Fly Fishing Needs More Women
Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the United States. In 2019, pre-pandemic, more than 50 million Americans took to the water for freshwater, saltwater, and fly fishing activities.
But only 36% were women.
Fly fishing is also on the rise. In 2018, 100,000 people went fly fishing, increasing to a record number of 7 million fly fishers in 2019.
Only 30% of fly fishers were female.
I want to change those numbers. It’s time for women to enjoy the friendships, personal growth, and camaraderie that goes along with the sport of fly fishing.
Finatical Flyfishing
My new company, Finatical Flyfishing, offers the chance to fly fish with women in leadership positions in the fly fishing industry today. Many of their stories are very inspirational.
For example, Patty Reilly guided all over the western United States — from Jackson Hole and Yellowstone to Alaska and many rivers in between. She then went to South America where she and a partner became the first commercial operator to get a permit and guide in Argentina. She is one of the most fun, down-to-earth people you’ll get the chance to fish with and she is co-hosting a 2022 trip to Ascension Bay, Mexico with Finatical Flyfishing.
Karlie Roland grew up in Utah fishing with her family, who took many trips to the Henry’s Fork. She worked in a fly shop in Bozeman, ran a women’s fly fishing program in Seattle, and returned to guide on the Henry’s Fork for Trouthunter. She was just featured in Angler’s Journal as one of the premier guides Nick Price had fished with around the world. Karlie will be one of the guides during Finatical Flyfishing’s women’s trip on the Henry’s Fork in August.
Julie Meissner has been guiding fly fishing trips for more than 25 years and river trips for more than 40 years in the Sun Valley and Stanley, Idaho areas. She is also a certified casting instructor and has a passion for the outdoors.
Her thoughts about a day on the river: “If you want to be a great guide, you have to be a teacher who is attuned to the importance of catching fish. Rarely do I guide a trip that doesn’t incorporate sharing and teaching opportunities for not only fishing but for plants, geology, and even local gossip. The teaching may be formal or more subtle, but it’s hard not to learn something on the river every time you go out.”
“We do not see many fishing injuries,” said Jeffrey Weinstein, medical operations supervisor at Global Rescue. “I would say the most frequent are hook-related or falls.”
Weinstein, with training and experience in austere medicine and wilderness rescue, likes to be prepared for all possible situations.
“People may be on prolonged fishing expeditions, possibly at sea or in remote areas,” he said. “Minor injuries can become big issues if left uncared for a while trying to get out of a remote area.”
Fly fishing in a safe environment is something I encourage women to try. Casting with a group of women can take some of the pressure off and give everyone a chance to meet other women who enjoy the sport. Guides like Roland, Reilly, and Meissner and companies like Global Rescue will inspire women to get out there and live life to the fullest.
Stephanie Albano is the founder and owner of Finatical Flyfishing, Idaho-based fly fishing travel business by women for women. With trips planned to bucket-list destinations in the world of fly fishing, Finatical Flyfishing is also a Global Rescue Safe Travel partner.