High-stakes fly-fishing tourney begins in NC

CHEROKEE, N.C. — What’s described as the highest-stakes fly-fishing tournament in the country begins this weekend in the North Carolina mountains.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported the second annual Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Masters Tournament is scheduled on the Ravens Fork River in Cherokee on Saturday and Sunday. The event is presented by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Fisheries and Wildlife Management in partnership with the N.C. Fly-Fishing Team.

The tournament carries a $10,000 purse that will be divided among the top three teams. Organizers say the event is the only fly-fishing tournament in the country to award that much prize money, double the purse from last year’s inaugural contest.

Up to 30 teams are expected to compete this year.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)