The 10th Annual TU Teen Summit is happening June 28th thru July 2nd on Georgetown Lake, Montana. This annual leadership event brings together teen leaders from around the country, many of whom have attended one of TU’s state fly fishing camps . Part of each Teen Summit includes brainstorming and planning new ways to involve young people in TU’s conservation mission, and all Summiteers become members of TU’s Youth Leadership Council, which meets monthly during the school year to continue the work initiated at the Summit.
This year’s Summit crew includes teens and staff from all over the country. Take a moment to learn more about this year’s Summiteers: the future leadership of TU!
Returning Summiteers
Connor Meikrantz Summit Emerging Leader @connormeikrantz
State: Pennsylvania Chapter: Cumberland Valley TU Summits: 1 Fly: Jig Leech Fish: Bonefish – they take some finesse and fight like mad Celebrity would love to fish with: RDJ Craziest food eaten: Snails/crickets Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I’m pretty lethal with a slingshot in the backyard, the zombies wouldn’t stand a chance Sherwin Williams color: Greenbelt
Sawyer Maddux Summit Captain @sawyerhmaddux
State: Georgia Chapter: Cohutta TU Summits: 1 Fly: Yella Fella Booglebug Fish: Redeye Bass. Prettiest fish on the planet Celebrity would love to fish with: Jimmy Buffett. He could definitely put me on some bonefish Craziest food eaten: Raw Conch Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I can cook a mean campfire steak Sherwin Williams color: Billiard Green
Spencer Belson Summit Captain @spencer_b_fishing
State: Massachussets Chapter: Nor’East TU Summits: 1 Fly: Purple Haze Fish: Brook trout – native fish, stunning patterns and will eat a dry fly just about any time. Celebrity would love to fish with: Mookie Betts Craziest food eaten: Fish heads Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Tomahawk throwing Sherwin Williams color: Leapfrog
Evry Swartz State: New Hampshire Chapter: Great Bay TU Summits: 2 Fly: Elk hair caddis Fish: Rainbow trout! I used to catch them with my dad when I was little and they are so pretty Celebrity would love to fish with: Matt Damon Craziest food eaten: Honey comb Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I’m really good at climbing trees, so I could stay away from zombies and just live in the trees Sherwin Williams color: Potentially Purple
Tyler Hernandez
State: Georgia Chapter: Cohutta TU Summits: 1 Fly: Foam ant Fish: Catfish because I can fish with family in Louisiana Celebrity would love to fish with: Brad Paisley Craziest food eaten: Frog legs Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Climbing trees Sherwin Williams color: Courtyard
Lucas Liston @first_cast_nj
State: New Jersey Chapter: Hacklebarney TU Summits: 1 Fly: Squirminator jig fly Fish: Smallmouth bass – Their beautiful colors, hard-fighting ability, and their wide availability makes bronze backs my favorite fish species Celebrity would love to fish with: Will Ferrell Craziest food eaten: Size 10 March brown Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I would like to have the ability to not be unaffected by any zombie. But having flamethrowers for hands is a close second. Sherwin Williams color: Izmir Purple
Will Hahn @willy_hahn1
State: Virginia Chapter: National Capital TU Summits: 1 Fly: Wooly bugger Fish: Snook. They are big, aggressive, and fight hard. Fishing for them on the fly is a very visual thing too so that makes them even better Celebrity would love to fish with: Jamie O’Brien Craziest food eaten: Sea Urchin Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Being as quiet as possible Sherwin Williams color: Thermal Spring
Christian Gensbigler State: Pennsylvania Chapter: Cumberland Valley TU Summits: 1 Fly: Pheasant Tail Nymph Fish: Brook trout as they are the only trout species native to Pennsylvania Celebrity would love to fish with: Jimmy Kimmel Craziest food eaten: Liver paste Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Fly a plane Sherwin Williams color: Espalier Purple
Alex K. Koll State: Virginia Chapter: Virginia Capital TU Summits: 1 Fly: Any short hackle yarn-based wet fly Fish: The rainbow trout is is always willing to offer a good fight if you present it right Celebrity would love to fish with: Jimmy Carter Craziest food eaten: Raw octopus Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Foraging and scavenging Sherwin Williams color: Forward Fuchsia
New Summiteers
Gatlin L. Sugden @25_helmets
State: Washington Chapter: Yakima Fly Fishers Fly: Grasshopper Fish: Eastern Brook trout. They are gorgeous fish that I think are rather underrated. Celebrity would love to fish with: Tom Cruise Craziest food eaten: The one chip challenge Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Probably a bag that has everything I will ever need, indefinitely. Like water, food, snacks, shotgun shells, fishing supplies, etc. Sherwin Williams color: Sea Mariner
August Riedesel @theflywhiteguy2
State: Texas Chapter: Guadalupe River TU Fly: Longhorn Crab Fish: Red Fish, because nothing is better than the thrill of chasing them in the shallows Celebrity would love to fish with: Adam Sandler Craziest food eaten: Ghost Pepper Taco Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Whipping Zombies with a fly rod Sherwin Williams color: Fired Brick
Justin Hardie @hotspotnymphing
State: Virginia Chapter: Northern VA TU Fly: JDK Perdigon Fish: Smallmouth bass – because they like to jump Celebrity would love to fish with: Anyone as long as we’re going fishing Craziest food eaten: Sushi we caught that day Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Super speed Sherwin Williams color: Waterloo
Hazel Crabtree @hazelhunts207
State: Maine Chapter: George’s River TU Fly: Hares Ear nymph Fish: Brook trout because I have a lot of great early memories catching them with my family Celebrity would love to fish with: Rut Daniels Craziest food eaten: Oysters Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: My hunting skills Sherwin Williams color: Morning at Sea
