click here for more photos and stories

The Netherlands February 9, 2009 By Donna van der Kuip Club: The Women Dutch Fly Fishers Club; The Netherlands

Piking

Translation in English

Andre, my husband, and I decided last week that it was time that I caught a pike (put all the fears to rest etc etc) so we set out last week Sunday early to do some pike-ing in the local waters here.  When we left home, Andre asked me if I had my license with me...I said no...He said, we won't get caught today being Sunday and it being early...of course those were famous last words.  We just got settled fishing in a field into a body of water alongside the road, when what happened to come speeding over the bridge...a police car.  I caught it in the sight of my vision, and turned to Andre and said; ok, now we got trouble.  The car screeched to a stop, and a young officer got out and came running up to us, as if we were going to bolt across the field into nowhere ness...Andre actually had to tell him to stop as we were standing almost ankle deep in mud.  We wandered over to him and introduced ourselves, and he asked to see our papers.  Andre produced his and in the meantime my mind was racing as to where mine were, and in the nick of time I remembered they were in my fishing bag...phew...so we had a chat to them and they left a little disappointed that we were papered up, I am sure.  Anyways, we had no luck there and called it a day.

Yesterday we decided to go back to the Bosdijk.  We parked and decided to take a look at the water first, and lying face down at the waters edge was a pike of about 60cm...I went back to the car and got a net out...the fish was obviously dead and I had never seen a pike up close and personal before, so decided I may as well look at a dead one...only after netting it we discovered that it was still alive, barely.  One gill was barely moving and one of its eyes had already clouded over.  They certainly are magnificent fish to see up close.  There did not seem to be any reason for the fish to die, it had no cuts or outward injuries, so we quickly returned it to the water to avoid more stress, and after that it just lay there where we had replaced it and did not move in the 4 or so hours that we were there.  I think that did indeed help with the 'scared' feeling I had...so now it is onward and upward to catch one of my own.

This morning Andre found some interesting footage on Youtube.com, a series of film made by a Dutch diver on the behavior of pike under water...magnificent.

Dutch Translation click here

VICTORY Ann Bounds

Dame Juliana Anglers, Arizona February 9, 2009 Translation:  English

To bask in Victory is such pleasure!!!  One time the Old Pueblo Trout Unlimited Club of Tucson, Arizona invited the Desert Fly Casters (another club I belong to) to camp and fish with them on Hurricane Lake one year. 

During this time, TU had a fishing contest:  One Fly, One Fish, One Hour Contest.  Everyone paid a small fee to enter, and everyone got on the Lake in their float tubes.  We were timed:  One Hour.  And we could only use One Fly.  If we lost that fly we were out of the contest.  And we had to measure and weigh the one fish we caught with the Official Scale Person.

There were several people on the lake, probably 100.  It looked like one huge flotilla.  With 3 of them being women!  I was using an Arizona Peacock Lady Fly, and of course, caught my fish on the other side of the Lake from the Scales.  I put my fish in my net and laboriously started kicking my float tube to the other side of the lake to the Scales.  Made it in time too!

My fish was weighed and measured.  I thought it was too small, but low and behold….I won the Contest!!!  I had taken the title of Winner away from last year’s Winner, the TU’s President.  All 3 women posed for pictures for the TU newsletter!!!  We were all smiles!

Women rock!

