**Updated Rumble Results 2009

Here is the actual release with the results from the 2009 Rumble in the Rhododendren. (Thanks Michelle)

FLY FISHING TOURNAMENT AWARDS $10,000 IN CASH PRIZES CHEROKEE, N.C.

(September 26-27): Even a weekend’s worth of torrential downpours could not keep the 22 pairs of fishing teams away from their chance at the $10,000 cash purse awarded at the 2009 “Rumble in the Rhododendron” Fly Masters Tournament in Cherokee, N.C. First place and $5,000 went to Fly Fishing Team USA member Josh Stephens of Robbinsville, N.C. with lifelong fishing friend David Woody of Andrews, N.C.

Taking second place and $3,000 was Brad Barnes and Curtis Condon of Watauga, T.N. Third place and $2,000 went to 2005 Fly Fishing Masters Southeast Champion Walker Parrott of Fletcher, N.C. and teammate Capt. Rick Hartman, a fly fishing guide for Kingfisher Inn & Guide Service off the Texas Coast. Barnes is a fly-fishing guide for Watauga River Lodge in Watauga, T.N. and Parrott is a guide for Davidson River Outfitters in Brevard, N.C.

Bad weather added a new layer to the competition as anglers had to complete the casting and accuracy rounds in light-to-heavy rains on Saturday. The fishing rounds on Sunday were delayed three hours because the river was so dangerously high.

The top 15 teams from the distance and accuracy rounds moved on to day two’s fishing rounds. The 15 teams were then narrowed down to five teams for the second round of fishing with one wild card team. As luck would have it, tournament winners Stephens and Woody picked the valuable wild card.

The tournament, which was presented by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Fisheries and Wildlife Management and the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team, was filmed for a feature spot on the Sportsman Channel’s “Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Flemming.”

“With 10 more teams competing this year than in 2008, I would definitely say the tournament was a success,” said organizer Chris Lee of the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team. Tournament organizers look forward to a larger turn out in 2010 and hopefully an even bigger cash purse.

More InfoFor more information the second annual Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Masters Tournament, please visit www.RumbleintheRhodo.com or call 828-421-0172 or 828-269-6529.

For more information on the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team, please visit www.flyfishingteamnc.com.

The tournament is sponsored by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Fisheries & Wildlife Management, the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team, “Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Flemming,” Davidson River Outfitters, Cortland Fly Line, The Granddaddy Fly-Fishing Experience, John Hancock, and William Joseph.

Updated yet again with the fishing results :

http://www.rumbleintherhodo.com/images/2009RumbleFishingResults.pdf

This Easter while we are all munching on chocolate bunnies and spiral sliced hams, the members of Fly Fishing Team, USA will be traveling to New Zealand to compete in the World Fly Fishing Championships. There will be nary a strike indicator nor split shot in the bunch. We will be watching the entire team but will be paying special attention to hometown fly fisher, Josh Stevens.

Via Scoop.co.nz:

The FIPS-MOUCHE World Fly Fishing Championships are being held in the central North Island over Easter week with the opening on Easter Saturday. Nineteen fly fishing teams from around the world and four individual anglers representing a further four countries will gather in Rotorua to compete for team and individual championship titles. Some teams, including the US team, return after having spent time in January when the waters were still open to competitors, becoming familiar with the venues.

NFFC Coverage

We found a few additional items in the press about the recent National Fly Fishing Championship in Denver, Colorado.

The Denver Post mentions North Carolina Angler and US Fly Fishing Team member, Josh Stevens.

Josh Stephens, a slow-talking, fast-catching Fly Fishing Team USA member who won the silver medal in the event, offered this example of the sort of results that come from practiced angling intensity.

"You hear a local guy say nobody can catch more than five fish on a certain beat," the Robbinsville, N.C., resident said. "You leave with 23 and he says, 'No way."'

Even if a recreational angler never intends to poke a cleated toe into a fishing tournament, he would do well to pay attention to the lessons that shine through the competition.

Josh's fellow southern anglers will take the "slow-talking" part as some sort of strange compliment.

Via Midcurrent and GJSentinel.com we learn that US Fly Fishing Team Coach Jack Dennis and Polish angler Vladi Trzebunia were involved in a SUV accident:

Reports say their SUV was demolished after rolling twice. Inside the vehicle, Dennis and Trzebunia had to dodge flying computers, cameras and fly-fishing equipment, but both escaped relatively unscathed.

“Well, I’m a little sore still and I took three days off to recover, but I’m alive and kicking so it’s all good,” said Dennis this week from his store in Jackson. “I’m having an MRI just to make sure, but I think I’ll be OK.”

They are both well on the road to recovery.

He said Trzebunia went fishing for a couple of days to recuperate, mentally and physically, and both expect to be around for the next U.S. Fly Fishing Team get-together set for November in Pagosa Springs.

NFFC: Final Results

The 2007 National Fly Fishing Championship is in the books. George Daniel of Pennsylvania took the top spot with Carolina anglers Josh Stevens and Eddie Pinkston taking the silver and bronze medals respectively.


George Daniel - Gold Medal Winner (Mark lance Photo)


Josh Stevens - Silver Medal Winner (John Crane photo)


Eddie Pinkston - Bronze Medal Winner (John Crane photo)

Competitor Name
1. Daniel, George
2. Stephens, Josh
3. Pinkston, Edward S.
4. Erickson, Pete ©
5. Naranja, Anthony ©
6. Robertson, Scott ©
7. Sexton, Mike
8. Lumsdon, Graham
9. Courtoreille, Terence
10. Egan, Lance
11. Williams, Loren
12. Kimmel, Brian
13. Walter Ungerman
14. Bishop, Brett
15. Roberts, John
16. Maktima, Norman
17. Kolanda, Rob
18. Olsen, Devin
19. Croucher, Andy (Captain/Mgr)
20. Ricks, Jake

Photo's used with permission Colorado Trout Unlimited.

The National Championship is sponsored by Colorado Trout Unlimited and the associated Trout Unlimited Chapters in the State of Colorado. It is also supported by many commercial fly fishing companies locally and nationally, including the American Fly Fishing Tackle Association.

NFFC Update: Josh Stevens

Making the Catch

Running to get it scored

Now back to work!

North Carolina's own Josh Stevens is shown here getting the job done during day 2 of the competition. Josh helped put on the Southeast Regional and also helped conduct the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team's "Big fish Boot Camp."

Let's just say Josh is a local favorite around here. We have it on good authority that during this session Josh caught five score able fish on five casts in succession.

Our next post will have the Standings after day two. Lets just say that Josh is doing very well.

Photo Credit: John B. Crane

http://www.johncranephotography.com/

jbcrane.zenfolio.com

Used with permission of Mr. Crane and Colorado Trout Unlimited.