Nicholas Giumarra @nicholas_giumarra
State: California Chapter: Central Sierra TU Fly: Copper John Fish: Smallmouth bass Celebrity would love to fish with: Joe Humphrey Craziest food eaten: Sheep’s brain Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Mechanic skills Sherwin Williams color: Evergreens
Michael Stickley @the_coloradoflyguy
State: Colorado Chapter: Cutthroat TU Fly: Walt’s Worm Fish: Brown trout. Big, fight hard, and everywhere Celebrity would love to fish with: Eric Cartman Craziest food eaten: Woodpecker Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I’m a good swimmer and zombies can’t swim according to Google Sherwin Williams color: Nacho Cheese
Lauren Genske @laurengoutdoors
State: Wisconsin Chapter: Coulee Region TU Fly: Elk Hair Caddis Fish: Trout because they are so beautiful and live in the most amazing places on Earth Celebrity would love to fish with: Macy Watkins Craziest food eaten: Mussels Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Medical experience, being able to treat wounds and illnesses Sherwin Williams color: Capri
Harlon Meade
State: Wisconsin Chapter: Coulee Region TU Fly: Stony Pony Fish: Brook trout because of their unique colors and the beauty of most of their habitat Celebrity would love to fish with: Cole Lyon Craziest food eaten: Octopus Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Ability to fly Sherwin Williams color: Sea Salt
Angus Spence State: New Hampshire Chapter: Greater Upper Valley TU Fly: Parachute Adams Fish: Trout, I love the challenge they bring and the diverse ways to catch them Celebrity would love to fish with: Dwayne Johnson Craziest food eaten: Haggis Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I would want to be invisible. If they can’t see me, they can’t hurt me. Sherwin Williams color: Dynamic Blue
Evan Chevarria State: Pennsylvania Chapter: Cumberland Valley TU Fly: The Sexy Walt’s Worm Celebrity would love to fish with: Kevin Hart because he makes everything funny Craziest food eaten: Dried crickets Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Survive in space without oxygen so I can travel to and thrive on another planet Sherwin Williams color: Adriatic Sea
Oliver Su @hotspotnymphing
State: Colorado Chapter: Boulder Flycasters Fly: Chubby Chernoble Fish: Cutthroat trout because I love fishing for native fish and fishing in high alpine lakes and small streams Celebrity would love to fish with: Shohei Ohtani Craziest food eaten: Crawfish Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: It would be super cool to throw a laser boomerang Sherwin Williams color: Secret Cove
Benton Orion Little Dog @AmericalMarksman
State: Montana Chapter: Madison-Gallatin TU Fly: Purple Haze Fish: Kokanee Salmon Celebrity would love to fish with: Tom Cruise Craziest food eaten: Alligator Pizza Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Surgical Medical skills Sherwin Williams color: Starboard
Jagrav Patel State: Arizona Chapter: Gila Trout TU Fly: Prince Nymph Fish: Apache Trout because they are the state fish of Arizona Celebrity would love to fish with: Sharukhan Craziest food eaten: Frog legs Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Fishing so that I could supply myself with food Sherwin Williams color: Mount Etna
Mathias Westermeyer State: Minnesota Chapter: Twin Cities TU Fly: Pink squirrel Fish: Oarfish, I love them because they have a unique look and alien-like face. Celebrity would love to fish with: MF DOOM Craziest food eaten: Alligator Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: I know how to Weld using a wide variety of welding types like stick or oxygen acetylene.
Hunter Hart Dorion Bost @Hunterhartbost
State: North Carolina Fly: Bass Popper Fish: Golden Dorado, because it’s big, aggressive and looks cool Celebrity would love to fish with: Tupac Shakur Craziest food eaten: Fried-ant puree on fried pig skin Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Super speed Sherwin Williams color: Cape Verde
Summit Staff
Franklin Tate @franklintate
State: NC (North Cackalacky) Summits: All of ‘em Fly: Black and Purple Tarpon Toad Fish: Tarpon, cuz they are from Florida just like me Celebrity would love to fish with: Tom Waits Craziest food eaten: Frog legs Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Invisibility Sherwin Williams color: Antique Macaroni
Libby Glaser @libertygiberty
State: Missouri Summits: 1 Fly: Chubby Chernobyl Fish: Grayling because they live in beautiful places and they won’t hesitate to inhale any fly that hits the water Celebrity would love to fish with: Rainn Wilson Craziest food eaten: Century Egg during a trip to Taiwan Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Archery. Never know when that might come in handy. Sherwin Williams color: Rest Assured
Nick Halle @nickhalle
State: Montana Summits: 3 Fly: The Plan B is Plan A! Fish: Wild Steelhead. They’re the only fish that matter. Celebrity would love to fish with: John McMillan Craziest food eaten: Termites Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Absolutely none I’d be one of the first to get got. Sherwin Williams color: Tantalizing Teal
G. Scott NovotnyWhat’s Instagram????
State: Wyoming Summits: All but the first one Fly: White Wooley Bugger Fish: Cutthroat Trout Celebrity would love to fish with: John Prine Craziest food eaten: Rocky Mountain Oysters Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Intergalactic transport Sherwin Williams color: Aqua Marine
Judi Sittler State: Pennsylvania Summits: 10 Fly: Elk Hair Caddis Fish: Brook trout (PA state native) & Brown trout (plentiful and beautiful here in PA) Celebrity would love to fish with: Liam Neeson Craziest food eaten: Octupus in “su tinta” (black ink from the octopus) Mad skill you have/would love to have for Zombie Apocalypse: Point finger and zombie disappears Sherwin Williams color: Greek