Here’s the Arizona Peacock Lady Fly pattern: click here

Maya and Me by Kiki Galvin Club: Chesapeake Women Anglers; USA I grew up fishing on the Finger Lakes and caught my first fish at the age of 5. The memory of that time was, the lake, the dock, my Zebco rod, bobber and the..worm. On this vacation I felt the need to put away my fly rod and return to my younger days, to my roots if you will. Every morning, every evening it was once more the lake, the dock my rod, bobber and..worm, but this time I had my little dog Maya at my side. She was my fish spotter and remained diligent for hours as I cast to one spot after another. We both were excited when a fish was hooked and brought to the hand for our inspection, then tossed back to the depths. Maya could not wait to get out the door in the morning to run to the dock all the while looking back at me beckoning to come quickly to take our places. There we both were eyes glued to the green, dark mesmerizing water. I can't tell you how proud and thrilled I was that my little Maya loved to fish just like me! The evening before we had to leave to go home we both ventured out to the point at dusk just as the moon was rising and Mars was gleaming to make our few lasts casts. We stood in ankle deep water with the moon's trail before us like a side walk. I was using a top water plug and the fishing was hot, every cast bam a Smallie; one after another. Maya would walk out to escort the fish back to me-what a team! Finally I said, Maya we have to go now it's time, she looked at me as if to say one more cast please? Then we pulled ourselves away and walked back to the cottage together, crickets and the lapping of the waves upon the stony slate beach sounded our farewell. I looked down at Maya with a smile on my face and Maya looked back at me wet from head to toe and wagged her tail. When the chance presents itself share your passion and take your 'little ones' fishing even if they are furry little creatures.

Post script to my story last Sunday morning with a broken heart but peaceful soul I said goodbye to my faithful fishing companion Maya, she was twelve years old.

Report from Menteith 2008

I am so chuffed to have lifted the Graham Smith Trophy, in the year 2008. Not only to have won this prestigious prize in it's self, but to have achieved this on a "foreign" water; in beautiful Scotland, Lake of Menteith. After Celebrating a "big number" birthday in January, the kind where you wonder if you are "over the hill" (enough said), I am to be married in September of this year. So much mega stuff going on. In the middle of all of this, was the small matter of representing my country. I opted to arrive in Scotland in advance of the main England party ... not to gain extra practice, but merely to chill and try desperately to unwind.

My first day on Menteith was the official practice day on Tuesday of match week. Not a productive day for me, following team orders for area and method, I didn't catch a thing, despite being given a "hot spot" in the afternoon! Second practice day I fared marginally better, boating only one, albeit having three other takes, the day for me was best spent looking at areas and drifts where my team mates had been producing fish to the boat.

Match day then arrived, and I had a method and a couple of areas which were clear in my mind. My catch of the day that mattered was nine fish. This was made possible on a “Cortland Blue”, fishing a team of three, very slow figure of eight ... yes I'll say that again, “ME” fishing very, very slow! This is NOT my "cup of tea", however, needs must ... for England and St. George!!! My cast then comprised of; top dropper, a cruncher, middle dropper, a pearly cormorant and on the point, the Woofta booby. The match started at 9am, I had the first fish in the boat by 9.05am; a wonderful 3lb plus rainbow! What a fantastic start to an International!

The rules dictated that the bag limit was to be four fish, beyond this, we were to deploy catch and release tactics. This meaning no booby's, no doubles, and all flies used were to be debarbed. I then substituted the Woofta for a single Cat's Whisker for the point, and carried on with the task at hand. My day's catch ended at nine. I was thoroughly delighted with this, thinking that this was a great catch towards the England total. As an individual, when you know you have had a good day, you always assume that there is someone else that has done better and good luck to them. But on this occasion, it was me! I should like to thank my boat partner Orla of Ireland and my boatman Greg, both of whom were absolutely lovely on the day. Also to the England team for the great information and team camaraderie, without which, my victory would not have been possible. Especially for my lovely man, who follows me and supports me every where that flyfishing takes me, even though he doesn't fish himself. What more could I ask for?

The Fly Fishing Goddess 

New Zealand, March 2009

Beth Sterten

Club:  The Fly Fishing Foxes; Carmel, CA, USA

Translation:  English

To have the man who has written seven books on stalking brown trout in New Zealand as your first-ever fishing guide on your first-ever trip to this Fly Fishing Mecca was quite an exciting surprise.   Our “farmstay” host, Bill Clayton and his wife made the arrangements and proudly offered my husband and me, a copy of Graeme's latest book.  I am sorry, but I could hardly wait to meet Graeme to thank him for his book and also to point out to him that it had NO women fly fishers pictured in it.

