Wildlife Commission Offers Fly Fishing Weekend for Women in Mills River

MILLS RIVER, NC (March 16, 2017)…The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is offering a women-only fly-fishing weekend on April 21-23 at the North Mills River Recreation Area and Campground in Henderson 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, beverages 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, which includes a bath house with hot showers and restrooms. Participants should bring their own tents and equipment, if they have them; however, space in one of two small group tents will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact BOW coordinator BB Gillen at bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919-218-3638 to reserve a tent space.

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 items that make fishing fun.

Other sessions include knot tying, fly casting and lure presentation. Experienced instructors will demonstrate basic casting techniques and offer one-on-one instruction. On Sunday morning, participants will practice their newfound skills with a guided fishing trip on the North Fork Mills River.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 25 participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Visit www.ncwildlife.org/bow for registration form.

Need-based, partial scholarships are available for 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 bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919-218-3638.