The Women’s Fly Fishing World Championship is coming to the U.S. for the first time, and it’s happening in Island Park, Idaho. In this episode, we’re joined by Team USA’s women’s team president, Melissa Smith, who’ll give us a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to compete on Stillwaters.
Melissa will share tips for tackling a new lake, from doing your homework before a trip to figuring out what’s working once you’re on the water. If you’re looking to get better at Stillwater fishing, this one’s packed with practical tips to help you get dialed in.
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Show Notes with Melissa Smith on The 2025 Women’s Fly Fishing World Championship
For the first time ever, the Fly Fishing World Championship is happening in the US. It’s happening this July in Island Park, Idaho, with venues like the Henry’s Fork River and Hebgen Lake on the list.
Here’s the schedule:
- Opening Ceremony: July 13
- Competition Days: July 14 – 17
- Closing Ceremony: July 18
There’ll be seven teams from around the world, and Melissa’s excited to share some of their “most cherished fishing spots” with anglers from across the globe.
USA Fly Fishing Team
Melissa didn’t go to the first fly fishing world championship in Norway, but she’s been a big part of the team ever since. That first year, the U.S. team finished fourth. Her first competition was in British Columbia, where it was mostly lake fishing. Team USA took the bronze medal that year.
In 2024, they went to the Czech Republic with the USA Masters Team. Melissa loved the place, especially the food, and said she’d love to fish those waters again.
Women’s Fly Fishing Team
The women’s fly fishing team from the U.S. only started in 2022, so it’s still pretty new compared to other countries like the Czech Republic and England, where teams have been around much longer.
Melissa says their team is really strong because everyone supports each other and communicates well. Their world championship team has five anglers and one reserve, and the national team has 12 members spread all over the country.
The Lake Fishing Competition
Melissa says she loves lake fishing in competitions because it’s fast and tactical. The boat drifts with a wind sock slowing it down, and two anglers fish at once on their own side. You’ve got three hours to catch fish and score points for how many and how big they are.
It’s all about precise casts, reading conditions like wind and sun, and staying sharp by watching your competitor. For Melissa, it’s not just about catching fish. It’s about being fully in the moment. You’re always adjusting, reading the water, and refining your technique. It keeps you fully engaged from start to finish.
Want to dive deeper into loch style fishing? Check out our full episode with Devin Olsen and Phil Rowley, where they break it all down.
Getting Ready for the Fly Fishing World Championships
With the fly fishing world championships just around the corner, Melissa and the team are deep in prep mode. They know this level of competition takes serious strategy and mental focus. Their last practice session focused on Sheridan Lake. Here are things they do to prepare:
- In-person team meetups to fish and build chemistry
- Weekly Zoom calls, each focused on a different venue
- Group fly-tying sessions to share patterns and techniques
The key is knowing the lake before you even get there. That means researching fish species, fly patterns, and even where the drop-offs or weed beds are. On Zoom calls (one session for each lake), they share what they’ve found. Here’s what they look into for each lake:
- Water temps and feeding behavior
- Common flies and hatches
- Weather forecasts and how they affect fishing
- Lake maps to find good zones, like inflows and structure
Melissa says having her husband, Chris, a longtime coach and now Masters Team president, helps big time. He taught her the ropes early on and even got her into the sport by putting her on 15–20 fish the first time out.
Lake Fishing 101
If you want to try lakes, Melissa’s advice is to start simple. Start with the basics like a 9-foot 5-weight rod, reel, fly line, leader, tippet, and some flies. But don’t just run out and cast right away. Watch the water before anything. Here’s her beginner-friendly lake game plan:
- Find the right depth. Count down after your cast before stripping. That helps you search different water levels.
- Look for structure like drop-offs, weed beds, or spots where water flows in.
- If the water is clear, use lighter flies. For deeper water, go with a sinking line or weighted fly.
- Watch for swirls, rising fish, or even birds diving. These are usually signs that fish are around.
- Practice a smooth overhead cast. Distance doesn’t matter too much, just be accurate.
- You can try different retrieves. Jerky strips mimic baitfish, while slow, steady strips are great for nymphs.
Picking the Right Rod and Line
Melissa likes using a 10-ft 7-wt rod for lake fishing, while her husband uses a 10-ft 6-wt. These give more power in the wind and make it easier to cast farther. Also, she says the longer reach means you can cover more water without moving around. A 9-foot 5-weight rod is great for beginners.
She also suggests keeping a mix of fly lines so you’re ready for anything:
- Floating line
- Intermediate sinking line
- Type 3 or Type 4 sinking line (for deeper water)
Picking Your First Fly at the Lake
Melissa says the best way to begin is by keeping it simple. Here’s here quick guide:
- Dry Flies (Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis): Only when you see fish rising
- Wooly Bugger: Best all-around starter fly
- Damsel Nymphs: Great near weed beds
- Chironomids: Use black, red, or olive with bead heads
- Pheasant Tail or Hare’s Ear Nymphs: Classic, versatile subsurface patterns
Melissa’s Top Fly Picks
- Streamers: Woolly Bugger
- Nymphs: Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare’s Ear Nymph
- Dries: Elk Hair Caddis, Blue-Winged Olives
- Emergers: RS2, Soft Hackles
- Terrestrials: Ants, Foam Beetles, Chubby Chernobyls
- Lake flies: Damsel patterns, Booby flies
If you want to watch the Fly Fishing World Championships in July, the lakes are the easier option since you can see more of the action. Just bring some binoculars to get a better view.
The rivers are a bit trickier, and you’ll need to hike in to reach the viewing spots, but it’s doable if you’re up for an adventure.
Want to help out instead? They need more volunteers!
Learn more at USAngling.org
