CONTENTS 4/5
THE MAKING OF
6/13
AGAINST THE CURRENT
14/21
PAULA SHEARER
22/27
FLY AND FLOW
28/39
ICELAND FINEST
40/49
PACKRAFTING
50/57
MANS BEST FRIEND
58/65
SHYANNE ORVIS
66/73
TWO HANDED LAURA
74/83
SHA JUNIPER ORTON
84/95
FLYING DUTCH WOMAN
96/105
WE ARE FLY FISHING
106/115
ALYSSA HALLS
116/117
ABLE WOMAN
118/131
REBEKKA REDD
132
SPECIAL THANKS
Concept & Design: Peter Sikking Editor: Dr Henk Verhaar Published by: WAFF
Photo & Fly Arnold Bonte
special thanks to spanishflytv
PHOTO JACOB LEPORI
Making this magazine I woke up on what should have been a normal day. On the way to the bathroom I hit the doorpost with my knee and a nasty pain shoots through my entire thigh. A bit crippled I put the milk on - I love oatmeal in the morning - and when the dog walks in to say hello, I turn and I throw the pan with one perfect swing from the stove. I still find pieces of oatmeal. You know it is going to be one of those days. That same day one of my relatives died. And this one I liked. It turned out to be one of those weeks instead of one of those days. Last week I had to re pot the 2 centimetres high vegetable plants to prepare them for the full ground: I grow my own vegetables on the roof of the garage. It is a lot of work but I like working with my hands now and then. And it is so rewarding. Planting dry seeds in the ground and already after a few days they come to life by pushing their small green heads up from under the ground. The circle of life... Despite some of these consecutive days, I think this issue about women is one of the nicest magazines I ever made. Thanks to you guys. Keep inspiring the world as you inspire me. Peter Sikking
PHOTO LIESBETH VOGELZANG
Iceland March 8, 2019 - Reykjavik, Iceland. In just days Iceland’s Parliament is set to consider a bill that would give the world’s largest aquaculture corporations unfettered access to the country’s famously pristine rivers and fjords, with dire consequences for the environment and local aquatic life.
Threats 1. Pollution. Thousands of salmon are grown in crowded net pens, fed meal made from soybeans, ground-up feathers, genetically modified yeast, and chicken fat a diet rich in chemicals, drugs, and dyes. This mixes with concentrated fish feces and falls through nets, smothering and contaminating aquatic life.
2. Lice & disease. High densities of trapped fish are vulnerable to infestation by disease and parasites. Sea lice is the biggest threat. They feed on the mucus, blood, and skin of salmon, eating fins, eroding skin, and causing constant bleeding and deep open wounds—even death. They also attack wild baby salmon migrating to sea. These lice are typically removed before coming to market, so consumers don’t even know their food was infested. 3. Genetic contamination. Some farmed salmon inevitably escape their net pens. When these fish breed with wild salmon, they create hybrid offspring that are ill-equipped to survive. Wild eggs fertilized by farmed sal-mon equal lost eggs.
Facts FACT: The waste produced by raising approximately three pens’ worth of salmon creates the waste equivalent of 120,000 people. This is like dumping raw sewage from the entire city of Reykjavik into the ocean. FACT: 25% of farmed salmon die before harvest from disease and parasites. Can you imagine a farm where 1 out of every 4 cows died before maturing? FACT: Genes from farmed salmon affect timing of sexual maturity, size at sexual maturity and when returning from sea, and other factors that dramatically decrease wild salmon’s ability to survive in the wild.
Help us spread the word and sign the petition! SIGN HERE
YOU CAN FIND US AT:
Paula Shearer
shearing the passion
PSONTHEFLY.COM @PAULASHEARER FACEBOOK PHOTOS JAY JONES & JUSTIN SWAN
Paula Shearer Shearing the passion My love of fly fishing started at a young age. I would join my dad and uncles trolling flies on lakes, by 8 I had learned the basics of casting as well as the patience needed to untangle line. By the time I was in my late teens I had started fishing rivers, and that is where I found my passion.
