Our group arrived in Anchorage the day before our charter flight, giving us time to enjoy one of the trails along the coastline and brunch together before our scheduled charter flight to Iliamna. Once in Iliamna, we took a float plane to the lodge.

Copper River Lodge itself offers stunning views and accommodations from the hillside along the Copper. Daily flyout options include sections of the Copper River and other area rivers and lakes. These include many of the areas you have read about as well as some of the lesser known areas.

Christian Bacasa, speaks with Steph, Connie, and Bonnie about the adventures they have had due to the female angler-specific organization Finatical Fly Fishing.  The owner and operator Stephanie will share her perspectives alongside two former guests doing the same.

From time to time we like to introduce you to some of the amazing women in flyfishing today. Meet Kristin Wing! She was a participant in the 2022 Sun Valley, Idaho trip and Finatical Flyfishing is honored to have her write and submit this blog.

Years ago I had the opportunity to serve on the founding board for Colorado Women Flyfishers. At the time, I was a recent college graduate who had just relocated to Denver. Like so many volunteer opportunities, serving on this board brought much more to my life than I was ever able to give to it. Lifelong friendships, new adventures and a new community that welcomed a young woman moving into the next phase of  life.

We had two fantastic groups join us on the Green River this year, and both did incredibly well. It was an honor to welcome so many returning Finatical Flyfishing clients—some who met on past trips and others who were brand new. Even more special? Watching friendships blossom between women who had fished with us internationally and those who'd joined us for domestic adventures. That’s the magic of these trips—great fishing, even better company.

Guides work incredibly hard to make an honest living and show you a great day in their favorite spots. Many of them have chosen to live near the fishing they love because of their passion for the river, the fish and the lifestyle. They are up early prepping the gear, picking up or making lunches and driving to meet you at the designated location. After they drop you off, they are cleaning boats and gear, gathering intel from other guides or the fly shop and in some cases driving a longer distance home than you might be.  On their days off they are often found fishing to find the next ‘secret spot’ they might take you too.

From time to time we like to introduce you to some of the amanzing women in flyfishing today. Karlie Roland has had a passion for flyfishing her entire life. Growing up in a fishing family any vacation was centered on the water. She’s a fourth generation angler on the Henry’s Fork, and never takes that for granted. She started her flyfishing career at Fins and Feathers in Bozeman and then moved to Seattle to work for Emerald Water Anglers.

From time to time Finatical Flyfishing likes to focus on some of the amazing women in flyfishing today. We’d like to introduce you to Joni Kamerzel. She and her husband Kellan own two businesses in Bozeman, MT and are truly live the outdoor flyfishing life.

We had a truly special group of fourteen ladies join us on the Henry’s Fork this July. With hometowns ranging from Vermont to Southern California and all the way up the West Coast, it was one of our most diverse groups yet. Our differences in age, backgrounds, and geography made for incredibly rich conversations, plenty of laughter, and memorable evenings together.

From time to time we like to introduce you to some of the amazing women in flyfishing today. Meet Melissa Seyler! Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer and was encouraged by neighbor/friend Dr. Shauna Williams to apply to participate in Casting For Recovery’s annual retreat in Challis, ID. Shauna, a long time CFR volunteer with Casting for Recovery,  knew how much support, friendship and flyfishing fun Melissa would benefit from as a participant. In the beginning Melissa was apprehensive but she did apply and attend in 2010.

From time to time we like to introduce you to some of the amazing women in flyfishing. Meet Lily Bertram! Lily grew up in western North Carolina and when she had the chance to work for a friend of her Aunt’s in Punta Allen she jumped at it. She spent three seasons working at Cuzan Guest House for Sonja and Armando. She then became the lodge manager full time and Punta Allen became her permanent home.

From time to time we like to feature some of the great women in the flyfishing industry today. Meet Julie Meissner, based in Stanley, Idaho.

Julie was born and raised in central Oregon by a father who was the ski school director at Mt. Bachelor and a mother who taught outdoor programs for the community college in Bend. She grew up ski racing with her siblings in the winter and working in the family marina business at Odell Lake in the summer. It was the amazing snow and backcountry skiing that called Julie to Stanley, Idaho in 1981. She planned to stay one winter, working as a backcountry ski guide but has been in Idaho ever since.

