Carter Henman
chenman@uwyo.edu
President Mackenzie Morrison and Vice President Brittany Nordberg started Fish N’ Chicks: the Wyoming Women’s Fly Fishing Club last spring in order to create a comfortable environment for women to try out the sport.
“We were in the other fly fishing club and there were no women in there, and so we were like ‘Whoa! We need to get some women involved!’” Morrison said.
They have largely succeeded in meeting that goal. Morrison said the group has attracted around 40 members in the short amount of time they have been active on campus.
“Fly fishing can be really intimidating and we thought an all-women club would be more welcoming and provide a more comfortable environment for women who are interested in fishing,” Nordberg said.
Brittany Wagler, junior studying wildlife and fisheries biology, joined Fish N’ Chicks
shortly after the club got started and is currently serving as the club’s treasurer.
“I’ve fished with my dad since I was a kid,” Wagler said. “I had some friends who fly fished and I got into it because it’s more like hunting—it takes more technique and skill than angling.”
Wagler said the group’s main goal is to raise interest in fly fishing among people who might not have access to the knowledge or equipment necessary to be active in the sport on their own.
“There are a bunch of people who already fly fish, and we’d love for them to join, but we’re especially interested in people who have never done it before,” Wagler said.
“Out of all the girls who have joined, we’ve had like four who were experienced fly fishers,” Morrison said. “A lot of people wouldn’t have otherwise done it.”
Nordberg said that the club organizes casting clinics and other activities to help beginners learn the basics and they even loan out equipment to members who might not have their own.
“We’re trying to do more events with the community,” Wagler said. “Since we just started, our biggest priority is getting our name out there.”
Fish N’ Chicks organized a fundraising night at Cloud 9 on Tuesday which featured live music, fly-tying demonstrations and casting instruction. 10 percent of all profits from frozen yogurt and coffee sales from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. went directly to the RSO.
At the fundraiser, Nordberg sat at a table facing the entrance and demonstrated how to tie an elk-haired caddis fly.
“If the fish are feeding on the top and you see them rising, then this is what you want to throw at them,” Nordberg said.
Different flies are designed to imitate different insects’ shape, size, color and behavior, so choosing the appropriate fly is key.
“I’ve been tying flies for three and a half years,” Nordberg said. “So I’m pretty new at it, but I’ve been fly fishing for seven years.”
Money from the fundraiser help finance the club’s fishing trips, where novice members get to apply the skills they’ve been learning at weekly meetings.
“We go on a couple of trips every semester,” Wagler said. “So we try to buy some flies and a little bit of food to make it affordable for people to come on the trips.”
The Wyoming Women’s Fly Fishing Club made two separate trips to Grey Reef and also did some fishing at Lost Lake last spring. This spring they are planning on taking a float trip near Jackson, while several other day trips and camping trips are in the works.
Wagler said some of the proceeds from the Cloud 9 fundraiser would also go to pay for guest speaker appearances.
Last week the group hosted Alyssa Halls from Owl Creek Flies in Thermopolis, WY, who gave two fly tying demonstrations and offered tips on how to fish using streamers during the colder months.
Wagler said the event had strong turnout, with many people who were not directly involved with the club in attendance.
The group also funds activities with support from ASUW’s RSO Funding Board and a $20 club due paid by each member, Wagler said.