The outdoors has played a huge part in my life, and because of this I advocate for others to get outside as well. With all of the amazing wilderness we have access to, it is so important to explore what is in our own backyard. It is this love that got me into guiding as a profession. I really enjoy getting people into fish and sharing that experience on the water with others, which is why guiding made the perfect fit. It is my chance to pass on my passion to other anglers.
Fishing isn’t just about what you catch, how many fish you land, or the size of the fish. It’s about the whole experience. Being able to appreciate and enjoy the environment around you is honestly the greatest reward. If I can help bring anyone outside and introduce them to all that it has to offer, then I consider that a success.
Jennifer Tatelman
Fly and Flow I crave any opportunity to get on the water and share this passion with others, specifically women. Women are key to the future of the fly fishing industry. More women are finding the beauty behind fly fishing as well as the thrill of the take. We’re seeing more women on the water gravitating towards many different roles in the industry: conservationists, guides, entrepreneurs, artists, and industry leaders. While female involvement is increasing in numbers, opportunity is still essential for further growth.
WEBSITE INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK
PHOTOS BY HOBIE BOESCHENSTEIN
While I grew up with a familiarity of fly fishing for striped bass from my father, it wasn’t until 2009 that I first picked up a fly rod. My first fish on the fly was a bonefish in beautiful Bahamas. I still remember it like it was yesterday. The immense frustration of not being able to spot the grey ghosts or reach them with my beginner’s cast finally broke. I laid into my first bonefish and never looked back. That trip ignited something in me that I carried home. From then on, my summer mornings were spent waking up before sunrise to chase stripers. I quickly figured out that being surrounded by a striper blitz was one of my favorite things in life and still is to this day. Fly fishing has since become a lifelong passion. I now dream of chasing Golden Dorado in South America -- and my fly fishing destination bucket list goes off the page.
ADDICTED Fly fishing remains to be challenging time and time again, which is what makes it so rewarding and addictive. I often reflect on my fly fishing journey as an angler and what I’ve discovered about myself beyond my love for fly fishing and landing “the one.” I’m driven by the journey, the unknown, optimism, and ultimately self awareness and discovery. Fishing is so much more than just catching. Tight Lines~
Harpa Hlin Thordardottir
‘Life is better when you fish’
WEBSITE
Harpa Hlin Thordardottir INTERVIEW
Who doesn’t dream of a fly fishing trip to Iceland? I know I do! Excellent reason for an interview with Harpa Hlin Thordardottir from Iceland Outfitters.
What is your profession? I am a fishing and hunting outfitter in Iceland. Together with my husband, Stefán Sigurdsson, we own a travel agency that focuses on fishing and hunting tours.
Why do you do what you do? There is nothing in the world I would rather be doing. I often think about this and how fortunate we are to have been able to combine our passion for fishing and hunting and turn it into a profession. Not only do we love being out in the open, it is also so rewarding to be a part of the experiences and victories of our guests, and often their enjoyment is even better than landing our own fish. Our slogan for Iceland Outfitters is “Life is better when you fish”, and we truly believe that. People who fish and hunt and spend their free time in the great outdoors are happy and respectful people and we have made many great friends over the years through our fishing and hunting.
What means being part of nature and fly fishing for you? It is a lifestyle. There is nothing better and for me, it just gets better and better. As soon as I gained enough confidence and experience to go fishing on my own and not to be dependent on someone else it made the whole experience more rewarding and fulfilling. I prefer going fishing with someone and often I take our three children for an afternoon of fishing after work. During the season, my husband is usually busy on the rivers with guests but we also go together whenever we can. Our oldest, 17-year-old Matthias, is a really good fly fisherman and he plans on guiding for us in the near future. We encourage him to go fishing as often as possible, and he does. Our two younger ones like to come with us, not so much for the fishing yet, but they create their own adventures in nature and take care of our picnic. We all love fishing and I think it is a perfect way to relax, away from daily stress and phones (we do however take them with us, for photos as well as for security). I also love how passionate we get, we are excited, happy for ourselves and each other, sometimes envious, nervous and sad but mostly happy and on top of the world. A fishing day is always well spent; even if we don’t catch anything, we learn something, and being in nature recharges us mentally.
