Kurt Finlayson, Assistant Coach

Kurt Finlayson first learned the art and science of fly fishing by following his father through the cold waters of the Sierra Nevada's. His earliest memories of fly fishing include casting a fiberglass rod, tying hair flies collected from the family’s golden retriever, and stonefly hatches along the Yellowstone River .
After moving to Cache Valley Utah, he became a frequent photographer and writer for Fly Fish America, American Angler and other angling publications. In 1997 he was introduced to competitive fishing when he photographed the Fly Fishing World Championships and then photographed and fished in the One Fly in Jackson, Wyoming. Later, he met Team USA member Lance Egan at a casting clinic and Lance enthusiastically shared his competitive fishing techniques. “I loved the steep learning curve and as a former nationally ranked triathlete, the excitement of competitive fishing appealed to me.” Kurt entered a regional qualifier and earned a spot at the first U.S. National Championships. The following year, Jack Dennis asked him to fish with Team USA at the Oceania Championships in Tasmania, Australia where the team won the Bronze medal. The next year at the U. S. Nationals he was elected to captain a regional team where they took the Bronze medal in a surprising victory. 
He credits Loren Williams, Devon Olsen and many other mentors and friends for sharing their fishing experiences, adventures, and knowledge with him. “First as a father and now a coach with the US Youth Fly Fishing Team I hope to continue to hand-down the learning and fun that comes with fly fishing.”