Congratulations to England’s Sheena Goode who is now placed 27th in the World. Sheena defeated lost baggage and raging Norwegian Rivers to successfully represent England at the 1st FIPS-Mouche World Ladies Fly Fishing Championship in the region of Stor-Elvdal and Rendalen, Innlandet, Norway on 4th – 10th July 2022.
Whilst England were unable to raise a full Ladies team for the championship, Sheena stepped forward to fish as an individual competitor so that England would be represented at the inaugural Ladies World Championship.
Without any team mates to practice with, Sheena joined up with England’s European Team who were practicing at an adjacent river system. Sheena’s journey was eventful, KLM had lost her fishing kit and bags, so she started out with just an overnight bag. With high waters, the rivers were unfishable, so lake practice was the only option, with borrowed clothes and tackle. However, come Day 3 Sheena’s bags arrived, which allowed her to settle in for the last couple of days practice before moving onto the Championship at the Øiseth Hotel at Åkrestrømmen.
The teams that had arrived earlier in the week had had the good fortune to practice on fishable rivers and hence put them at an advantage for the Championship. Despite this, having to fish blind on a new river system, and being on her own without the benefit of team meetings and shared tactical information, Sheena managed to catch in all 5 fishing sessions and avoided the dreaded blanks.
Sheena caught 13 fish in total, grayling, rainbow trout and white fish. The biggest being a 40.5cm grayling. 10420 fish points for 31 placing points giving her a 27th place overall.
Paul Page, Angling Trust’s FIPS-Mouche Representative, said, “You expect it to be tough when you compete against the world’s top fly-fishing nations, but to go it alone and achieve such a result with no team members to help you prepare for the rivers and lakes you are going to fish is a massive achievement. It indicates to me that England’s Ladies could be up there with the best in future years, if they can get a team together. Well done, Sheena, cracking result, you’ve shown us what’s achievable.”
Sheena Goode said, “I am so honoured and proud to have fished in this event, the 1st World Ladies Fly Fishing Championship. It’s been a dream for years and I knew it would be tough, and it was! But skills I have gained through many hours of practice and Home Internationals seems to have paid off. Reading each sector and session was key. I have met old friends and made many new, the location wasn’t bad either. Norway is stunning. So, ladies please give it a try, you never know what could happen and meet some incredible ladies too.”