There’s an uncomfortable buzz under my skin. I can’t tell if it’s nerves, stress, adrenaline, excitement, or everything all at once. Maybe it is. I’m attending a clinic with some of the most legendary women alive today in the sport of fly fishing. I’ve read about these women, watched their videos, and heard of their accomplishments. I’ve seen the work and strides they’ve taken in a space dominated for so long by men. Yes, I’m fan-girling and it’s making me revert back to my middle school introverted self. Get your shit together, Amanda.
The clinic is hosted by United Women on the Fly and iFishiBelong. This week is a DIY Fishing event in Montana at the historic Three Dollar Bridge and is the last event on the calendar for iFishiBelong. Today is the MT Fall Fishing Techniques clinic lead by legendary hosts: Heather Hodson, J. Michelle Swope, and Mary Moore.
Three Dollar Bridge is located just northwest of the West Yellowstone entrance. On cultural Shoshone lands, this place is historically significant in the fly fishing world. Work done by local and state conservation groups has preserved public access to this stretch of the Madison River. The Madison is a world renown blue ribbon trout stream with its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park. Eventually it converges into the Missouri River where it joins its sister rivers the Gallatin and Jefferson, to create the longest river in North America.
It feels fitting that the workshop is here. We are at the beginning of something that feels monumental. Something that feels historic. Women in fly fishing isn’t something new. From the pioneers like Dame Juliana Berners, Carrie Frost, to the caretakers Sara McBride to Cathy Beck, Lori-Ann Murphy, and Joan Wulff, and finally the expeditioners Rachel Finn, Barbara Klutinis, and Judith O’Keefe. There is a rich history of women in this sport. Women who have paved the way for myself and the generations I see here. Some of these legendary people are here for this clinic, and the fact that they are here is a testament to the community that has brought us together. I hope in this short time, I can learn all I can.
It’s a bright day on the river. There isn’t a cloud in the sky, and the wind has cleared the wildfire smoke from the valley. This is big sky country at its finest. The air is dry and the high desert sage is thick. It fills the air with its warmth where we stand in the dirt packed parking lot. The breeze from the river cooling the parched kiss of the sun as it bakes its fingers into the soil. It smells like the changing of the season. Crisp and bright over the fading warmth from the summer. This is the perfect classroom. Collectively we are a group of almost 30 people, from all walks of life, ages, and from across the country. Heather is presenting the Montana Fall Fishing Techniques material as we pass around fly boxes, ask questions, review printed handouts, and learn about fly fishing in this part of the world and during this season. There is such a wealth of information here, not just in experience but in pure knowledge and structured curriculum. I am encouraged that I know some of the content, but even more so by the fact that some things I’ve seen now have names to them and reasoning behind the techniques.
After the clinic presentation, Heather, J. Michelle, and Mary lead our group down to the water for the first half of the casting clinic and technique demonstration. The group laughs at the unintentional tiny fish that is caught during a dead-drift demonstration. These are all techniques I have seen in videos or on the water, but now I know the names for them, and the strategy behind them. We have a group photo, and then we are off to fish. We disperse upstream and downstream of the bridge and the day’s excursion really begins.
Without our group being here, this stretch of river gets fished heavily. I know the fishing here is going to be very difficult, but my goal is to take my time, practice what I’ve learned, and if I’m lucky I might connect with something.
I’m not so lucky in the fishing department. I am lucky in the memories, friendships, and experiences.
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