The U.S. Women's Fly Fishing Team Leaves for Czechia!

Rainbow Trout Kitchen is proud to fuel and support the U.S. Women's Fly Fishing Team (USWFFT) as they compete against some of the best anglers in the world! Join us in cheering on these elite U.S. anglers in their quest for GOLD at the World Women’s Fly Fishing Championship in the Czech Republic from May 19-25.

Meet the Team!

1. Ashley Wilmont – Penn State, PA
2. Julie Mattson – Hochatown, OK
3. Linsay Szofran – Red Lodge, MT
4. Melissa Smith – Black Hawk, CO
5. Tess Weigand – Cobren, PA
   Reserve: Erica Hickey – Avon, CO
   Coach: Norman Maktima

The 3rd World Ladies Fly Fishing Championship will last 5 days. This includes the Opening Ceremony and 5 days of competition at 3 river venues and 2 lake venues. The team will spend over a week preparing and acclimating in Czechia before the competition begins.

Exclusive Interview with Julie Mattson and Ashley Wilmont!

How Do Competitors Prepare?

The team arrives one week early to practice in local waters. They will fly to the Czech Republic on May 10th. Competitors are not allowed to fish the World Venues once they arrive, as the venues typically close 60 days before the event.

What Happens During Practice Week?

During practice week, competitors spend 8 hours a day on the water—casting, walking river venues, boating lakes, and observing water conditions. Every evening, the anglers tie flies, review the day's practice, and discuss any insights on the waters, maps, depths, and structures. The only other priority is to eat and sleep!

What Are the Rules for a Catch to Count?

A fair catch must be at least 20 cm and a qualifying species. Anglers are paired with a Controller to verify each catch. The Controller measures and records each fish to verify size and species. Other rules include:

• Max bead size: 4 mm
• Flies spaced 50 cm apart
• Barbless hooks only
• All fish are catch and release

What is Competition Day Like?

Competitors rise early, have breakfast, and double-check their gear before loading up into a van or bus with their group—each group includes one competitor from every country. There are typically 5-6 groups with 10 competitors per group.

What Influences the Angler's Success?

The difficulty of the river section, weather, hatch activity, and whether you fish first on your beat all influence success. Other factors, such as whether the water has already been fished or changing weather conditions, also affect strategy.

How is Your Fishing Area Chosen?

The night before each competition day, there is a draw to determine fishing locations. Competitors fish their assigned section of the river for 1.5 hours before rotating to the next beat. On lakes, two competitors share a boat and alternate control of the boat, with the first to control chosen by the draw.

Is Your Controller From the Czech Republic?

Not always. Controllers are volunteers from all participating countries, and a Sector Judge oversees all Controllers and competitors.

What Are Winning Teams Awarded?

Winning teams receive gold, silver, and bronze team medals. There are also individual medals awarded for gold, silver, and bronze.

Already Winners

According to Julie and Ashley, what becomes evident at the World Championships is that competitors have reached the pinnacle of their sport just by attending. Representing their country on such a global stage means they are already winners.

How to Become a Member of the USWFFT

Interested anglers should join the USFFT and start participating in mini comps or clinics, which can lead to an invitation to Nationals. Placement at Nationals determines the National Team roster. The top three competitors automatically make the Worlds Team, with two more members and a reserve chosen by the board.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the U.S. Women's Fly Fishing Team and their journey to the Czech Republic. We will update our followers on Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to follow our pages for the latest news!

Go U.S.A.!
Jakie & Ashley