Teenagers represent England in fly-fishing contest

The fly-fishing competition is being held in Idaho Falls

Three teenagers from the West Midlands are heading to the US to compete on the fly-fishing world stage.

Nicholas from Birmingham, Marcus from Church Stretton, Shropshire, and Harry from Rugeley, Staffordshire, are members of the England U18 River and Bank Fly Fishing Team.

They will compete in the 22nd FIPS-Mouche World Youth Fly Fishing Championship in Idaho Falls from 12 to 19 July.

"This will be my first competition, and to have it hosted in America, it's a very big thing for me... its an honour to represent my country fishing," said 15 year-old Marcus.

He said he became hooked when he picked up his first rod at three years old, but really got into the sport when he was six.

Marcus now goes out to local reservoirs with his dad most weekends.

"It's really good to just get outside," he told the BBC.

The competition will see the team catch and release fish, scoring points for how big they are

"This is what I love and this is what really helps me."

Of the competition, he said: "It's just on my mind all the time, practicing, fly-fishing, practicing non-stop."

The competition requires a specific fishing style of catch and release with barbless hooks, with both wading and boat fishing.

Fish must be a minimum of 20cm and competitors score 100 points for each fish, plus 20 points for each centimetre of length.

Nicholas, 16, spent much of his summers in Trinidad and Tobago, where his cousins got him into fishing.

"It's a really nice break from the city, especially me being in school full time… it gives you something to look forward to on the weekends," he said.

The competition is from 12 to 19 July

He said in the run-up to the competition, the squad had been meeting more regularly, fine-tuning their kit and equipment.

"It's going to be like a brotherhood going out there," he said.

"I think we'll do well out there, I think we could podium... as long as we stick together and work well."

Harry, 13, got into fishing when he was seven, catching three fish while he was out with his dad.

"It means a lot to me that I can represent my own country in the sport I love," he said.

"I've never been that far from home and I'm really excited... the lakes are bigger, the rivers are bigger and the fish are bigger, everything's bigger over there.

"I think we'll do well – it is our first time as a team… we are like the underdogs a little bit."