Graeme Marshall is a gentle, intense professional who at 59 has spent a lifetime at guiding New Zealand's pristine and challenging waters.  He would be our guide on the Grey River located in New Zealand's buggy west side. 

At our introductory meeting, after a glass of wine, I offered my observations after reading his book.  Well, he acknowledged the lack of any women, but suggested that the responsibility was partly due his photographer.  No matter.  I now had a challenge - to catch a BIG fish and get into Graeme Marshall's next book.

I guess, in fishing, your motives should be more pure because the Fishing Goddess was not shining on me; and she told me so right away. Casting to sighted fish is just the way they do it in New Zealand; and Graeme is a Master Hunter.  It didn't take long before he spotted one.  Pointing it out, he said, "Go for it, Beth!"   I did and on the FIRST cast of the day, I was on - for a few seconds anyway.  I swear, I never catch a fish on the first cast - who does, I'd like to know!

Well, certainly, there would be other opportunities.  In addition, yes, after trekking for a good bit longer, a blur of brown in the rippling water spelled big fish to Graeme and just another blur of brown in the rippling water close to me.  I held my breath and cast hopefully in the direction he wanted.  I was a bit short and prepared to pull my line back when Graeme cried out, "he's going for it!"  Where? Where? I thought, and then - bam!  I caught the MONSTER and it took off like a bullet, powering directly away from me with the wake of a submarine.  Then, horrifyingly, my line caught on the butt of my rod and SNAP! GONE!  It happened in an instant; I was Stunned.  I swear, it must have been a seven or eight pounder - may be 10 pounder!  Graeme had to take a moment to recover.  So did me.

Two misses, two glorious fish gone, two chances to be immortalized in his book - kaput.   I wish I could end this story happily but this was just the humiliating way it went for me that day.   So, do not look for me in Graeme Marshall's next book on catching big browns in New Zealand.  I leave that prize for you.  

P.S.  On another day, on another river, with another guide, my fishing Goddess finally smiled on me!

Lost and Found

Author:  Christa Buchwald

Translation:  English

Club: IWFF

What else do we need? My finding: Flyfishing and women perfectly fit together.  Left to Right: Rebecca Blair, Henriette Adama van Scheltema, Kate Blubaugh, Christa Buchwald, Barbara Klutinis and Claudia Muller.

In May 2009 I joined an IWFF Gathering for the first time in my life. We found each other - 2 women from Germany, 1 from the Netherlands and 3 from the US - to fish together for trout and greyling at the Kleine Drau in Austria, a beautiful and famous fishwater. What wonderful days!! Breathtaking landscape and nature, unique waters full of trout and greyling beauties, nice companionship and lots of fun.  Not only at the rivers when fishing, but also any time the day and at the cosy evenings at the Pension Wutte.  We quickly found to each other and super easily connected well. To catch the big fishes we found not being so super easy though. But every one of us had her successes.  After Kate's announcement "there is a biggy." I cast for a fish which had just nymphed and the rings were still visible. The stand was not really good, upstream of low hanging branches.

The second cast - pretty perfect in my eyes -  was success and I hooked a big wonderful greyling.  Holy cow! How to get it out and not loose her? I drilled carefully and had her in front of me. She looked at me and I looked at her. Only some seconds more till Kate could take the photo of the year of me with my greyling.... But she released herself and off she went... Ok, ok. Lost you! She deserved it I found, this beautiful greyling. And I will come back next year, especially for you. Maybe I will get her then, who knows?

What else could you loose other then a fish when flyfishing?  I can tell you. I managed to loose a fly rod. How comes? No clue. I assume when putting the rod into pieces, I possibly placed them somewhere and forgot when we drove away. Painful enough. Even more painful for me, that it was the flyrod RST M5 of my husband, he handcrafted it himself. How could this ever happen to me? Oh, oh, it does no good telling the truth of this loss the other day. His only comment was: "... girls!" (with this special undertone). Seems that I will be deeply indebted in him for probably forever.  I will not give up the better place in a pool for him though...