Possibilities, guides and prices We have about 100 salmon rivers in Iceland and even more trout/char fishing lakes and rivers, so there are endless options. Prices can be low BUT, Iceland is an expensive country and it will always be expensive to travel in Iceland. We do not arrange tours without a guide, fishing with a guide makes sure you find the right river and the best pools, and you fish them correctly, with the right flies and weight. As every angler knows, time FLIES when fishing so if you have a guide you are not spending valuable fishing time finding the spots and getting to know the river. It is very easy not ever finding the good pools if you do not know where to go. So, if you are already spending your time and money on coming over to Iceland for fishing, get a guide! To save money, I rather advise people to fish 4 days instead of 5 and to share a guide between 3 or 4 anglers.
The best time and limits Best time for sea trout is April, September and October Best time for brown trout and char is summer - June, July, August Best time for searun arctic char is July - September Best time for Salmon is June - September, depending on river There are many good options, but for most fishing in Iceland there is a limited number of rods on each venue, and usually the best spots get booked many months in advance. Still, there are many options, and we can always find something that fits your liking and your budget.
Catch and release? Most of our best river fishing is now catch and release. Sometimes you are allowed to take some of the smaller fish but most anglers visiting Iceland for fly fishing release all fish they catch, be it salmon, trout or char.
PACKRAFTING
Ultra light adventure WEBSITE
From Alvdal in Hedmark county Norway, you can make a fantastic fly fishing trip on the river Glomma. This part of the river holds nice grayling and trout but is too deep for wading. Excellent stretch for a packraft fishing tour. CAMPING LANGODDEN GARD
From Rena Fishing Camp you can make excellent trips fishing for big trout and grayling. TIP: Take a streamer rod with you (pike). RENA FISHING CAMP
PHOTO PETER SIKKING
SPRING IS IN THE AIR The urge to go outside, pick up the dog (I have a small dog) and my fly rod, is getting stronger and stronger lately. It has little to do with spring, because I like all weather types, as long as it includes a fly rod, but the change to warmer weather does help.
Personally I like to get away from it all for a few days. Even from fishing buddies. It gives me the opportunity to concentrate on me, myself and I. And I need that from time to time. Preferably I float down a river or roam a large lake where I spend the night on one of the many islands. That means I need a boat. A boat that is large enough for a 3-day trip. Including backpack and a dog. The boat must be inflatable and has to fit in or on my backpack. Over the years I have tried almost everything. But lately I only use my packraft. For those who don’t know what a packraft is, keep reading because they are awesome!
A packraft, what is in a name, is a very light but extremely strong inflatable boat / raft that you can use, depending on the model, on calm water and, without any problem, on wild water.
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RODUCTS Packrafts are available in different sizes and weights Ultralight, Universal and Performance. Check out the product overview (next page). For Europe, checkout the Anfibio website. For the USA check out Kokopelli or Alpackaraft. Special thanks to Sven Schellin from Anfibio Germany Anfibio is both manufacturer and dealer as well as service provider.
‘Mans best fishing friend’
The first time I brought a dog along on a camping trip there was little more available than a dog blanket. The first “doggy bag� I used I made myself. I simply shortened an old sleeping bag.
PHOTO PETER SIKKING
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOGS AND CAMPING....CHECK OUT THE LINK ABOVE!
Fly Lords The question is no longer whether you should take your dog on a fishing trip but rather which breed is most suitable for a few days in the wild. The Fly Lords made a list of the seven best fly fishing dogs. Check it out!
CHECK OUT THE FLY LORDS
photo Clay McClure
Rebekka Red Choosing a “fly fishing dog” is one. Taking the dog with you on a trip is another. He or she has to learn a lot more than an average ‘house dog’. Rebekka Red wrote a nice article about teaching a dog to become a fly fishing dog
CHECK OUT REBEKKA RED
photo Rebekka Redd
SHYANNE ORVIS
@SHYANNEORVIS
@SIDNEYRENEE418
SHYANNEORVIS.COM PHOTOS JACOB LEPORI
The Calm to the Chaos Reflecting back on my childhood as a young girl, I never had much interest in the hobbies that most girls participated in. Instead, I would spend hours roaming the thick, Michigan woods behind our small mobile home - only coming back when it was too dark to see. Arriving at the front door, with a dirty dress and cold feet. I always gravitated towards the sports that the neighborhood boys would do. Skateboarding, dirt biking, football and building jumps to hit on my bike. It seemed much more exciting than my Barbies.
