Celebrating International Women’s Fly Fishing Day

As from last week’s musings, the River Teign is in full voice this June. A quiet symphony of riffles, rustling leaves, and the occasional rings of a rising trout breaking the surface. For those lucky enough to have wandered along her banks, especially in this golden month, you’ll know the Teign isn’t just a river. It’s a rhythm. A rare refuge. A story being cast with every loop and spotted fish.

And on the 27th June, that story will gain a new chapter as the entire world celebrates International Women’s Fly Fishing Day - a moment not only to champion the women redefining the banks of fly fishing, but also to reflect on how we can make the sport more welcoming, more inclusive, and, dare I say, more fun! (Just to let you all know that Terry, not Terry, is still definitely fun and most definitely not female! Love you, Terry!)

Why Here? Why Now?

It’s no accident that I should turn an eye onto the Teign for this celebration. Winding through the heart of North Dartmoor’s rugged beauty, the River Teign, to me at least, has always been something of a teacher. She rewards patience, punishes arrogance, and, much like a seasoned casting instructor, doesn’t care how expensive your kit is!

This river, totally alive in all her moods - misty morning stillness, afternoon sparkle, the hush of twilight - has become a gentle proving ground for a new wave of anglers. And I’m proud to say that many of them are women. Many of them are first-time fishers, keen and wanting to learn more. And all of them are bringing a fresh energy to a pastime often seen as a last bastion of ‘socks with sandals’ traditionalism!

Let’s face it, though, the average fly fishing image in popular culture still tends to feature a middle-aged man standing mid-stream with the expression of someone both deeply content whilst appearing like they’re lacking fibre in their diet! But what is the newer face of modern fly fishing? Luckily, I see it changing for the better. And thank goodness for that!

Listening is an underrated skill.

Now, I’ve introduced a fair few people to fly fishing over the years (now I’m feeling old!). From those who are overly confident to those who are totally bewildered. And I’ll say this, with affection and a tailwind of experience - Female anglers make better students.

Why? - Because they listen.

The guys, bless them, tend to approach a fly rod the way they approach a barbecue! With an unshakable belief that they were born knowing how to do it, that all it takes is brute strength, and there’s always some sort of fire involved!

Women, on the other hand, show up on time, curious, attentive, and actually interested in feedback, both the good and the bad. You tell them to slow down the back cast and wait, and they slow down the back cast and wait. You show them how to tighten their loop, and they do it, instead of debating the hydrodynamics of a size 14 Klinkhammer versus a CDC emerger, or just gripping the rod tighter and grunting when they forward cast! To be honest, I find this so refreshing.

Fly Fishing for all — Not just the few

However, International Women’s Fly Fishing Day isn’t just about skill - it’s about access to this miraculous pastime. Because let’s be honest, fly fishing has long been tagged with a reputation problem. I feel that too many people still see it as exclusive, expensive, and intimidating. There's strange terminology, private waters, tweed-clad cliques, and the sort of gear catalogues with products that look like they require a minor mortgage to afford and a PhD in entomology to understand!

Yet at its heart, when you remove all the smoke and mirrors, fly fishing is wonderfully simple!

Water, a rod, a fly, and your time, just to be still! To me, it’s about walking into nature and walking out changed. And surely everyone deserves that?

Making fly fishing accessible to women, young people, people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, and those with physical disabilities is not just the right thing to do; it is the thing to do if the sport is to thrive and grow in the decades ahead of us.

And the River Teign? She doesn’t care about your background. She welcomes all who come with respect and an inquisitive mind.

Casting toward the future.

From introducing a number of female anglers to this pastime, what’s striking is not just the enthusiasm of these new anglers, but the community they’re building with one another once they’re shown the door. I see a genuine spirit of generosity, mentorship, and a shared discovery that feels… well, different. Less about conquest and competition, more about connection.

And let’s not forget: women bring not just fresh talent to the riverbank, but a fierce commitment to conservation. Many of the leading voices in river protection, habitat restoration, and sustainable angling practices are now women who fell in love with fishing - and stayed on for the stewardship. I can think of no finer than the late great Anne Voss Bark of Arundell Arms fame, or the mighty Joan Wulff. And here I am, back harking on about river heroes! I love it!

Tales from the riverbank.

After spending some time teaching two newcomers recently, one summed it all up beautifully - “I really appreciate your time showing me and I can’t tell you of my sweary excitement at catching a wee trout for the first time!”.

That right there is the magic, and that’s why all this matters.

Because in the act of casting - that slow, mindful motion - we cast off more than just lines. We let go of expectations. We catch something far richer than fish - confidence, calm, community and maybe a few new choice profanities!

A standing invitation.

So if you find yourself near a River on the 27th of June, take a moment. Whether you’re fishing or just wandering along its banks, know that something is shifting in the current. The pastime of fly fishing is open to us all. The water is welcoming. And the future is no longer bound by outdated stereotypes.

It’s being shaped, one elegant loop at a time, by women who listened… and then led.