Northern California Fly Girls Club founders Jennie Felkins and Jen Hays

Hot podcasting from Chico California.

This is the Bartlett fly fishing podcast.

Where we discuss North fly Fishing, guiding fisheries signs and management,

conservation and more.

No better, fish better. Here's your host, Hogan Brown.

Alright. Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Barb podcast. This is Hogan Brown and I'm excited to welcome

two guest in studio at the backyard studio.

I have Jenny Falcon

and Jen. Correct? Jen. Yes. Yes. I I I I get Jen and Jenny backwards. I wanna have you guys on because,

we've kinda met each other recently,

and,

I'm always interested in having people on the show that are doing things different. Right? Like, whether you're fishing for something different, your pioneer new fisheries, tying new flies doing something,

you know, different. And,

Doctor Joyce, Scott Joyce. Yeah. Yeah.

Who I've... Who has been on the podcast. Listeners may remember.

Told me about what you're doing, and

he described it as an organization of women,

which...

Can mean many things. Right? Like,

he said it's kinda like a fly club, but it's it's not really a fly club. I'm like, okay Well then what is it. So Like it's like this organization of women and I'm like, that's like, you got membership cards and shit if you're running an organization. And but that's not it. Called Nor cow women on the fly.

Yes. And

I was looking on the wine and it says empowering women, building community and catching fish.

So

when I look at that, a lot of things that can mean a lot of things.

How... And what's the origin of Nor cow women on the fly?

Well,

I would say the origin of it is

about a year ago. Okay. I

started fly fishing. I've fished my whole life conventionally.

And I've had a fly rod

and played with it here and there, but

I noticed

people catching more fish on a fly rod, and it was

stressing me out, and I wanted to do that. What the hell is going? Right. And I knew nothing. So I went into a look... Our local fly shop fish first and

said, hey, I had this idea in my head on how I was gonna catch fish on this fly rod, not knowing how what a leader was or tip it. Yeah. I knew nothing. You just, like, this works better than I've been doing. Right. And I had it in my head what I wanted and how I wanted to rig it up. Yeah. And

the fly shop they were, like, okay, Listen. I could sell you all of this stuff, but what I think you really want as a lesson. Yeah. And so let's go on a walk and wade and

I was like,

okay. Just don't bore me. I don't wanna learn not, I just wanna catch fish. Yeah. And so

went on this walk and wade, and

it was just like a light bulb moment.

I just learned so much, and then I just kind of became obsessive about it. So I started watching

Youtube videos.

I started listening to podcast. I was, like, whatever I could get my hands out of just hungry.

Learn more. Yeah. And take that and go up to my favorite spot up in A and fish.

And

I was working with Jen,

Jen's a second great teacher and she was watching all of this and kind of, like, watching the deep dive and She would come into class and she would... Look at look at this fish I caught, like, so super jealous. So I was like, okay. Well, you need to take me too. Okay Were you fishing at the time?

No. I wasn't at all. So

I

grew up in Clear lake, and

I would bass fish. That. Yeah. That's that's two hundred and fifty horsepower glitter boats. Yes. Exactly. The boats, the competitions. We had tons of competitions there, and

we would just do, you know, bait caster and spinner and

you know, be on the boat, and that's fun too. I still hell fast fishing, but

fly fishing was a whole new

world. Yeah. I honestly hadn't heard about fly fishing until college. When. And you went to Chico state. When I went to, she goes. And, you know, then I heard a bit

from, like, boyfriends. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Not, And they would fish, and they would try and teach me. And we would just get frustrated And I'm like, now, this is... You never teach your spouse out to fish. I learned that really early.

Until I learned to from mostly

women on Nor carol women on the fly, like, meeting all these women. Yeah. They taught me most of what I know. That's awesome. So... Yeah. So

my session started growing, and my husband was basically, like, listen, I can't take you out fishing all the time, and you're not gonna hire a guide all the time to go.

And that just kinda pissed me off. I was like,

no one has to take me fishing. Like, I can go by myself. Fishing. Yeah. But the reality of it is that

there aren't a lot of places. I could go by myself safely and fish. For sure. So I just started seeking out other women

and,

some of the first women that I

met and that are, like, some of my best friends, like, Allison,

I met her on the river.

I was, like,

hey,

there's a there's a woman over they're fishing. Like, I wanna fish with her.

You got an ex chromosome come here.

And so,

we just connected and and we started fishing together,

and then

it just kind of started to take on a life of its own. Mh. And more women people were contacting me and like, hey, Jenny. I wanna do what you're doing. What do you... Like, what you take me fishing and I'm like, yeah, because I need more women fishing. So let's go.

And

it just started to become

this community. Mh. And it ended up...

It was kind of weird too because

Gems not my age at all. I mean, I'm way older, but there was this group of older women. Yeah. That we're my age that,

you know, we've...

We're almost done raising our kids. Yeah. We have older kids.

We... It's like, who are we now? Like... You're about to hit the free time bona. Yeah. And who are we And what are we doing and where do we wanna go? And, yeah.

So there was a lot of connection there with think... It's a very common life experience. Yeah. Yeah. It... So... And you're... How long have you been teaching?

This is my fifth year teaching. Yeah. So you're hitting a little bit more free time than the first couple years. Absolutely. Yeah. I'm getting my shit together for you. Yeah. I I have a plan and Yeah. You know, it's not a it's not a hurricane in my classroom. So Totally. Yeah. And I have more free time to to fish it and have this hobby, but maybe not necessarily the money too. I mean, I'm still on a teacher's salary. So I feel like... Oh, yeah.

