Around 20 ladies of all ages, from all over the state, gathered the morning of July 20 at Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan. After breakfast snacks and an icebreaker, they dug into gear, learning the equipment an angler needs and doesn’t need. Each received a fully loaded lanyard with tips on using each of the tools it contained. By morning’s end they could rig a rod from backing to fly, including all the needed knots.
This class was absolutely amazing and I am so thankful you all put it together and I was able to go.
Both the time in the classroom, as well as the mentored time on the water were absolutely
invaluable and showed me how much I enjoyed something I may never have tried otherwise.
You all are amazing!!
After lunch half the class got a taste of fly tying while the other half went outdoors to practice casting. We then switched places, then gathered back
in the auditorium to talk about what fish eat, using a loaded giveaway fly box for samples. We ended the afternoon by going on a virtual fishing trip–finding and reading the water, choosing your fly and approach, safety, etiquette, invasive species prevention, protecting our resources, and the TU
mission.
The next day, Damsels had the opportunity to get on the water and put their skills to use. We met at the Battle Creek River in downtown Battle Creek, where each paired up with a volunteer mentor. The water was too high to wade, but they managed from the shore. And fish were caught!
Besides leaving with a loaded fly box and a loaded lanyard, they left with loads of enthusiasm to take up the sport we love. Many thanks to the awesome staff at Wolf Lake, as well as the always reliable host of KVCTU volunteers who handled logistics, food, photography, tying, registrations, teaching, flies, coaching and mentoring on the river.
