I had the honor of attending the inaugural meeting of Last Chance Fly Gals this past Monday at Lewis and Clark Brewing Company in Helena. I was blown away by the interest in this group as evidenced by the packed house.

LCFG estimates the number of attendees to have been right around 140. Who knew there was such an interest in fly fishing amongst women in the Helena area.

Shalon Hastings, that’s who.

Hastings, a local entrepreneur who owns The Hub and Taco del Sol restaurants in Helena, along with local fly fishing devotees Amy Glasscock, Anna Lindstrand, Kelly Lynch, Kim Ryan Agee, Liz Moore, Maija Schellhardt, Marty Steenberg and Megan Rotz,  have spearheaded this group and judging by Monday’s turnout they are off to a phenomenal start.

When asked about the impetus for forming the group Hastings replied;

“I would run into women that would see photos of me fishing on FB and they would ask to get out on the water with me or ask for advice on how to get started. In the few times I would get on the water with lady friends I really enjoyed the different experience than when I get out with the guys (I still love getting out with the guys). As a result, I threw out a FB post to my immediate network to see if there was interest in participating in a local women’s fly fishing group and the response was overwhelming. I then gathered a couple ladies out of this response to help organize the group and we were completely overwhelmed with the positive response from both the fly shops & outfitters as well as the attendance of ladies to our first meeting. We estimate that 140 women showed up!”

The first meeting was essentially a meet and greet as well as an introduction to the group and a request for input from attendees on the direction in which Last Chance Fly Gals will proceed.

While the group is a work in progress their mission is as follows;

Our Mission is to:

 

Connect. Provide a means for women of all ability levels interested in fly fishing to connect with each other, build friendships and fish together.

 Educate. Provide education for women (and girls) interested in learning how to fly fish, or to increase their knowledge of or improve their skills through mentoring and educational events.

Organize. Provide a venue for organizing fly fishing outings and events.

Influence. Influence the research and development of fly fishing equipment, clothing and accessories specifically designed for women.

Advocate. Participate in, promote and raise awareness of conservation issues that affect the fish and fisheries in our area.

Give back.

Wolf Creek Angler is proud to be on board with such a great organization and we are committed to doing everything we can to facilitate the growth of the sport among women. Our hats are off to the organizers of Last Chance Fly Gals.

Well Done Ladies. Keep up the good work!