Fishing with sponsorship from the Western North Carolina Fly-Fishing Trail, expert angler and Sylva native Josh Stephens earned a silver medal in team competition during the 2012 National Fly-Fishing Championship in Bend, Ore.

Stephens captured the medal as a member of one of three Team USA squads competing. He also placed eighth individually, winning the fourth round of the five-round event in late October.

“This is the tournament that determines who goes to the World Championships and represents this country,” Stephens said. “It's not easy. The competition is strong.”

A total of 60 anglers on 12 teams competed at the 2012 National Championship, which was hosted by the U.S. Fly Fishing Team.

Stephens posted a personal best when he caught 63 regulation fish in three hours during the fourth round. That catapulted him into third overall, before a tough final round of lake fishing dropped him out of individual contention.

For more information on the Fly-Fishing Trail, call 800-962-1911 or visit www.FlyFishingTrail.com.

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