More women fishing great for Wyoming’s waters and land

When more people – including women – are introduced to flyfishing, Wyoming’s waters, lands, and communities benefit.

Every year as summer inches to a close, the Seedskadee and Upper Bear River Chapters of TU come together to host a Women’s Float on the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The event welcomes anglers of all experience levels, even encouraging women who have never cast a flyrod before to learn a new skill and experience the beautiful Refuge.

The genesis of this event came from a place of eagerness to get more women involved in fly fishing. According to national data gathered by the Outdoor Industry Association, men made up 69% of flyfishing participant data, while women sat at 30%. Statistically speaking, that’s a big gap, and Wyoming women have made observations while out on the water that back this up.

“I had been fly-fishing for a few years and was always disappointed that I very rarely saw another woman angler,” said Hillary Walrath, Trout Unlimited’s Salinity Control Coordinator based in Green River. “When I invited friends, the response I often received was that it was too intimidating, and they didn’t want to learn how to fish from their spouse.”

Walrath, and other TU community members, along with Seedskadee NWR staff saw an opportunity to create something that was organized by women, for women, with the hope of creating meaningful introductions to fly fishing. In 2014, the first Women’s Float on the Green River commenced, and the event hasn’t slowed down since.

Learning something new, like flyfishing, can be intimidating. Walrath and her team solved this issue by allowing women to attend the event with a friend and by ensuring the space was welcoming. All the fishing guides, who are tasked with rowing the drift boats, managing risk, and providing on-the-water instruction, are volunteers who return each year to support the event.

Since 2014, the TU Women’s Float has introduced over 150 Wyoming women to fly fishing and to the Seedskadee NWR. As one of the premier Brown and Bonneville Cutthroat Trout fishing locations in the state, Seedskadee is the perfect venue. It is also a place that Trout Unlimited, and its Seedskadee Chapter, has spent hundreds of volunteer hours and over a quarter million dollars working to conserve.

“It is so important that we help people overcome the initial barriers to angling and spread the love and passion for our local rivers and natural resources here in Wyoming,” says Walrath. “It has been incredibly gratifying to watch these ladies start fly fishing in their own right, and even begin taking their families fishing with them.”

Getting more women involved in fly fishing will not only benefit the individual and the growth of the sport, but Wyoming as a whole. When more people spend time connecting with the natural world, catching fish, and experiencing unique wildlife encounters, new conservation values are instilled and a feeling of connectivity to place is ignited. We are fortunate to have fantastic fishing opportunities on the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge and all across the state. It will take every single resident to ensure these places are protected and can thrive for future generations, so connect with your local TU chapter, grab a flyrod, and get out on the water!