Czech Republic won the team title, followed by host New Zealand and France.
Lance Egan, a Lehi, Utah, resident who works for Cabelas, was one of the seven Americans on the U.S. squad. He finished second among the individual American anglers and 24th overall.
Here is Egan’s take on the World Fly Fishing Championships along with some other interesting responses on the sport of fly fishing:
What was it like to represent your country on the U.S. fly fishing team?
It is an honor to represent our country in the championships. Team USA is trying very hard to become one of the elite teams in the world championships. It is an uphill climb, but one I'm confident we can summit. Most American anglers don't realize how talented some of the teams are that participate in the world event. It truly is the best competition I've participated in.
How difficult was fly fishing in another country for the first time, trying to get accustomed to the different fisheries and the patterns needed to be successful?
Fishing in another country is very challenging. Trying to find fly patterns that the fish can't resist, and the perfect technique to catch the maximum number of fish is sometimes tough. You usually only have a few days to prefish, and learn as much as possible. The home teams usually have an advantage, and usually show it in the standings.
How many world championships have you fished and was fishing in another country a new experience for you?
New Zealand was my third world championship. I've fished out of the country a bit outside the world champs, but mostly in saltwater.
What separated team champion Czech Republic from the pack in the tournament?
The Czech anglers are very talented, and have proven that they are truly world class. I think they compete more than many other teams, which gives them more competition experience, but really they are simply excellent anglers. Nymphing is generally the best way to catch numbers of fish, and the Czechs are very good at nymphing, however, they are very good at any presentation, and will match the conditions to maximize catches.
What are some the aspects of tournament fishing that you enjoy most? What areas do you dislike?
I enjoy many aspects of competition fly fishing. Competition angling makes you think outside the box. You have to learn new techniques to be successful, you have to learn to read the water better, and you have to be very efficient with your time, and tactics. Think of having a 200-meter stretch of river where you get to spend 3 hours, and your job is to land as many trout as possible. That makes you cover all the water types, and cover them thoroughly. With only 200 meters, you can't risk spooking a few fish, so you cover everything fishy. Competition fishing has had a dramatic effect on my fishing. I now fish more water types, know more techniques, and better understand the techniques I used before. All combined, I'm a much improved angler because of competition fishing. It has definitely increased my numbers of fish caught, and my effectiveness on the water.
There really isn't anything I don't like about competitive fishing. The only adverse effect I can think of is that I spend so much time preparing for trout competitions that I don't spend time fishing for saltwater and warmwater species. Other than that, I love the competition aspect.
Last but not least, where do you like to fish when you're here in the states or back home in Lehi, Utah?
That is a very good question. My favorites are anywhere new, and some small streams in Utah that I won't mention names. ... All fish are good fish!