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hen the weekends came, my parents would bring me along on their fishing excursions. From dawn till dusk, passionate they were, I’d watch while they hooked into salmon to take home for dinner. I spent my early years conventional fishing with my parents. My entire family has been obsessed for generations, with my grandfather being the only fly fisherman in the family. He had owned a small fishing business on Lake Michigan. No, not the company Orvis. While I am often asked of the relation, I suppose I can clarify. I am a descendant of Roger who was Charles Orvis’ brother, and while Orvis was sold in the 60s, I’d like to think the heritage and passion for fishing runs through my blood.
IN PEACE WITH NATURE AND MYSELF I was introduced to the sport by my grandfather but didn’t really find the passion for it until later. When I was twelve, due to unfortunate circumstances at home, I began moving around a lot, living in different places with different families. When I got into high school is when I really started to discover my passion for fishing. I had a friend who often went fly fishing with her family and she kindly showed me the way into the sport. Her passion and love for the sport was contagious and inspired me on my own journey! Then when I had turned 18 and moved to Colorado, I was able explore that world on my own. I dove head first into the sport of fly fishing. Some friends taking me under their wing and showing me the ropes. It was my own version of fishing then what I had known as a child. I found myself at peace when I was on the river. In the midst of a challenging childhood, fishing is what kept me grounded and in some ways even healed me. It was the calm to the chaos.
Laura Lykke Mathiasen
21 year old FFI Certified Two-Handed Casting Instructor
AS THE TWIG IS BENT I started fishing when I was about 4 years old. Fishing, and being outside discovering nature, has always been my thing. Both of my parents fished a lot when I was young, and they introduced me to this amazing sport where being outside and fishing go hand in hand.
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ix years later, when I was about 10 years old, I started fly fishing. Mostly dry fly fishing for grayling and brown trout. Afterwards I tried out the two-handed rod for salmon and sea trout and almost instantly fell in love with it.
TWO HANDED I have always loved the fact that it’s possible for me to improve my skills in terms of fly fishing, fly casting and fly tying. A couple of years ago I started training for the Fly fishers International Two-Handed Casting Instructor Certification. The main reason was a desire to help others improve their casting while at the same time improving my own skills. I think that fishing is a lot more fun if your casting technique works. Long story short, I passed my exam and today I teach casting courses for groups and individuals and I am loving it. Today most of my life is about fly fishing and it means the world to me. I’m proud of being an ambassador for Zpey fishing, as well as for Geoff Anderson, who produce clothing in a sustainable manner. If you want you are welcome to follow my fly fishing life and adventures on my Facebook-page: Fly fishing by Laura Lykke Mathiasen and on my Instagram: lauramathiasen.”
Sha Juniper Orton
Wading my way into fly fishing has been one of the best things to happen to me!
PHOTOS BY TJ ORTON & REBECA GRANILO
I had recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Adventure Leadership when my husband introduced me to the sport of fly-fishing. My education had allowed me to do all sorts of adventuring outside, but fishing slipped under the radar. I had no idea what I was getting myself into back then.
ROUGH The first few months were rough. I spent hours casting in cold temperatures, getting all tangled or snagged up, while often getting skunked. The knots drove me crazy and I couldn’t keep track of what flies to use. As time has gone on though, the soothing river, comfort of my waders and feisty fish have all become a sweet familiarity to me. I’m not a fishing guide and I don’t work for a fly shop. That isn’t my role with the sport. Instead, I actively encourage women and mamas to get outdoors so that they may have a chance at creating a more adventurous, strong and healthy dynamic for their families. This immensely matters to me.
Fly-fishing has been one of the best things to happen to me. I picked it up out of curiosity for the hunt and now keep going back for the adventure, confidence & spark it gives me. I love going out with my family and friends and will forever spend my days wading around fishy waters and chasing tail!