Teacher side hustle. Yeah. The younger, you know, women that

you know, or on a budget, and they're still trying to do this this hobby and and it's

it's hard sometimes, you know, But, you know, any hobby

in this day and age is not cheap. Yeah Know what I mean? Like, I... You know, I... We talk about that with, like, our our kid sports. My kids played hockey for a long time and now they play the lacrosse and I like, oh, those are really expensive. Like, did every kid sports expensive. Like, you're your splitting hair on hundreds of dollars. Like, it's all expensive. It's same. I mean, mountain bikes. Whatever it is. It's all expensive. So... Yeah. Yeah. Well, one thing I do like about what we do to is that

we...

We try Diy it a lot. Yeah. We do go with guides, but there are time... There's been a couple trips where

we haven't gone with a guide And Yeah. Like, we've had a great, like Zoom call with

you know,

someone that was in that area and and helped us out with, like, maps and flies and Yeah. It's really empowering. That was another part of that and empowering to go and

figure out things on your own also.

And then be successful and catch fish is Yeah. Like, the best. Reminds me of iron Canyon. Right. It took

a day and a half for me to figure out how to catch these fish. Like, it was it was challenging, but that's that's the fun part when you don't have a guide in you. Mh. Oh, for sure. To figure it out on your own.

So you had this this need.

Yes. And, I mean, so you you

you have all these connections. What what are you doing with them? Because it it it... Maybe it seems more formal than it is. I mean you got a website in a social media how did you formal this into something

because

when you look at it, it to organize a network is not easy. Right? Like, to coordinate events, get people together. It it can't be a one woman show. There's gotta be some sort of buy in to the larger cause and the larger idea,

like,

when did that come?

So we actually... We took our first hosted trip to pyramid med last April. And so when you say we, how many people are you talking about? We took about

twelve. Twelve. Twelve women? And is this is random people you met?

Some women I didn't even know. So we just put it out there. We put it on the website. Mh. And we just put it out there that, hey, we're going to pyramid. We have these many spots. I had a lady fly in from Washington into Reno. And I was like, what the heck is going on here. So. By by herself.

And

and so we...

I I did all the, you know, like, hotel, Mh. Know, kind of the whole thing and worked with the guide and Yeah.

And it was great. Like, we had a blast and

everyone walked away from that, like, when... What are we gonna do next? What are we gonna do next? That was the that was the match to the gasoline? Yeah. And so then we went to Dig Creek. K. Lincoln hooked us up with Digger Creek. And

we

had a blast there. I mean, we just... We hung out there for a couple days and just, like, drank and ate. And

everyone walked away from that. Like... It's just more than the fishing. Like the

we were making, the friendships we were making, and we had some ladies coming that came over to Dig Creek from,

Reno from the Sierra fly girls.

And they have, like, kind of taken us under their wings.

They're the veterans, the veterans of the... They're are a bunch of badass.

Yeah. And so

they have been amazing and

And so we we've formed a really great,

friendship and mh with them, and we love doing stuff with them. And then, we just started doing something every month. We did the hex hatch. Mh. Mac came up and helped us do that up there, and

Mario, taco guy came up and helped us do that. And that was kind of that in that june... That June was pivotal. Yeah. We kind of we formed an admin team. K. And so, we have Julia Mitchell, Molly Colby,

Jen hayes

well me,

Alison,

c and

nicole Peterson.

In tina. And Tina Mick.

And so we all just kind of met, and we all were, like, Yeah. We want this to Mh happen, and we all kinda took different roles

because

I just... I

your animal. So you're were, like, I'm gonna build a website make this happen.

Yeah. But Jen helped me, like, with all of that. Like, gotcha. I would get stuck. I'd be like, I don't know what I'm doing and Jen would come in and, like... Because you guys are seeing each other every day. Right? Yeah. At this point. Yeah. I'm actually she doesn't work my classroom anymore. That's really messed out. So what made you hop on to your...

I guess aid in your classrooms

insane deep dive into fly fishing. She just really needed help.

I'm little kidding. And. God. You're sorry for this woman I've better out for. I'm kidding. I honestly just wanted to catch fish and meeting the women. Yeah. I'm like, I learned so much from them. Yeah. And so I just... I wanted to... Not only do I already have a passion for teaching.

I love to learn. Yeah. So it's like,

I get to fish. I get to learn. I get to teach other people.

Like, let's do it. You get to hang out with me more. Yeah.

Monday through Sunday.

So were you going outdoors to begin with? I mean, would you consider yourself an outdoors? Girl to begin with? Absolutely. Like, I love camping. Yeah. And but most of the time, I would just go outdoors just by myself, and I love camping alone. Yeah. Something that I love to do just because

it... It's really humbling. Oh, absolutely. And you don't have your phone. You don't... You know, and and I just love being outdoors. And so fishing is a little opposite. I, you know, I... I love to fish because of you know, catching fish, but also like I said, meeting the woman to.

So

it's a great experience just all around,

and I

I love it. So these women start showing up to these events.

Yeah. And

you... Are you a... Are you pastor your year anniversary?

No. I... No. No. It would be April. Would be our wow a year.

And how many went... Like, how many women are in the, the club?

I'd say about forty five

are signed up on the website, so they closer to fifty now. Yeah. Wow because we just had a big,

pyramid lake trip. That. Yeah. Last weekend. Right? Yeah. Yeah How many people showed up for that? So we had

twelve

women.

