If this were happening in any other sport, people would be freaking out. ESPN would feature it front and center. Maxine would be making the circuit on daytime talk shows. But because it’s fly fishing, nobody knows about it and few people care.
Imagine if you will a 12-year-old girl who could set up next to Rory McIlroy, Justin Spieth, Jason Day, and Phil Mickelson at a driving range, and hit every single shot they hit as well or better than them. That’s pretty much what happens when 12-year-old Maxine McCormick steps out on any casting pond or field.
Last week, Maxine finished as the No. 1 female fly caster for accuracy at the U.S. Casting Championships in Kentucky. In one event, fly-casting trout accuracy, McCormick outscored legendary world champion Steve Rajeff, who is considered by many to be the greatest competition caster in history.
In a few weeks, McCormick will be heading to Estonia to compete in the world championships. If she wins, she will become the youngest gold medal winner in the sport’s history.
