Just because he was in Norway didn’t mean that Travis Johnson was a fish out of water.

Johnson, 33, a local fishing guide and employee at the world famous Fly Fishing Shop in Welches, snagged the title in spey casting at the championships held the last week of August in
Fagerness, Norway.

Not satisfied, Johnson also shattered the world record in the event.

“This was my second time (at the world fly casting championship),” Johnson
said. “And this time, I was determined to win.”

The previous world record was 103 meters in spey casting, a combined total
of the single best left-handed and right-handed casts – a feat that must be
accomplished in six minutes.

Johnson waded into the Norwegian waters and unfurled a record 108-meter
effort.

“I actually did better during the warm-ups,” he said, shrugging through a
narrow smile.

The world championships attracted 52 entrants from 19 countries, making
Johnson’s title even more eventful since he’s only been competing for a little
more than three years.

Johnson grew up in Brightwood, has been at the Fly Fishing Shop for two
years, and has enjoyed the job of an around-the-world fishing guide for nine
years.

He was hooked at an early age.

“I come from a fishing family and started when I was 5 on Morris Creek in
Idaho,” he said. “I was drifting single eggs with an ultra-lite and caught a 12-
inch rainbow. It was one of the greatest moments in my life – especially since
I was with my dad.”

He slowly drifted away from bait fishing as he and his dad would watch fly
fishing on television.

“We were watching this show about fly fishing in Russia,” he recalled. “They
were hammering those rainbows.”

This led to his first fly rod at 11 – a birthday present from dad.

“From then on I never looked back,” he said.

“I haven’t touched a spinning rod since.”

He claims to have no disrespect for spinning rod aficionados, but the mystique
shared by fly fishermen creeps to the surface.


“I watch other methodologies and don’t have a problem with it,” he said. “I
just don’t participate.”

Locally, Johnson’s biggest catch was a 22-pound steelhead on the Sandy River
two years ago.

“I catch one every year on Jan. 3,” he said.

How does he do that?

“I keep a journal. Location, date, time, conditions, temperatures, barometric
pressure, everything that has to do with catching fish.”

If that seems too complicated, don’t forget. He’s a guide for hire.