Not all of them stayed every day, You know, we fit for three days, but some, you know, came and left and Mh. Yeah. About twelve, and,

It was

it was a good trip. I loved it. And we was Cf girls too. Cool. So then we had that group as well. We did a dinner and we fished. And Yeah. It was pretty miserable

miserable out there. He's it's not warm. Crazy. Yeah. Cool. I was cold in Chico. So

Yeah. But, it was still. It was still great. Cool.

So the common denominator

with all these women is they're they're starting the sport or a lot of these people new to fly fishing in this...

I would say some are Yeah. Brand new. And. And some

have a lot more experience. So I think there's there's all the ranges there. Mh. But, I think that the other thing that, like, one Jen was talking about camping and stuff like that. The other thing I love about this group is that I feel like it gets us out of our comfort zone. Mh. Because I am not a camper. Yeah. I don't at all. I am not a camper. Neither see. But no

I can't. I did it with jeff and, you know, I did a good job, and I liked it, and I actually... You did a good did do. I mean, you get... You know... I went back. Very grateful that you showed up there iron Canyon that day. I thought. Yeah. It's a good story tell Yeah. Judging yourself is I am a good camper. That usually needs to come from someone else...

Yeah. So we'll... Okay. So we had... We had started planning a trip to

bounce work.

Right. But like, fires. Than the Dixie fired. Okay. Yeah. Right? And so we're, like, okay. Where are the hell are we gonna go? And so

I took a

recommendation from my boyfriend and he was like, go to Iron Canyon. And I was like, where... Where the hell is that? Yeah.

That. I have an idea, but I couldn't tell you. Exactly. So I was like, okay. Well, I need to go early and check this place out. And he's was like, there's a campsite You go here, you go left and right. I'm, like,

okay. So I went to check it out.

A day early before all of the women because we have, like, what

ten women signed up, and then they kinda trickled down. The attendance drops off if you take people out to... In the middle of nowhere and some god awful plan. Exactly.

Exactly. So,

you know, I drove out an a day early and

driving to iron Canyon, where... What town is that?

Iron Canyon is on the clam. Correct? The pit. The pit. Okay. Yeah. What

I don't know. I honestly don't can't remember

it kinda scare the people that... That's right on through two ninety five and straight on until morning. Right?

So you service at about an hour before you get to the actual iron canyon. And so... Wow. I'm like, alright. I'm doing this. And so we get... I get iron Canyon. I fish.

I set up camp, and I make my little fire and I have some hot dogs or whatever. And then I go to bed.

And I'm sleeping

to And then all of a sudden, I hear my ice chest. Just

off the tailgate of my truck onto the ground. I'm like, oh my god. This this is bear. There's a large mammal in my campsite. So I slowly unzip

my, you know, tent, and I'm looking out this just big black figure. And it's pitch dark out there. I'm yeah. The only camper out there besides this, you know, this nice couple in a trailer.

Yeah. I'm like, oh my god. I'm gonna join.

That'd be my thought. Don't don't feeling embarrassed. I'd be scared as hell. I was scared as hell. And so

I didn't die. The the I'd the bear ate my food for probably about thirty minutes, and... Which seemed like five hours. Yeah. Yeah yeah. And I was praying. I was like, I'm not religious, but please lord.

Hopefully, there's enough hot tubs in there to satisfy this bears appetite.

So it ate all my food.

Except the mustard.

And it took off. And as soon as it walked away, I unzip my tent. I ran barefoot to my truck, lock the truck, and I slept in there for the rest of the night.

And then I was starving the next day. Right. So I show up.

And, I had stopped in Bernie. Got. Stock... You strike me as someone who comes well supplied. I had all the booze. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. She's cool mama jail. I was gonna say, Like, you have a few boys. You don't travel light. No. And so... But I had stopped it in Bernie to get

Mcdonald's. Okay I, like, got the two cheeseburger meals Yes. In a minnesota, but I don't drink soda, but it comes with it, so whatever. So I I pull up, and it's probably about three o'clock, and she tells me the store and she's looking at me and it... I, are you? You're so I go, I have Mcdonald's she's there. She's looking at your hand. She's like... Yes bark yeah.

So the other lady Cheeseburger. Yes. Like it was cold. All of it was cold, but she didn't care. But the other lady show up.

They set up their tents, and we were gonna stay a couple days. And in the middle of that night, a few of them went and slept in the car. And then the next morning, a few of them said, hey, we're just gonna fish with you guys for a little bit, but I think we're gonna take off.

Yeah. So, we're leaving. We had a great time we really did, but we're not standing one more night. We're like, that's okay. Did you see the barr again?

It did come by again. I didn't see it though. It came back that night. Came. Oh, yeah.

But, you know, but we had bear spray. Damn fuck. That doesn't know. I know. And my boyfriend did say bring bear spray. I'm like I don't need don't damn bear spray. You know, I'll be. Yeah. I don't... My rule of thumb and wherever guy go is I don't enter the food chain. I gotta be at the top of the food chain wherever I am. To put my ice just away. That was a rookie move but.

Yeah.

Yeah. But still Same the day. Yeah. That cheeseburger.

Thank you.

So

So with this, you have these fifty women, are you guys having, you know, the traditional model of the fly club is fairly antiquated.

And you know, there's some really good ones and they provide really good resources for the certain type of people. But

you obviously felt the need to form your own club.

What what

drove you to do that?

So

I I don't think we

started, like, hey, let's start a club. Yeah. We just kinda started, like, us... Social gathering. Yeah. Know. And so,

I'm really involved with, United Women on the fly. Mh. Yeah. I'm on their leadership team. And so,

which they were super Heather was super helpful in helping me, Mh.