Meet Ceci Harrington, operations manager at El Encuentro, and Ceci Beale, one of the owners of the lodge. We'll be heading back December 7-14, 2024 with a great group of ladies. Listen to trip details, fishing details and a few recaps from the last trip! If you missed the zoom click below to watch the recorded version: 

https://youtu.be/zX9GjyihBrQ?si=RjEFtgmSNZlryNMR

From time to time Finatical Flyfishing likes to introduce you to some of the amazing women in flyfishing today. The recent trip to Mangrove Cay Club in the Bahamas provided a great opportunity to get to know Liz Bain. Originally from Canada, Liz had a successful career in accounting and later software implementation as that industry unfolded.

Meet Amanda Bauman

From time to time we like to feature some of the amazing guides and leaders out there. 

Amanda Bauman is a born and bred Idaho native. After leaving to attend college in Montana, she was lured back to the Wood River Valley by the pull of family and a lifestyle she embraces.

One of the missions of Finatical Flyfishing is to highlight some of the women leading the fly-fishing industry today. There are some fabulous guides, women who own their own shops, and others in various segments of the industry. One segment of the industry that has deep ties to the roots of fly fishing, is bamboo rod making. Before the existence of graphite, before fiberglass, rods were built from bamboo. We may not consider what the making of a rod entails until we have the opportunity to watch the detailed process in action.

Join Sue Kerver and Steph as they talk about flyfishing, entrepreneurship, balance in life. 

ACH Transactions

With the cost of processing credit cards and new government regulations in 2022 surrounding Paypal, Zelle and other forms of electronic payment, ACH provides an improved lower-cost way to move funds electronically.

How does an ACH transaction work?

From time to time we like to introduce you to some of the amazing women in flyfishing today. 

The Green River near Pinedale, WY is a well-kept secret and so is Rusti Christensen, the only female guide in the area.  Rusti served in the Navy for 4 ½ years and then went to school at the University of Wyoming.  During the summer she worked at Hack’s Tackle and Outfitters in the shop and fished with the owner and head guide every evening. If she wasn’t improving her cast and techniques, she was learning to row from the best in the business. She continued her education and the next summer (2001) began her guiding career.

Blog by Steph Albano, June 2021

About this time each year, bamboo rod makers from across the country come together on the Henry’s Fork. If you visit Harriman State Park you can ‘meet the makers’, cast a few of their rods, and learn more about how this art form comes together. This year, Ron Knowles brought his bamboo drift boat along. As if the rods were not enough, this boat is a true example of how art and flyfishing often intersect.

Finatical Flyfishing was created to give women more choices for flyfishing travel, an opportunity to meet other women who fly fish and the chance to escape the rest of life and enjoy time on the water. Since the beginning, Finatical Flyfishing has enjoyed featuring women who are leading in the sport and the industry as examples for us all to learn from.

From time to time we like to feature some of the amazing women in fly-fishing today.  Amanda Bauman is a guide at Silver Creek Outfitters in Ketchum, Idaho and guides on Finatical Flyfishing’s September women’s trip. The Sun Valley, Idaho area has a multitude of great water. Silver Creek is very well known but the Big Wood is also a great fishery and Amanda is at the forefront to protect this river when she isn't guiding. 

From time to time we like to feature some of the amazing women in the flyfishing industry. Kris Millgate is an angler by passion and a journalist by profession. After working for a decade in TV news she founded Tight Line Media in 2006. “I hope to make a difference for our natural resources by helping people truly connect to them. We rarely stop to think about the resources under our feet. We are busy with work, kids’ hockey games and our lives. The wilderness is trying to make its way, with us in its way”, said Kris.

The Flyfishing Film Tour (F3T) aims to inspire us each year with amazing destinations, epic photo’s, anglers and catches. Then there is the raffle. Now that you are in the midst of a flyfishing frenzy, you’re hoping to win that amazing Seychelles trip and put all of this energy into landing some serious adventure.