by Chris Factor

Created on: August 06, 2008

Fly Fishing, a sport that women are actively pursuing and men are encouraging for more participants. It can be intimidating when I first pursued this passion. I avidly fished for pike and bass years ago, when time was not a rare commodity and before kids. Opening fishing in the Midwest was an annual trek to the northern woods to your favorite fishing hole to land your limit of the elusive walleyes. Kids are grown and on my own, pursuing fly fishing seemed so intimidating because I did not know any woman who loved to fish, let alone fly fish.

Thank goodness for the internet, where information and resources are endless. I googled information on fly fishing and inquired on-line for information and women fly fishing groups. Replies came right away. There were contacts and suggestions. Attending the Midwest Expo with much encouragement from my new fly fishing pen pal introduced me to a great group of fly fishing women.

Attending the Expo because of a Women's Workshop encouraged me to join this group and seriously consider pursuing this passion. Walking around the Expo and ignoring the stares as I visited booths that seemed welcoming and found them to be enthusiastic in sharing their passion with me. I was definitely outnumbered by gender; but it really opened up a lot of dialogue.

Information from that Expo got me enrolled in a two-day Fly Fishing Workshop sponsored by the fly fishing federation. This is a must for anyone getting started in Fly Fishing. There were approximately 20 committed people and five of us were women. You go GALS! It was a comprehensive workshop with lots of hands-on, hands-out, show n tell, and Q/A. This included knot tying, water safety, fishing gear and clothing, flies, and casting. Since I avidly fished before, it was hard to break the habit of spin casting versus fly casting. Practice, practice, practice, is a must.

The equipment accessories can be very pricey; but don't be discouraged. Check around the local fly shops if used ones are posted for sale because seasoned participants tend to upgrade and may want to sell their used ones. If the pocket book allows you, try to get a reasonably good rod and reel that is flexible with the type of fish to catch. Otherwise, I borrowed a friend's gear because it was better than letting her gear sit idle in the garage. Waders are good to have; but you can still fish from edge or when it's warmer, standing in knee deep may be a welcome relief from the heat. Although early morning and evening may be the best time to fish, it is a challenge in the middle of summer. Again, get those fish lines wet!

Safety is awareness! Walking the rivers alone is okay as long as you are smart about it. Be aware of your surroundings and be sure to have a whistle and of course, your cell. I usually put it in a ziplock bag in my pocket to keep waterproof it. Water safety is a MUST. Depth of the water and currents strength should be strongly considered. I usually am not alone; but if you are be cautious.

Last but not least..ENJOY and have FUN! I always take in the beauty of nature; and when available you may even enjoy berries ripe for the picking when in season. Pack a camera for those unexpected moments to capture and share. Most of all patience, practice, and persistence!

Keep those fly lines WET!

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