You know, encouraging me and Yeah mentoring me, like, do this. So I don't think we ever thought of, like, the educational part or anything like that.

A lot of us were already a part of United women on the fly, and they do a great job with education,

we just wanted to get together and fish.

So Gotcha. We...

I feel like that is something that

of is gonna evolve. Like, I have a lot of women saying, I'd love to do casting lessons.

I'd love to

type flies. I'd love to, you know, put more pieces of the puzzle together. So I think that's something that's gonna evolve.

Yeah. I think meeting the women and then seeing

how much of a need there was. Yeah. For sure. And like, we... They just find us on our Instagram. They're, like, I wanna go. And we have so many women that... I mean, sometimes we have to turn down too because we don't have enough space or whatever. Yeah Yeah. Yeah. There's so many women that want to do this now and do the sport that... Well, this last trip out of the twelve spots that you had,

there were only, like, three of you that had fish with us before. So you had nine new people. Yep. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. So what do you think? So obviously, the sports growing. The sport, you know, if you know the industry or, you talked to anyone, the sport has gone through in the last. Eighteen months, the largest growth, the sport has ever seen. You know, river runs through it, nothing. This Covid runs through it as we call it has grown the sport. Yeah. Massively.

What do you think appeals

about it so much to women?

Well, I think...

That there's all these women, There's obviously a need not being met. Right? Like, if women are this passionate to search out other women.

Is it

because... I'm not sure. I think I think a lot of the time it is

appealing to women

well for me. It's, like being outdoors too. Yeah. But also

just

empowering. Mh. You know them and, like, when you catch your first fish, like, you know, you're hooked and so it's like, I think women that maybe had fish with their husband or or whoever when they do catch their first fish. They're, like, I... Like Jenny, I need to learn more.

You know. And so then it's just the snowball effect, like, they just need to keep going. Yeah. You know? Because I I guess I look at it from this standpoint where you kim came from. I mean, there's not a line of women at the ranger or bass boat dealership. Right? Right. Like, you don't see women breaking down the

to buy a glitter boat and chase bass. It's also just the time that we're in too, you know, and and being a woman, there's a lot of women testing the boundaries.

Oh, we have for sure. Even in hunting too. Absolutely. So

I think it's just our time to shut.

Her red. So so what is the industry? I mean, because here's the deal? Like, the industry is white male.

Wealthy. Right? Like, that's the demographic.

And if you ask, I always think of this because I I serve on a lot of committees and meet we have women and in a couple of our committees on Aft. I talked to a, one of my, like,

one of the women in the industry if I'm, like, is that sexist. Is this messed up? She's the one I ask. Like, I can ask her the like,

is this sound fucked up? You know, and not worry that she's gonna be like, yeah, You're a sexist pig. You know?

I always say to her. I'm like, well, I'm inclusive of everybody. I think everybody's welcome and fly fishing. You know what I mean? Like, I don't see a problem. You know?

And she's, like, well, that's because you're white with testicles. You know what I'm saying? And I'm like,

Roger that. So, like,

What what is not being done to welcome women into the sport

that you have to have this club where women are the ones welcoming women to the sport

benz ego. No... No. No. No. I mean Let Times. I think it's just a safe

place. Yeah. You know? I mean, it... It can be intimidating

Yeah to be fishing with another man, and, I mean, I love fishing with my husband. My husband is a great fisherman. I mean, too good. He's

Yeah. I mean, Jen and I fish with him a lot, The still fishing is gen is Jenny and I versus Mike. Right? And and then when we start catching fish, he moves in on us. Yeah. But I'm mission on it on top of was Mike. That's just smart Dude. That's just smart. Yeah. But

it's just different. Yeah. Because

he could be more critical sometimes. Mh. And

he might say something, and Jen might say the same thing on my cast.

And I... Feel like I'm gonna listen to jen a little more because

it's just a different perspective, and I'm not feeling like, judged or Yeah.

So I I think it takes that kind of intimidation out. Yeah. Shooting with other women. Yeah.

What's interesting too about what you said is like, I

I don't go fish to be around people.

Like, I go fish to get away from people.

And

like, everything that you're talking about it's very social.

We're doing this with. Like, most men,

like, I don't wanna see another dude. Like, if the boat wrap Scott another boat at, I'm out. I don't wanna see people. And it's interesting to hear you say this because

socialization is the last thing that I'm looking for when I'm fishing.

Right? And that's a totally different out. Most men will tell you, like, I go to fish to, like,

clear my head, forget about work. I don't wanna meet anybody new, like, I try not to make eye contact with other people on the river. I don't wanna talk to anybody. You what I mean? And, like, it's very different that there's this social element to what you're doing. That's very unique. Is that as big a part as it sounds like to this?

I I think so. I Yeah. I think so, like,

being on the water,

clears my head. Yeah. I mean, it's, like, where I find peace, It.

You know, but doing it with

some girlfriends.

Yeah. Is just, like, icing on the cake. Have you evolved? Is there, like, have you gotten to the point where you're like, well, now I just go by myself. Like, I've learned enough. I'm comfortable enough. I'm secure enough. Like, I'm gonna put my shit in the car and go on my own. Absolutely. Yeah. I loved... Like I said, I love camping? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. For a reason. And Yeah. Now I get to Camp Amp fish alone. Gotcha. I still like to do that too. But I think

fishing with women,

you know, it's it's a different experience because

we just have a lot of fun too. Like, we have a lot of fun. Have a class And when we have guides do, they always tell us you guys are

Oh, no. I a ton of fun when I guide women. I've guided large groups of women a lot my life. And it's a ton of fun, and it's a very

very different dynamic. It is. In a large group of men. And it's just interesting is I, you've confirmed many of the things I've always thought is

Wim, you know, I think are welcome into the sport, but what the industry may not realize is that women are looking to get different things out of the sport. Right? Like, I also think too when you're talking about, like, you... Do you feel like you can just go out on your own now?

