In July, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting you a four-part series of stories about Steamboat advocacy groups that ensure equity and access to the great outdoors.
Part One – Colorado Women Flyfishers
The Yampa Valley is known as a place where participation in outdoor sports promotes community inclusion for different demographic groups.
Colorado Women Flyfishers (CWF) is using the area’s legendary waterways as a conduit towards gender-equity while also establishing mentor-based relationships.
The Yampa River and the streams to feed it hold some of the best fly fishing in northwest Colorado. People from around the country, and the world, travel to Steamboat Springs to fish the high-quality public water while also enjoying the large trout that the area is known for.
Fly fishing has been steadily increasing in popularity since the release of the film A River Runs Through It in 1992.
Amid that increase in popularity CWF, which was founded in 1997, has been working tirelessly throughout the state and the Yampa Valley to provide women with a base of knowledge, support and understanding to introduce them to the sport of fly fishing while also serving as an inspiration to others.
Courtesy Photo/Colorado Women Flyfishers
“The mission of the club is to educate, promote and encourage women through the sport of fly fishing,” said CWF Trips Director Stephanie Gordon. “We do that very actively across the state as well as here in the Yampa Valley.
Gordon explained that CWF started in Denver with a group of females who wanted to get more women involved in fly fishing. In the eyes of the founders, there was an opportunity for mutual support and education between women in the world of fly fishing. That initial group would eventually expand to a state-wide organization. She also pointed out that the Yampa Valley, and particularly Steamboat Springs, plays an important role in meeting the organization’s objectives at the state level.
“The Yampa Valley in and of itself is very welcoming and very friendly,” said Gordon. “The ladies love to come up here.”
Additionally, she explained that the area offers extensive opportunities for all levels of fly fishers from local ponds, to high alpine lakes, to the legendary streams and rivers that the region is primarily known for.
CWF currently has over 400 members and has grown a national presence. The 501(c)(3) is run by a 13 member state-wide board who work to provide opportunities for women to get out and fish.
The four primary objectives of CWF is to educate, coordinate fishing trips, plan advocacy events and most importantly to provide connections where women fly fishers can network with each other.
Yampa Valley businesses and organizations have been instrumental to CWF’s local efforts to get more women out on the water. Straightline Sports, as well as Steamboat Flyfisher and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, all played pivotal roles as a resource for the group’s recent Yampa Valley-based CWF trip on June 1 and 2.
Arianna Birdseye and Hunter Holt are Steamboat-based fly fishers who have played a massive role in getting more women involved in the sport.
“Arianna has been a really huge help to us volunteering her time to do zoom calls with our group to talk about how to fish locally while providing tips along the way,” said Gordon. “Ari and Hunter have been great partners here in Steamboat Springs to get more women involved at the local level.”
Gordon explained that the fly fishing world has been very receptive of CWF, particularly within the Yampa Valley. One major objective for the organization presently is to increase the number of people who are aware of it in order to continue to expand membership and community partnerships. Many times, Gordon encounters other women who are out fishing who are not aware of the organization’s presence.
“I also think that one of the bigger roles that we have is being really open to beginners,” explained Gordon. “About 25% of our membership is beginning fly fisher ladies.”
For Gordon, as well as other members of the CWF leadership, the true reward is to see someone who has never fly fished not only catching fish, but also becoming part of the current of women who are rising within the sport while serving as mentors to others.
“Women of all backgrounds, ages and abilities join the club because we are a safe, non-judgemental, welcoming place for women to come together in pursuit of this fabulous sport of fly fishing,” concluded Gordon. “We are very encouraging and supportive of each other.”
More information on Colorado Women Flyfishers can be found at https://colowomenflyfishers.org/about-us/.
In July, Steamboat Locals’ writer John Camponeschi will be presenting you a four-part series of stories about Steamboat advocacy groups that ensure equity and access to the great outdoors.
Read Part Two – Colorado Women Flyfishers
The “Advocacy Groups Ensuring Equity & Access in the Outdoors” series of stories is proudly presented to you by Jon Wade and The Steamboat Group as a continuation of their commitment to “Keep Steamboat Special” by supporting non-profits and events that promote adventure and the active Steamboat lifestyle!