Liesbeth Vogelzang
The flying dutch....woman
PHOTOS BY LIESBETH VOGELZANG & HEINO TIMMERMAN
‘VOGELZANG’ Liesbeth and I meet maybe three or four times a year. Mostly at fairs or at our local fly fishing shop. Together with her husband Heino she fishes the coastal waters in her home land (the Netherlands) and travels the world in search of beautiful places where she uses both rod and camera. Her last name Vogelzang means: ‘bird song’. And although I’ve never heard her sing, she is always enthusiastic and in a very good mood. Must be the name.
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ater, especially salt water, has always played a large role in my life. Born and raised at the coast, I took my first fishing steps under tutelage of my father. He learned me the way of the sea.
Being part of the DWFF (Dutch Women Fly Fishing – a female-only group) involves fishing with the other ladies at least once a month. We try to keep our get-togethers as inspiring as possible - from fishing small creeks to putand-take ponds, and of course the surf.
Together with the IWFF (International Women Fly Fishing – also a female-only group) I recently took a trip to Baja California. And before -in 2013 - we went to Iceland. Great trips!
WE ARE FLY FISHING Join the feeling!
Why? Many people ask me ‘why fly fishing’? The answer is simple:‘for me fly fishing is the most enjoyable way to be part of nature and there is no other way of fishing where I feel so completely integrated in this nature as with a fly fishing rod in my hands’. ‘I like the learning curve. I like the diversity and a like the additional hobby: fly tying. I like the discussions we have about flies. About lines and about the right whiskey for the job. The pleasure in tying that special pattern and imaging the furious take from a GT or an almost invisible nibble from a brown trout. And all this miles away from any water. Just from my lazy chair. I like the language we use. Like tapered leader, extended bodies and egg sucking leeches. I like the fact that nobody but us, fly fishermen, have a clue what we are talking about. Together with meeting all kinds of people, making friends for live and integrate with nature, is why I am a fly fishing man’!
A BIT IRRITATED....YES! two months ago 18 million people liked an egg on instagram. Just a normal egg. Nothing special about it. Clever arranged, yes. But all the same: just an egg. It is surely easy to like something that has no purpose at all. You do not need an opinion, a voice or a brain for that mather. Just blindly follow everybody else.
Mediocrity
It sneeked in. Mediocrity. It has a lot to do with prosperity, with wealth...I think it’s time to say goodbye to mediocrity. Because I am convinced that this is one of the reasons that our planet is in the condition it is
People who fly fish
So my hope is focused on you. And on your friends and family. Because I think people who fly fish have perseverance, vision and are willing to cooperate. They are used to a learning curve. Exactly the qualities needed to stand out above the average!
2 likes for we are fly fishing
The last time I looked there were at least 2 “likes” on instagram / facebook. One from a family member and an other from a friend. And I understand. I really do. Because liking we are fly fishing means something. It means you have an opinion. An opinion about things that really matter. It means you give a shi%#. It means you are aware. Aware on multiple levels. It means you understand the importance of cooperation. That working together is the only way to make a difference! Or you can stay where you are.... liking eggs.... Peter Sikking Instagram: @weareflyfishing Facebook: weareflyfishing web: weareflyfishing.com
PLANS
ORGANIZING FLY FISHING CAMPS For 2019 we start in Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands. Read more..
SUPPORTING FLY FISH RELATED CHARITIES
EDUCATING CHIL-
We support several fly-fish related charities, fly fishing schools,guides and startups. Read more..
Creating awareness at primary schools through interactive
2019
DREN PRIMARY presentations. Read more..
MAKING THE CAST AWAY MAGAZINE
REACHING OUT TO FLY FISH RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
We continue with our Cast Away magazine made by young fly-fishing enthusiasts around the world. How you can get involved? Read more..
We help fly-fishing related companies, clubs and organizations with their (visual) content. Read more..
A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS IT ALL The original drawing on the back of every T-shirt differs per color, and is a characteristic expression of us as flyfishermen.
