Town of Frisco and The America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament announced today the winners of Colorado’s first international fly fishing event. The first place winner of the event is Michael Drinan, captain of Team Emerger, one of the two teams participating from Ireland. Drinan is considered one of the world’s foremost fly fishermen.
The winners are:
Individual
1st Place - Michael Drinan – Team Emerger
2nd Place - Devon Olsen – Team USA One
3rd Place – Bret Bishop – Team USA Two
Team
1st Place – Team USA Two
2nd Place – Team USA One
3rd Place – World Cast Anglers
The America Cup International Fly Fishing Tournament is only the second international tournament to be held in the U.S. From September 8-12, 15 invitation-only teams fished the Arkansas, Colorado and Blue Rivers and Ten-Mile Creek in the Frisco area. The five-person teams included Team USA, a junior team and an all-woman team from Colorado. International teams came from Hungary, Poland, Australia, Japan and Ireland.
Drinan noted that this competition is more like a world championship than a strictly U.S. event because competitors include some of the world’s best international fly fishing enthusiasts. He also praised the Colorado rivers for their challenging swiftness and scenic beauty.
Competitors followed international sport fly fishing rules, which require catch-and-release fishing using barbless hooks. Catches had to be at least 20 cm long to qualify, with extra points awarded for each additional centimeter of length. Some competitors landed an average of 10 fish per hour in their 200-yard stretches of river during each three-hour session.
Tim Bock, spokesman for the Town of Frisco, said Frisco is the ideal setting for a world-class event such as the America Cup. “To see the best fishermen from around the world enjoying the rivers that we sometimes take for granted has been a real pleasure. We look forward to hosting these teams and more next year.”
Contacts:
Jennifer Lester, 303-394-2366
jlester@philosophycommunication.com
