had two of the toughest venues on the first day, the lakes. I came out with two 6th places because i didnt blank. the second day of competition started off well as I had the Big T first and the Upper Poudre second. The thompson was gonna be tough becasue the comp water fished nothing like the practice water. in practice i pulled out 32 fish in 2.5 hours. the comp water yielded 4 fish in 3 hours on my beat. session 4.....the upper poudre had been giving alot of people troubleand each prior sesssion had been giving people some blanks. my flight however everyone caught atleast one fish and mine just happened to be the smallest. so i got 14 place points and that pretty much took me out of the running. I dropped 2 fish which would have kept me in the top. The last day of competition I fished the lower poudre section. I caught 5 (2 didnt measure) and dropped 3. Those 3 would have put me in the top 15. my team finished 7th overall out of 14.

Im ready for the next set of trials to start. YOU cant lose fish in these competitions. and you cant blank either. I didnt blank(catching 0 fish.) So I am proud to say that I caught on each venue.

[flyfshn]

Congratulations mtb....you should be proud!! I can only dream (for now) of fishing out there!

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

Thanks for the update MTB. Keep us up on your progress - we're routing for ya!

John