US Youth Fly Fishing Team

The US Youth Fly Fishing Team

The USA Youth Fly Fishing Team (Team USA) 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 Lockhaven, PA and Loren Williams of Liverpool, NY.
The team is incorporated with a 10-member board of directors and is presently in the process of procuring 501c3 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.

In August of 2008, the team heads for Penacova, Portugal for the World Youth Fly Fishing Championship.

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.

2007 Championship
State College, PA--August 2007: 6th FIPS-Mouche World Championship
• Championship Results
• Pittsburgh Tribune Article on Heather Seitz
• Competition Photos

2006 Championship
Moncao, Portugal—July 2006: 5th FIPS-Mouche World Championship
• Press Release for 2006 World Championship
• Notes from Coach John Wilson
• Portugal Team Results
• Portugal Individual Results