Yes. Definitely. And definitely gone and fish by myself

a lot. Yeah.

But

I've also encountered some

jackass asses. Assholes. Yeah. Oh for sure. Serious assholes. And so then that goes back to the whole...

I'm fishing with other women,

for safety. Yeah. We're... You know, there's

we're... Oh, yeah. You don't have to dress it up. Dude creepy dudes out in the woods, Like, that's yeah it's an odd. It's not a... You don't push the limits on that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, all it takes is one asshole to ruin the day. Right? Like, You know, Right. And so, I guess if you're with a bunch of your girlfriends, like, you know, it's gonna be a good day. Yeah. And they're not gonna mess with us, really. Yeah they're not gonna mess with us. Actually, they're gonna get away from us because we're probably

talking to... Loud the dog chris. Having a good time. I mean, there's... Serious We're catching my feet. But I mean, we are definitely, like, hardcore and serious. Yeah. For sure. But we

we have a good time. Yeah.

So what where are the women from? Of those fifty some women? Are they

I mean, you're talking people flying in. Yeah. Some... A lot from Northern California, but right. I said

everywhere. Yeah. So we have some from

like, some from Nevada Napa

Marin,

Trinity,

wow redding,

Susan bill Chester, Yeah Tahoe Chico, Sacramento.

Mh. So it's a good rep

representation of North north California.

And so

have you gone to any of the traditional fly clubs?

No. No.

I haven't.

I've never been to a fly club meeting or anything, so I have no idea. Because the the women's

I've always found it very interesting is

you'll have fly clubs and I... Rachel Started the s may flies

long time ago.

And I always thought it was odd that women had to have, like, their separate club within a club. And

I guess it kinda made sense. Right? Like, from all the stuff you're saying and stuff, but there, you know, a long time ago, there was the original, like, what I think was probably the original women's club. And that's the Golden West women's fly club that Fannie K started.

And

all the stuff you're talking about is exactly what I associate with that club. I mean, I think fifteen, twenty years ago, I would do outing with them, and it was like,

what the pot look at lunch was,

was equally as important as, like, what the flies were that we were gonna fish. Right? And, like, it's... I mean, it's it's funny as we talk about it. I think back to,

like, events that I would do it luck like with these women and stuff out in corn, and it was, like,

it was a blast. And all the same... What you're doing is

unique at the same time, but it's a very common thing that you start that you see that's different than men. You know what I mean? Like, men get competitive about fishing. Like, a group of dudes in a couple drift boats or a couple jet boats, like, it competition. Right? Like, a lot of shit talking. Oh, yeah. Know what I mean? I'm sure that happens with you guys, but, like, It's not so much the ego. We are way more encouraging. Like, Yeah. The ver the video I got,

From Jen

at from Pyramid, it was, like, video like, first fish.

Let make a something, you know, so it says got their first fish on pyramid, you know, how you you fish on the ladders. Right? Yeah. So,

that dinner,

when we were at dinner with Sierra girls. One of the guides came and joined us, and he was just talking, and he was like, yeah. You know, I love fishing with you women. You're so awesome. Yeah. So different than men, you know, anytime a woman catches a fish. You all jump off for your ladders?

You know everything wants to see it. Yeah. Take a pictures. Right. Yeah. Well, even it takes how it's fun. It... Oh, for sure. For women and and they feel

they feel welcome and and encouraged. So Yeah. I remember I fished up there. I I loved to fish at pyramid, and I fished with the Cf girls, and the, United Women on the fly. Mh.

And I stayed an extra day. Mh. And, I was gonna fish. That next morning, and I was all by myself. Yeah. So I went got up super early put my ladder out. Everyone already had their ladder out. And I think I was... There was, like, only one other woman out there. Yeah. And the guy to my left catches this huge fish.

And I look over. Like hey, you want me to net that for you, and he looked at me like, I was an alien. Yeah. And don't talk like. Don't talk to me.

Oh, oh okay.

And so I get down. I'm all excited. I know. It was a beautiful fish, and I'm like, that's a beautiful fish. She's like, oh, yeah. I've caught bigger ones in here and stuff on like... Okay. Cool. Yeah.

And so... But by the end of the day, he was like my best friend. Yeah. And he was, like, giving me flies and, like, hey, you know, try this and It's amazing what a little kindness can do to the barriers that people find in fishing. I find that too of, like,

just rowing over the boat or blast in the drift boat over just boat and just, like, being nice to someone. Like, that's not what a lot of people expect. You know what I mean? So, yeah, that goes a long way. I think I'm matter of men or women. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was fishing at the branch,

that one time. I fished, like, ten hours by myself at the branch. It was a long day, but I had made friends with this gentleman that was across the way for me, and he was fishing alone, you know.

And

I kinda struck up a conversation with him, and we were chatting and you know, it was kind of just... We just became, like, Jen... Like, good friends. You know? Like, hey. You know? Yeah. Awesome talking to you. And Yeah. He was super

encouraging and nice, and I think men too really want

when they do get out and and they wanna fish alone.

