A multitude of lamps shone on vises clamped tightly on long rod hooks as fly tyers crowded around a back table at Ecusta Brewing to wind yarn and attach rubbery tabs on the creation of the day: a Girdle Bug, a large spider insect finds big trout delicious—until it’s too late.

Each seat was occupied by fly tyers. Space-deprived tyers sat on bar stools (and sipped craft beer) to watch who was doing what and how.

Welcome to the Wednesday night women’s fly tying at Brevard.

Weekly sessions at Ecusta Brewing on the east side of town are a seasonal ode to what can only be described as an explosion of interest in fly fishing by women. Indeed, the participation of these women who tie flies – and throw these surreal insects on the streams of the county of Transylvania – is the local embodiment of a national trend that represents the fastest growing segment – by far – of a multi-million dollar industry.

pull a chair

The Pisgah Area Women’s Fly Fishing Group has run the October-February Winter Series in Ecusta for nearly five years (COVID-19 crimped at in-person gatherings, but Zoom calls filled the void until recently. Even then, 10 or more women composed in each week.) The group formed to support and encourage women to venture into the sport, including the intricacies of tying their own flies. Tyers and non-bonding spectators get to know other local women who are already avid fly-fishermen or novices ready for the first dip of their boots in the cold waters of the fish-filled Davidson and French Broad rivers and d other regional waterways. (The group of nearly 500 members is very active on Facebook).

Debbie Gillespie, the Wednesday night host and professional guide for seven years at Davidson River Outfitters, said yes, tie-selling is a draw, but what also draws women is “that they go with the intention of making friends and making connections with the fishery. I think a lot of people who come want to fish with other women and have a fishing buddy. Many participants, she said, don’t show up to tie, but find their interest piqued and end up fly-fishing.

Gillespie ties several of his own flies and calls the tying “quite relaxing. It slows me down and cools me down.

“Relaxing” is one of many recurring themes among editors.

Nicole Gorry, from Pisgah Forest, has only been fishing for a few months but has become a Wednesday night regular.

“My New Year’s resolution was to fly fish and meet new people,” she said. “It’s relaxing and fun.”

Her friend Erica Zaveta, from Brevard, called the Wednesday night concerts “a great and fun group of people. You are not intimidated”, because fly tying is taught step by step.

Tyers bring their own gear or use lights, vises and other materials provided by Davidson River Outfitters and Headwaters Outfitters.

Gillespie sees another tangent within the group: the editors also tie for their husbands. “My male clients say ‘my wife doesn’t fish but she would like to,'” she said, a positive sign that men will actively introduce their wives to the sport.

Debunking the big myth

As noted above, another oft-repeated theme on Wednesday nights: less bullying. This factor, plus a supportive, non-competitive environment, is a plus for most women.

To be sure, Gillespie said fly fishing has elements that can create resistance among beginners.

“Padding can be daunting and (the act of fly casting) is technical,” she said, due to handling “small lines and flies.” But we provide an environment where women don’t have to be intimidated.”

A short cast of 8 to 12 feet will put a fly in front of hungry trout. Long, sleek castings worthy of the hit 1992 film “A River Runs Through It”? Never.

That men should rule water also raises eyebrows for some women. “Women are naturally better at fly fishing” than men, said Mary Bradford of Rosman.

Where men might try to muscle up the lines or go long for the fun of the long throw, women have finer motor skills. The whipped rods and supple lines themselves reward delicate casting.

“Women have more finesse, not just slapping on the water,” says Steph Adams. Fly fishing is “not brute force”. As veteran angles know, snapping lines and flies can scare off wary fish.

Bradford and Adams should know. Both are experienced local stream regulars. Bradford has been fishing for eight years and alternates between two and five weight rods, and Adams is often seen carefully handling large trout before releasing the river monsters.

Samantha “Sam” Miranda, who cast flies for three years and tied for two, added another touch that anglers of all stripes can relate to: It’s fun, but there’s “more a sense of accomplishment in catching fish on your own fly”.

Closing the gender gap

Thus, fly fishing is no longer a domain reserved for men. Far from there. Women rushed through that door and pushed it aside.

Case in point: Maxine McCormick, the world women’s fly-casting champion, is a teenage girl from Indiana. She also beat all but one entrant in the men’s division – her coach. In what may be world record prices, salmon flies made by the late English master Megan Boyd fetched over $15,000 – per fly. Boyd’s regular clientele included Prince Charles.

Closer to home, in Transylvania County, women make up an ever-increasing percentage of fly-fishing trips to local shops. Gillespie estimates that 40% of her customers are women, while Jessica Whitmire of Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman puts her boutique total at more than 50%. Both are higher than in past years.

National fly fishing industry statistics reflect what is seen locally. The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) reports a huge increase in the number of women fly fishing, enough to partially offset an overall decline in fishing participation. The RBFF said “in 2019, the gender gap in fishing participation continued to close”. He estimated that 22 percent of female fly fishers were beginners just as overall fishing participation nationwide is declining.

“Category participation has increased the most,” the organization said.

Even a New York Times article cited RBFF statistics that women make up nearly a third of fly anglers in the United States.

Industry listening

It’s no wonder the dramatic influx of women into the sport has caught the attention of fly fishing apparel and equipment manufacturers, albeit a bit late.

While Gillispie said “the industry is doing a better job of growing the sport”, gear makers have relied on superficial elements in a less than comprehensive initial attempt to attract business from women.

“I was here placing orders when companies missed the mark,” Whitmire said. “They did things in pink and teal and that’s not what women wanted. We want (clothes, thigh high boots, boots, etc.) that fit well.

Since those early stumbles, the industry has taken the women’s category seriously, according to Whitmire, by hiring female designers and more aggressively promoting the sport to women.

“I think anytime you have an industry, women are going to demand changes for the better,” she said.

The industry also mirrored what Brevardians see in the “welcoming” tone of the Wednesday night sessions.

“We demanded that it be more welcoming” not just to women, Whitmire said, but to people of color, the LGBT community and other underserved communities.

And now it’s time to fish

The Wednesday evening conclaves at Ecusta have concluded for the winter season, although the women’s group Pisgah is preparing the spring program to be posted on social media.

For now, however, it’s time for members to test their flies – and their skills – on the water.

The Pisgah Area Women’s Fly Fishing Group organizes many outings annually for beginners and experienced anglers and is equally willing to buddy up anglers. The group stresses that no experience is necessary. Just be prepared to have fun and enjoy the water.

The most up-to-date information can be found on the band’s Facebook page or call Gillespie at (828) 488-7665 or Whitmire at (828) 877-3106.