The US Youth Fly Fishing Team

The USA Youth Fly Fishing Team is a carefully selected group of young anglers from across the United States that is coached by US Men’s Team members, George Daniel of Lock Haven, PA and Loren Williams of Liverpool, NY. [George], [Loren]

The team is incorporated with a 10-member board of directors and an approved 501(c3) non-profit status.

In August of  2007, Team USA fielded two teams in the 6th FIPS-Mouche World Youth Fly Fishing Championship in State College, PA.  Ten teams from the United States, Canada, and Europe vied for the championship in five different fishing sessions on Spring Creek, Fishing Creek, The Little Juniata River, and Lake Perez. Team USA 1 placed 4th in the team competition, narrowly missing a bronze medal with Adam Picketts, Andy Simon and Mike Hemkens leading the effort.  Team USA 2 finished a respectable 7th in their first competition with Heather Seitz and Matt Rose turning in strong finishes.

Competition in 2008

In August of 2008, the team again plced 4th in the FIPS-Mouche World Fly Fishing Championship held in Penacova, Portugal. Danny Marino led Team USA in 8TH place, an impressive finish in his first competitive outing. Matt Rose (12th ), Caleb Boyle (15th ), and Weston Reynolds (16th ) all turned in strong performances as well.

Then in September the US Youth Flyfishing Team finished sixth among all competitors at the America Cup Tournament held in Colorado. Competing against 11 other, generally older teams. The top team performer was Matthew Rose who finished 20th. Peter Sheetz was 26th, Darren Schmoke 27th, Wesley Cogdon 28, and Caleb Boyle 29th. Loren Williams, our Assistant Coach finished fourth in the competition

FIPS-Mouche, the world sanctioning body for competitive fly fishing has well defined rules of competition.  All fishing is “catch and release.”  Anglers fish five different sessions of three hours each, all on different rivers and “beats” of water.  Scoring is based on the number and size of fish caught.  Placement points are awarded for each session with the goal of scoring as few points as possible.  A person catching no fish in a session receives the greatest number of penalty points and considerably jeopardizes their chances of medalling.

Just as important as the fishing, is the camaraderie and the cross-cultural connections that are made through the event.  Team members are also involved in a number of other areas of fly fishing such as guiding, offering fly tying clinics, participation in watershed preservation projects, and promoting environmental stewardship.

Coach Daniel at Practice

Competition in Portugal

2008 Championship

Team USA took fourth place in Portugal narrowly missing a Bronze Medal in the 2008 FIPS-Mouche World Youth Fly Fishing Championship. Danny Marino led Team USA in 8TH place, an impressive finish in his first competitive outing. Matt Rose (12th ), Caleb Boyle (15th ), and Weston Reynolds (16th ) all turned in strong performances as well.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review August 18, 2008

2008 America - Colorado

The US Youth Flyfishing Team finished sixth among all competitors at the America Cup Tournament held in Colorado. Competing against 11 other, generally older teams. The top team performer was Matthew Rose who finished 20th. Peter Sheetz was 26th, Darren Schmoke 27th, Wesley Cogdon 28, and Caleb Boyle 29th. Loren Williams, our Assistant Coach finished fourth in the competition

The America Cup Competition

The Team Prepares