Fishing - Mitsubishi Motors 17th Annual World Fly Fishing Championship

World Fly Fishing Championship comes to Jackson Hole
By Mike Banville



The eyes of the fly fishing world will be on the beautiful Jackson Hole valley September 3-8, 1997 as the first ever U.S. site for the Mitsubishi Motors 17th Annual World Fly Fishing Championship & Conservation Symposium.

The Mitsubishi Motors 17th Annual World Fly Fishing Championship & Conservation Symposium will bring together nearly twenty-five, 5-person angling teams from around the world to compete for national pride and honor. The famed Snake River area of Jackson Hole, Wyoming and eastern Idaho - just one hour south of Yellowstone National Park - has been selected as the site of the 1997 competition, and is the first such U.S. site in the 17 year history of the event.

Teams able to compete in the contest include:

Austria Canada Wales Ireland Belgium New Zealand Japan Spain

Australia Czech Republic Germany Scotland USA Poland Rumania Sweden

Finland Norway Luxemborg Netherlands England Iceland Slovenia

Though some anglers in the competition have professional ties into fly fishing (store owners, sales reps, engineers), most are amateurs and come to compete simply for the fun, challenge and international recognition. European countries have, for years, participated in fly fishing contests and often use them to determine the official slate of members representing their country in this competition.

The festivities will begin on Wednesday, September 3 with a half-day of practice fishing on the Snake River followed by a gala Opening Ceremonies and Parade through the streets of Jackson Hole. Thursday continues with one more practice day on the Greys River. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are actual competition days where anglers will randomly be assigned to various sections of the Snake, Southfork and Greys Rivers to fish. Some days will be guided, some will be wade fishing, but in all situations, official scorekeepers will keep tabs on the anglers logging each trout that is caught and safely released. Teams with the highest accumulated point total win the event. Honors are bestowed upon individual performances as well.

Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. is the events title sponsor and will be assisted by managing sponsors, Jack Dennis Sports and Jackson State Bank, both of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and associate sponsor, Union Pacific Railroad of Bethlehem, PA and Boise, Idaho.

According to Jim Jones, manager of marketing services and promotions for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., the company hopes to create stronger awareness that fly-fishing is, indeed, an environmentally sound sport. With a catch and release system in place, serious anglers tackle the challenges that fly-fishing presents without disturbing the ecology or natures surroundings.

Jones also noted that this internationally acclaimed event is designed to make one of its goals the preservation of the Cutthroat trout in Jackson Holes Snake River. We believe a company like Mitsubishi Motors can use its title sponsorship of the 17th World Fly Fishing Championship to help publicize the peril of extinction faced by Cutthroat trout in Wyomings Snake River, said Jones. We plan to work with local organizers to fund improved stream management that will help save the Cutthroat trout in the Snake River. As part of the six day event, Mitsubishi will help to present a Conservation Symposium aimed at promoting many of these advanced stream management techniques.

Mitsubishi Motors, along with Team-USA organizers, have committed to donating all net proceeds from the competition to Trout Unlimited, through its local chapter, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art. These funds will be used for educational and stream rehabilitation programs in the region.

Non-profit environmental organizations Trout Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund, Teton Science School and the American Sportfishing Association have endorsed the event saying it will help focus positive attention on fisheries education and conservation practices worldwide, goals that are common among these groups.

The Mitsubishi Motors 17th Annual World Fly Fishing Championship is an "Olympic-style" competition with strict rules prohibiting commercialism during the competition. No cash prizes are involved whatsoever. All participants are amateurs competing to raise awareness for this event, and for fly-fishing as a conservation-oriented sport.

One special note:

Due to the fact that this is the first time the World Championships have come to America, we want to make our international visitors feel as comfortable and welcome as possible. Languages alone will be a somewhat difficult barrier from which to hurdle. That is why we are looking for individuals, couples or families that can assist Team- USA through our Host Program. American hosts will act as our official liaisons between the team captain of a designated country and Team-USA. Any time a foreign team needs assistance with understanding local customs, making reservations, helping with airlines, rental cars, childcare recommendations or even the best place to get a burger in Jackson Hole, hosts will be an invaluable resource in our formula for success. Volunteers are not being asked to house teams. Just be available to them, by phone or mail, prior to the event and accessible to them during the event in Jackson. Host volunteers do not have to live in Jackson and will be given complimentary passes to most evening festivities and banquets as compensation for their time and effort.

For questions dealing with the Mitsubishi Motors World Fly Fishing Championship and Conservation Symposium, contact:

Michael Banville, Director of Public Relations
Flyfishing Team-USA
PO Box 429, Teton Village, WY 83025
(Voice) 307-733-2835 or 733-9619 (Fax) 307-739-2557