WEAR WHAT YOU ARE BE WHO YOU ARE DESTINED TO BE! ASK YOUR LOCAL FLY SHOP FOR DETAILS
Alyssa Hall
Happenstance and wanderlust
WEB
PHOTOS NEIL STRICKLAND
PURPOSE AND HAPINESS Happenstance and wanderlust led me to take a job at a shop in Ft. Smith, Montana eight years ago. It was in this remote and fishing-obsessed town where fly fishing became lodged in my mind, body and soul. I met my husband in this town, a man with whom I’ve guided, ran a fly shop, and traveled to strange and beautiful places with a goal of coming eye-to-eye with elusive fish. In pursuit, I find purpose, and happiness flows freely.
NEW ADDICTION The salt is my new addiction, a full one eighty from everything familiar. I’ve spent weeks searching for Roosterfish in the Sea of Cortez, hunting Trevally and Bonefish on the flats of Kiritimati Atoll. With every sunrise, my mind dances with possibility and delight. No good thing comes easily on the fringes of the ocean, and the more I accept this, the more I find myself thinking of my journey in terms of decades instead of years. It seems I’m committed to a lifetime of endless pursuit. As I look into the eyes of each fish landed, I find another challenge lying in wait.
EARLY MORNING I execute an off-shoulder
Snap-T and cast my fly – a concoction of fur, feathers, and flash – across the current. The words of an old man, “Good luck to you,” hang in the frosty air as the sound of his footsteps falls away behind me. Swinging flies with a spey rod in small-town Wyoming, I often find myself engaged in conversations with curious locals. Mend, step, swing. A tap, a take, and my reel begins to sing as a nice trout makes his way toward the tailout with my streamer in tow. No one is around to see my luck turn, but I feel the buzz of timing and placement aligning. It is moments like these that draw me to fly fishing.
Glacial blue Steelhead Washington came first, chasing Steelhead in
rivers blue with glacial silt, picking our way through ancient forests along elk trails. Simple living – a one room cabin with a woodstove, tying flies late into evenings, the constant sound of rain on a metal roof. Fish were few and far between, and each one was a triumph of skill and patience. During my time here, I grew to love fly fishing for a host of new reasons. The challenge of the hunt ceased to discourage me, and rather became my drive. I had no intention of guiding until I did. We moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming in 2014, a banner year for tricos, cicadas, and grasshoppers. Teaching has always been my strong suit, and with great fish numbers and excellent hatches, I fell easily into running guided trips. Soon, my hunger for catching waned a little more, while my love for interacting with rivers grew daily. Fly fishing is a constant reminder to stay present.
ABLE WOMAN FLY FISH Able Women is a public outreach initiative designed to spread the word about fly fishing and the many emotional, physical and spiritual benefits it brings to women. Fly fishing teaches independence, strength, and creativity. It is a sport very much defined by grace. And who understands grace better than a woman? Fly fishing binds us to astoundingly beautiful creatures that live in remarkably beautiful places. And fly fishing binds us – perhaps most importantly of all – to our inner, most beautiful selves.
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Able Women is an federally recognized 501(c)(3) Colorado non-profit organization. All proceeds go to the Able Women Foundation, Inc.
REBEKKA REDD
FACEBOOK WEB
Rebekka Redd
True love When I was 8 years old I was introduced to fishing by my eldest brother. There was no doubt that at that time I started my passion of fishing. I picked up my first fly rod at about age 14, and then I knew I had found the one true love in my life.
The gateway to my soul My fly rod has been the gateway to my soul – it has taught me about the depths of who I am, it’s been my shrink, and it’s been my parachute! Most of all it’s been my addiction. My fly fishing “addiction” has helped me heal over loss of loved ones , including my eldest brother , to helping me inspire others to live life fully and to pursue their passions.
The love for water I believe I was born with a love for water, the outdoors, and fishing. By the time I could walk, I was mesmerized by the creek that flowed along my family’s farm, and the frogs, minnows and bugs that inhabited there. These days I fish beyond NorthAmerica, in freshwater / saltwater systems around the world. I really enjoy the waters of the Orinoco River in Colombia. It’s rogue water system is intensely filled with fish, especially peacock bass.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Henk Verhaar - Sven Schellin - Paula Shearer - Sha Juniper Orton - Alyssa Hall - Rebekka Redd Liesbeth Vogelzang - Harpa Hlin Thordardottir - Shyanne Orvis - Claire Unda - Jennifer Tatelman