They've, you know, just being nice and being kind to them and and opening that conversation. I think that they, you know wanna... Yeah. It's not what most men expect. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. There's definitely a competitive element in fishing. Yeah. Between males. You like that's a thing. Yeah. He caught a brown and I was like, oh my gosh. Yeah. All I've wanted to do was catch Brown, Catch Brown. He all that just built his eco at Mark too. So I was beautiful.

Do you want me to take a pictures I know? It's okay. You know, Yeah. Alright. And so then, you know, I got a huge brown right after that. I was so excited. He was excited for me to. He was, like, pumped. So it was nice That's cool. Did he say do you want me to take a picture? No, he didn't.

Gotta learn these slow. Luckily you showed up the next call. Good. So so what do you guys have planned for the upcoming year.

April be one year?

Yeah. We have pyramid planned again for April april.

And, actually, we meet together,

our admin team

a month. Yeah.

On Zoom because

we're kind of all over. Yeah. It works perfect for us to meet and plan. Mh.

So

we're we're kind of...

We are kind of in the,

check our website out because we're gonna... How some things put up on our website for sure.

There's some annual things we definitely wanna do. We definitely wanna to do A again, and

and then some new things. We... Yeah. There's a lot of women

that do a lower. Lower sag. Again,

yeah. And then just trying to connect and just saying, hey, you know, I'm gonna be out here this weekend and who else is? Let's go. Yeah. That seems like a very useful element. Just build that kinda network women that are... Willing to show other women, where to go and what to do because if... That's the beauty of if you have people all over the place, like, your local waters is not someone else locals waters and their local waters is not your local waters. Right. And you can get out and feel comfortable in other places. Right. Right. Yeah. Right. Yeah. That's a big thing. You know, like,

when I went up

to

what hat Creek up in that area. Yeah. There was another

Nor cal lady up there. And I'm like, hey, I'm coming up there. Where do I fish? What do I do? And she's like, oh, okay. Let's go. Let's yeah. Go here there and I love that networking.

Because I would never have brought my stuff up there to fish up there. If I didn't have someone to say, hey. Yeah. Let's go here Do this or Yeah. You know.

And when you're... You know, when you... Women are definitely a minority, it's in the fly fishing world,

you know, when you find those people, it's pretty cool. I would imagine. I think there's, like, this special bond that Yeah is created amongst us too. It's almost like this common thread of, like, wait. You like that too? Yeah. Like, totally. Really? Like, do we just become best friends

friends. That's a... Yeah. Definitely.

Definitely. So do you feel

underrepresented in fly fishing as women?

I don't... I mean, because it sounds like you got a pretty thick tribe.

I don't think so. I I think

I think that we've built...

I think that all the women that we have. Mh. They really

have come together to

represent in

and, you know, have her pictures and,

show the people that we can fish too. Yeah. Know. And all the men around us they're like, well, you know, who are you guys? Like, we're, you know, I... Just at pyramid, there... We all showed up to the bar.

And, after fishing all day, and we all had all our gear on. They're like,

what, you know, what the heck? Yeah. Who are you guys? Yeah. Oh,

we're we're women's. We're a women's club and he's like, well, what do you guys do? I was like, well, we knit.

That's pretty quick with it. That's good stuff. And he's like, kinda looks at me and I'm, like, we're fishing.

In the outfit. We have the same outfit on that you do. Yeah. Yeah. How many did you catch it. Yeah. Yeah.

That's, you know, it's... That's...

I'd imagine that that's

and that's one of those things where the guy probably didn't mean to be a dick.

But, like... But as soon as I said that we a fishing club. Yeah. He was absolutely shocked.

He was like, what?

Yeah.

Just amazed. And you know, And then it's, like, I... Do I feel offended or do I feel, you know, how do Feel about this? Yeah. He was he was nice. You know, he was nice about it? And I think it's just

starting to become more... We're starting to become more represented, but it's still

still new. Yeah. And there was, you know, when women, I I don't wanna see when women first started getting into the sport, but you have the advent of social media

and the explosion of fly fishing and social media, you have the ability to put your eyes on

many different places in many different things. And

when

women begin to be predominantly

featured in social media, I think there was a reaction to the

that woman is fished for a year why the hell is she sponsored by that brand, and I've guided for

fifteen, and I can't even get a free fly line. You know what I mean? And there was that reaction. And companies gobble up, any woman that they could and, you know, sold fly fishing with equal parts sex.

And,

you know, I think there was a lot of men that were probably like, well, that's bullshit. You know, But I think we seem to have been we've gotten away from that a little bit with... You know united had women on the fly is a big part of that, you know, to legit women in the sport and such in the work

that they've done, but it's...

I think a guy like that, like,

He honestly was probably...

You know, it'd be like, seen a zebra when you're walking down in the Sacramento river. Like, you're kinda like,

completely like shocked that that existed. Right? Like, you know, because I've been in that. I've been... I was in that boat. You know, I mean, I remember the first time I was

putting in my boat. And I saw a woman back a adrift boat down and push a adrift. I'm like, well, what's fuck going on here? Like, it wasn't like, you don't belong here or I don't like you or you shouldn't be doing this. It was just like,

Wow. You don't see this shit all the time. Yeah. Like, you know what I mean? Curious odd. You rare. And... Yeah. Like, I was, like, so where are you from?

That's why when we see women on the river, whatever fishing, we're, like, do you wanna be friends?

Well, and that's.

Yeah. And that's kinda good and kinda shitty. Right? That, like, there's so few women in the sport of fly fishing that you're, like, oh, come here. You know what I mean?

So...

I think that

there's more women

then you think there are. Yeah. Most of them are

fishing with their husbands. Mh. All the time, and I've had a lot of women that are, like,

yeah. I love fishing with my husband, but, you know, I...

