The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is offering a women-only fly-fishing weekend on Oct. 21-23 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education and Davidson River Campground in Transylvania County.
The fly-fishing weekend is open to women of all skill levels who want to learn more about fly fishing. The $125 registration fee covers instruction, fishing equipment and camping for the weekend, and a light lunch and snacks on Saturday. The 3-day program, which will be held rain or shine, is being offered through the Wildlife Commission’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program(ncwildlife.org/BOW).
Accommodations are at an outdoor campground. While participants are encouraged to bring their own tents and equipment, two small group tents will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact BOW coordinator BB Gillen at [email protected] or 919-218-3638 to reserve a tent.
The weekend is broken down into five skill-building sessions and participants will rotate through each session. In the stream ecology session, participants will search for aquatic organisms using nets and kick seines to understand what type of flies work best for trout fishing. They will learn how to tie flies that mimic the organisms they find — “matching the hatch.” In the basic equipment session, participants will learn about proper waders, wading shoes, vests and other fishing tackle that can make or break a fishing trip.
Other sessions include knot tying, fly casting and lure presentation. Sunday features a fishing opportunity on the Davidson River where experienced fly-fishing instructors will offer one-on-one instruction.
Pre-registration is required and the weekend is limited to 25 participants. For those who qualify, partial scholarships are available for this event and other BOW events through the Mel Porter Scholarship Fund. Preference is given to first-time workshop participants who are full-time students, single parents of young children and/or those who live in low-income households. For more information about the Mel Porter Scholarship or to download an application, visit the Wildlife Commission’s website (ncwildlife.org/BOW).
To register or for more information, contact Gillen at [email protected] or 919-218-3638.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is an international program for women, 18 and older, conducted in North Carolina through the Wildlife Commission.
The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is located near Brevard, just south of Asheville, by the Davidson River in Transylvania County. The center features nature trails and five large aquariums representing aquatic mountain habitats. The center is adjacent to the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery, where trout are raised in 54 raceways. The center is open Monday through Saturday from April through November and Monday through Friday from December through March. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.