Congratulations - Top Finishers in 2010 Pisgah Fly Masters

[Chris Smith]

Congratulations to Team Stonefly anglers Jason Buffkin, Michael Yelton, and Paul Thompson, all of whom placed in the top ten at the 2010 Pisgah Fly Masters!

After the Saturday casting rounds, Thompson stood atop the professional division, with Yelton in second and Buffkin in the fifth and final professional slot.  These anglers advanced to face the top five qualifiers from the amateur division.

Buffkin and Yelton followed up Saturday's success in Sunday's early morning fishing round  by finishing in the top five.  I'm told Thompson missed the cut to advance to round two by a few inches.

What's most amazing, however, are the details regarding the finale.  

Apparently Buffkin and Josh Stephens of Team USA stood tied at the end of round two, both in total fish length and in time of finish.  As a result, the two advanced to a sudden death fish off with a shotgun start!

With Stephens and Buffkin sprinting full speed to their water, I'm told Stephens was casting before he even hit the stream.  On his second cast, 58 seconds into the sudden death round, he hooked and landed a fish!

That's a story to last a lifetime...an amazing finish.

Based upon unofficial results, Buffkin finished second, Yelton fifth, and Thompson sixth.  Great job guys!

[Dejon Hamann]

Great job guys!

[Mark Hanes]

Nice work and that is a pretty cool story on the finish!  For those that competed what tactics seemed to be the most productive?

[Chris Smith]

Mark,

I'd be willing to bet that Josh had turned that fish in an earlier round.

I've never seen anyone memorize a stream and fish locations like Stephens.   It's an important skill set, especially if your fishing for total fish length (five biggest fish format) and not numbers of fish.

In short, you pass up a smaller actively feeding fish, knowing that you can return later if it's an absolute necessity.  

[Kevin Lowe]

Good job guys!
I wouldn't want to try to out spring Josh S. to a hole and try to catch a fish first!!
That is one he!! of a tall order!

I thought they were only scoring 3 fish. They did in the morning round.

[Chris Smith]

Hey Kevin.  It was good to see you this weekend.

Sorry for the  confusion...was just using that as an example.  I'm with you...Buffkin had a tall order in front of him there!  

Hope to see you at the Olympiad.

[Seth Gerring]

Good job guys.

Chris and Jason I enjoyed fishing the "mini mini comp" with the two of you.

Seth

[Paul Bourcq]

I cant speak for anybody else but I watched Josh fish it since i came in 6th in casting   For the record a 70 foot distance cast at a 2 foot target in wind is brutal but can be done......sometimes

We knew the fish were eating natural stuff and saw some caddis.  I watched Josh turn several fish swining a team of caddis in a slick section.  He then hooked two and scored them.  I heard Josh say "what the hell am I doing"  It was raining and overcast, he put on a streamer which got him a win last year and Eugene Shuler a win the year before and cleaned house.


I think you are right chris, I watched josh turn several big fish early in the first round of that beat.

Everyone said "dont throw streamers" but I dont trust anyone but team mates in comps lol.

[Paul Bourcq]

Congrats team Stonefly.  You boys earned it casting in that wind.  only 200 points seperated the top 6-7 people.  That is only one target.  I love tough competition.

[Gordon Vanderpool]

Great job guys!  wish I could have been there to see it all go down!