I'd like to go fish with you guys too. Like, it should because it is so different.

Well, and that's a... You know, I've always guided. I've had a lot of husband and wife cup wives couples. And I've all... I've often asked myself, with this woman fish if she wasn't with this guy.

You what I mean? Like, And I even had women

who

the couple has divorced,

and I don't see the woman again. I see the man again. Right? Like, you know, like, I often wonder, like,

I've always had women in the sport? And I've always had women clients, but like you're saying, it's like,

are they doing this because they really wanna fly fish or would they play golf or mountain bike or

whatever if that's what... Husband was like, hey, we're gonna go do this. Right? Know I definitely think there are definitely women Yeah. Like that, but I just spent a week with,

twelve other women that

I would say half of them, their husbands don't fish. Yeah. At all. That's awesome. And that was super cool. My boyfriend does not fly fish. Does you have any desire to?

No. Like, maybe a sick fascination to see what you're doing, but it's like you're saying. Maybe. It's more my thing. Yeah. Absolutely. And like I said, I've learned

pretty almost a hundred percent from women.

Yeah. That's interesting. And yeah. They teach me a ton. And they're always so willing to share their knowledge. Yeah. Guys are Dicks. We all like to share. Well, but the guides too, they're also all of the guys that we fish with are super super helpful and sweet too. So... Just tell them you're buying a boat, They'll be the fucking

information well will dry up positively.

They don't see you as a threat yet.

No. That's a tough one. I think guys, like, I'm always like, I've I've been an only child my whole life. So, like, I've not... There was periods where I was not very sharing with information, but, like,

you realize that, like, that's a very narrow minded way

to grow a sport. Right? Like... But that's the other thing, too, like, I don't wanna see people when I fish. You know what I mean? Like... But it's that double edged sword, like,

you know, we got our fifty people we don't need anymore. This is good. We don't wanna host more trips. We don't wanna... But, like...

Well, we've had thought about, you know, how big do we want to get this not necessarily because we don't want to see more women in, but because we're like Well, it's more work. Well, we don't wanna of work. It's a lot of work, but we also too don't wanna lose that community. Mh. You know, that feeling of community as depends when you get too big,

it's... If you lose that. Especially if, I mean,

Yeah. Right? And then also too, like, well, does that mean we have to do, like, two trips a month because we only have, like, usually ten spots. That's a lot to go fly fishing Yeah. Ten people. That's a lot of that's a lot of that's a lot of questions about

this and that and Yeah I... And you gotta have the right right amount of area to it, you know, you can't

yeah. Fish on top of each other You know, you have to have space and Yeah. And yeah. It's in all varying, bowls and all levels. Yeah. How do you deal with that when you got ten people and, like, one's horrible and one's really good?

Well, we don't have anyone horrible.

No one at all has been horrible at all. And like I said, women are just naturally bulls we just want to help. Yeah. Like, somewhat... The the those the the sixty five year old woman that's been fishing for forty years is, like, cool. I could not have done this last weekend without the Sierra Girls. Like, they

our bad asses, and they helped a ton.

Yeah. They're they're amazing. Yeah. We're so lucky. Like, we really are in. Feel like they have just taken us under their... How many people are in their club?

I don't know a lot. They're part of the Tahoe truck. Mh. Fly They are so an extension of a Yes. Yeah. Of a of a club. Gotcha.

Yeah. They they

they just immediately

took

charge, and, you know, we had a ton of green ladies coming in,

they did a great job, but,

without the guide, you know? Yeah. They still wanted to fish and And so

Jamie and Karen and Laura, they were immediately just, like, let me get you set up, like, this is what... And they showed them how to do it. You know, they weren't just like, oh, let me rig it up for you. Well, that's important because I know, like, if I have...

A client in the boat who's really good angle and a client in the boat who's

a really poor angle. Like,

one of their days is gonna be negatively affected. Right? Like,

both of them are not gonna have a good day. Right? And so,

If you go on a trip like that and, like, five women have never fished much and five women have fished a ton. Like, how do you steer the trip? Like, five of those women are gonna have to be like, okay. Cool. I'm gonna give up a little bit of

my trip.

So these other people have a good trip or whatnot? That's a tough thing to do. It is. Yeah. But the other thing too is that what defines a good trip? Yeah. Totally. Because is it just that you caught fish? Is that what defines a good trip? Yeah. Because I've been on

some amazing trips, and I didn't catch that many fish. Totally. But I saw someone catch their first fish. Yeah. And

I saw them tie their own,

you know,

fly on, and I I learned something also. I learned how to read water better. I learned... You know, it's always... You're always learning something. So so that's... I feel like as a mindset when you go out. Oh, for sure I would agree a hundred percent. I was just curious because with men, you run into that.

Their idea of a good trip is usually a little more narrower than that. Right? Well, and sometimes I feel like,

I'm not saying this is also just necessarily men, but I think everybody thinks that they know everything.

Yeah. You know And... I think.

And they're like, well, I already know everything. I don't need to learn nothing. You know? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah Yeah. It's like, you can all especially fly fishing. There's always something to learn. Oh, yeah. Always. That's a very humbling.

Point in your an careers when you realize

how little you actually know. The old, you know, Greek at, the more I learn the more I know I don't know anything at all. You know Isn't that why. I think that's why I love fly fishing Oh, yeah. No. Because you're always...

