Fly Fishing Trail Sponsors Silver Medalist

February 1, 2013 By: Erin Block

Sponsored for the 2012 National Fly Fishing Championship by the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail (the nation’s first to be so designated), Josh Stephens took home a silver medal 2012 and promoted the unique offering of his home state.

Read more in the press release below.

WNC Trail Sponsors National Fly Fishing Silver Medalist 

SYLVA, N.C. – Fishing with sponsorship from the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, expert angler and Sylva native Josh Stephens earned a silver medal in team competition during the 2012 National Fly Fishing Championship in Bend, Oregon.

Stephens captured the medal as a member of one of three Team USA squads competing. He also placed eighth individually, winning the fourth round of the 5-round event in late October.

Stephens has now won a team medal in seven straight national championships, to go along with two individual medals during that span.

“This is the tournament that determines who goes to the World Championships and represents this country,” Stephens said. “It’s not easy. The competition is strong.”

Stephens credits his dual sponsorship from the WNC Fly Fishing Trail and the Jackson County TDA for allowing him to arrive early and properly prepare for the event.

“I was able to pre-fish different rivers and get a feel for what I was about to face. I cannot stress how important the sponsorship was and how much it helped,” said Stephens, who qualified for the World Championships. “If you don’t have it, you don’t always have the money to go.”

A total of 60 anglers on 12 teams competed at the 2012 National Championship, which was hosted by the U.S. Fly Fishing Team.

Stephens posted a personal best when he caught 63 regulation fish in three hours during the fourth round. That catapulted him into third overall, before a tough final round of lake fishing dropped him out of individual contention.

“It still was a good finish,” Stephens said. “I’m happy with it.”

He also was happy to promote the nation’s first officially designated fly fishing trail, handing out trail maps and wearing the trail’s logo on his fishing shirts and jacket.

“It means a lot to say our local fly fishing trail here in North Carolina sponsored me. It’s something I’m very, very proud of,” said Stephens. “People were impressed and saying what a great idea it is. All you have to do is open the map and everything you need is right in front of you. It sparked a lot of interest.”

For info on the Fly Fishing Trail, call (800) 962-1911 or go to www.FlyFishingTrail.com.