So I had lost something. Some fishes I will give another try next year. And the fly rod of my husband"s, and he was not shouting at me. However what I have found is something very special and invaluable.  In particular new friends, with whom I share my passion of flyfishing, with whom I laughed, and whom I hope to meet again one day.  Might it be on a vacation at some nice fish waters anywhere in the world, might it be at the next Erlebniswelt Fliegenfischen the unique flyfishing fair in Germany or any other flyfishing events.  In any case, it might be through the IWFF network. What else do we need? My finding: Flyfishing and women perfectly fit together.

My First Real Tarpon

Submitted by, Judith O’Keefe

It was in June of 1995 when I walked into a fly shop in Sunriver, Oregon.  I was new to fly-fishing and had just had my first lesson a week earlier.  It was fun.   I loved standing in the water knowing there was fishing swimming out there and I might be lucky enough to connect with one, via fly, fly line and fishing rod. I knew about fishing for trout and other fresh water fish, but I hadn’t yet been introduced to the world of saltwater species.   As I walked across the shop, I noticed a television mounted behind the fly-tying desk with a video playing.  It caught my ear before it caught my eye.  Lots of whooping and hollering going on, not unusual for a fishing video, but this sounded serious.  Glancing up at the screen, I saw one big, beautiful silver streak dancing on the water.  I asked what it was, “A tarpon”. This was one powerful creature and it was obvious that if an angler had any hope of landing a fish such as this, he, or she, had better know what they were doing.  I was mesmerized.  Right then and there, I made a proclamation; I was going to catch a tarpon one day.  At that point, I’d had one day on the water, one casting lesson, getting the fly line out twenty feet was an accomplishment.  Somehow, this seemed like a possible goal.

In 2001, I went to Campeche, Mexico. Campeche is known for their baby tarpon. The waters just outside of town are, in fact, a tarpon nursery. It was great to get up and get out early, mist on the water, sun rising, and the fish were plentiful. No unusual amount of skill is required, a decent cast into an approaching school and you were sure to hook up. I landed my share of the little guys. Four to ten pounds and just as beautiful as that monster I saw on the video some years ago.

However, it wasn’t until last November, during a family vacation, that I had the opportunity to fish for a larger specimen. These fish would also be considered baby tarpon, but they were not infants and an angler needed to, not only coax a fish to the fly, set the hook into those metal plated mouths, but also land this formidable opponent. Anyone who knows anything about tarpon fishing knows the whole process is challenging, and that the landing is easier said than done. Most often one stalks tarpon from a boat, but we had found some large ponds and channels that were, at one time, used for desalinization of ocean water. Long since deserted, the channels were now used by small schools of tarpon on a regular basis. The timing was right and the fish were in. As I cast off the bridge, I knew I had a chance. On my third cast, I felt the take and before I could get a good hook set, the fish was out of the water. One shake of the head and the fish was free. Oh, so disappointing. Were my reflexes slow? How could I have let it get away so easily? However, the fish gods were merciful that afternoon and I hooked another just a few casts later. This time I set that hook. I really set that hook. There were all the classic tarpon acrobatics one hopes for, leaps and jumps, a run and another jump. Careful to avoid all the usual mistakes as best I could, I reeled and it ran. Reeled a little more. Another run, another jump. Please don’t throw the hook. Working my way to the edge of the bridge, then down to the water, a minute or two later and at last the fish was landed. I felt exhilarated, satisfied, so honored to have danced with the king. At seventeen pounds, he wasn’t a big, or even what would be considered a mid-size tarpon, but he was a challenge, a beautiful challenge.

Look out Florida, here I come!

Have Questions email us here

rev. April 5, 2010

©2010 International Women Fly Fishers/   All rights reserved. The textual, graphic, audio, and audiovisual material in this site is protected by United States copyright law and international treaties. You may not copy, distribute, or use these materials except as necessary for your personal, non-commercial use.