Learning. Yeah. There's always something... There's always another piece of the puzzle

to put together. And then when you get that piece. I mean, it's like, whoa like, light bulbs go off again. I mean, it's amazing, I think there's an evolution. Like, I remember when I was a young male. It was defining a good trip was numbers in the boat. Dude. Like, you're running because you're getting out at the boat ramp and every day it's like, how many you get? How many you get? How many you get? And there was

A an old guide who has since passed away Bill Lowe,

who died very, very much sooner than he should have. And I always remember getting out on the lower you hub been Bill lowe was, like, kind of the old guy on the lower you, but though he was not old. He'd been there longer than I had. And

I'd get out. And I was, in my twenties years, I'd just bumped the river that day, pounding and fish, you know, putting twenty in the boat, you know? And I always ride with by bill and his clients got their feet kicked up, and he's got, like an espresso machine and he's like,

they're drinking sierra and Nevada and laughing and having fun, and I'd get to the ramp and my clients be like, oh, how would you guys do all that we got like too.

In my mind, like, when I'm in my twenties and my god, We fucking.

Smashed up today. Like, you know, I'm just like, I'm a badass ass. And it wasn't twelve Was like, in my thirties where I was, like,

oh, Bill's kinda got this shit figured out. Like,

this is

you know, Bill's

got the whole other component of the trip here that I was missing for most of my competitive,

as I say, male years. You know what I mean? That? And

I don't know if that's an age thing or not. But, like, that's definitely a journey of part of an angle. Right? Realizing that, like, There's more to this than, like, stacking bodies in the net. You know? So... Yeah. Definitely. I mean, as a conventional angle,

all I cared about was my string. Totally. That's all I care. I would know. I was like why think why are they letting fish go? Like yeah. That was Yeah. Crazy to me. And now

when I see fish handled wrong? I just, like, cringe. You know Or like, why why you why'd did you touch their gills? Like, put them back in the water? Okay?

So

I I think it's an evolution. Yeah. And then

I it just

getting more women in the sport getting kids involved in the sport. Yeah. Is amazing. And then, you know, that just goes...

To help

our environment. Oh, yeah. Be

that we love the river, the more we want to protect the river. Yeah. And the more we wanna protect those resources. Yeah. That's the... I mean, that's the sales pitch Always help people with Cast nobody. If kids don't give a shit about the river, they're gonna be gone. Know what I mean? Like, the whole concept of protecting the environment is people protect things that they love. And if they find more value in parking lots and strip malls and screens, then that's what they're gonna protect. So... Well, I think fly fishing brought that to me? Because, honestly, like, a year ago,

I was like, oh, yeah. Okay. Whatever.

You know, totally? I didn't think about those things yeah as much. And what is that doing to the prices of my gasoline? Yeah.

Yeah. You know, my water bill, like, my electric bill, all the, you know, because in the end, those... Or what matter to most people. Right? You know? Right. So

that's interesting.

So coming up, you you're gonna keep what you're doing over the next year secret. You got...

Is can women sign up for the club? Like, how how do women get involved? Yeah. I mean, they can sign up through our website, and they can also just come on a trip with us. Like, we're in the works planning tons of trips though. So what... What is the website? Or call on the fly. Or call women on the fly dot com. The best way to know what's going on is definitely

sign up there, then you'll get, like, a newsletter. Mh.

Of upcoming events and stuff. And I... We always try to post on there before we post on social media. Gotcha.

We'll promote on social media if we're not getting a lot of hits, you know? Gotcha. So you kinda open it up to the list of of women? Definitely. Yeah. Is it up... Do women pay and join? Is there a fee to be part of the club?

No. Because we're just associated.

Yeah So we're not making money on collecting money. Collecting money.

No. We're just covering our expenses for trips and Yeah. You know,

That's it. We're all volunteers. Yeah. There's no... We don't have any agendas. We just wanna go fishing. Yeah. There's no bank account or anything there. No. Nothing.

That's that's cool. So check out northern Nor cal women on the fly and then on... Social media what's your handle on social media?

Well,

we just like to post fish or fishy pictures. Well no so where can they find you? Oh, nor cow women on the fly. Okay. So just at Nor cow women in the fly. Absolutely.

Yeah. And then we'll... Yeah. We post, you know, all about all of our trips, and then we'll promote on there too, and then you can find her a link to the website on

Instagram. We don't have a Facebook. That's okay. Yeah. Too much drama.

Higher Yeah. I don't get on Facebook that much. Yeah. Instagram pictures aren't as controversial usually. Yeah. Usually. Usually. No movie pictures here. Yeah. Yeah. No. You guys... Yeah. No. It seems like a fairly... It... It's a... I've looked through your Instagram. It's it's an inspiring and instagram makes people wanna go. You know? Thank you.

Yeah. Thanks. So sign up, and

we'll...

Do you send out an email once a once a month or something like that or... About once a month month. That's good. A newsletter. The Yeah. I think we are we might be doing a fly tying thing next month. Yeah. Yeah. We we'll get that out Get that. We got we gotta look at the calendar here. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah do that in December. Cool. Yeah. Well was really great having you on.

I really appreciate your time and coming on talking about what you're doing in... Definitely encourage anyone that listening to the podcast to reach out, check out the website, check out social media,

and, you know, support what they're doing. If you have a woman in your life or a young lady. Young ladies welcome to. Oh, yeah. Definitely. I a young lady, daughter, granddaughter, something like that.

Check it out. See what they're doing and see you can get them involved. Alright. Everybody. Thanks for tuning in. I wanna thank our sponsors, Sierra Nevada and Lou outdoors,

and,

We'll talk to you next time. Take care.

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