Creating Space On The Water: How Richmond Fly Women Is Redefining What Fly Fishing Looks Like in Virginia

The Fly Box LLC
2d
5 min read

This feature was written by The Fly Box and published in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.

Casts That Care delivers real stories, deep dives, and the heart of the fly fishing world while donating 50 percent of all subscription fees to a different fishing-related nonprofit each month. For February, those funds will support Her Waters, Inc.

use code "Richmond25" to get 25% off your first month AND we will donate 15% more to our Charity Of The Month!

Join Here.

A Cold Morning That Changed Everything

Richmond Fly Women did not begin as a formal organization. It began on a freezing December morning in Covington, Virginia. Four women gathered for a trout class with guides from Current Culture. For many of them, it was the first time fishing together. For some, it was the first time fishing with other women at all.

It turned out to be more than a lesson in trout tactics.

They laughed constantly. They cheered for one another’s fish. They helped net, untangle, and troubleshoot without ego. The atmosphere felt different from what many of them had previously experienced in fly fishing spaces.

Before that day ended, they made a simple promise: in the spring, they would fish the James River together in downtown Richmond.

That next trip produced zero fish. But it confirmed something important. Fishing with women felt powerful. It felt natural. It felt like something that should exist on a larger scale.

They searched for a local group in Richmond to join.

There wasn’t one.

So they built one.

What began as an Instagram account and a handful of planned meetups has grown rapidly. In April, Richmond Fly Women celebrates its first anniversary.

“We Just Really Like to Fish”

Their bio captures the spirit of the group in one line: “We just really like to fish.”

It is straightforward and unpretentious. It is also intentional.

The community now includes women ranging from their teens to their seventies. They represent different professions, backgrounds, and belief systems. What binds them together is not a shared aesthetic or ideology, but a shared passion for time on the water.

The culture is positive and supportive. Success is celebrated collectively. Failures are laughed off. There is no posturing and no pressure to perform.

And they do not fit the traditional mold.

Many members wear glitter. They play ’90s rap on the boat. They often prefer warmwater species like bass over trout. But none of that diminishes their seriousness about the craft.

They care deeply about ethical, responsible angling. They respect the resource. They put in the work to improve.

They simply refuse to let a narrow stereotype define what a fly angler should look like.

Anyone can fish.

Lowering the Barrier to Entry

Fly fishing can feel intimidating, especially for beginners or for people who do not see themselves reflected in traditional fly fishing culture.

Richmond Fly Women set out to change that.

One of the largest barriers new anglers face is cost. Quality rods, reels, lines, and travel add up quickly. Experimenting with different rod weights and targeting different species can require multiple setups.

The group’s long-term vision includes creating a lending library of fly fishing gear. The goal is to allow women to borrow rods and equipment, experiment with different weights and brands, and fish for a variety of species before making major financial commitments.

Beyond that, they hope to help women afford fishing trips and expand access to opportunities that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Access is not an afterthought. It is central to their mission.

Building Confidence Through Events

Events are the foundation of Richmond Fly Women.

The group hosts at least one on-the-water meetup each month in and around the Richmond area. These gatherings allow members to explore new water, meet potential fishing partners, and build confidence in unfamiliar environments.

Richmond Fly Women At Casting Events, Festivals, and Galentines-day Celebrations

Fishing alone can be intimidating and, in some cases, unsafe. By creating structured meetups, the group provides a space where women can learn, practice, and grow alongside others.

They also host fly tying nights, which offer a different kind of connection. In a world crowded with work demands, family responsibilities, and digital distractions, a few hours around a tying table becomes meaningful. It is time to focus, talk, and connect over a shared craft.

Members describe the group as a tribe.

A support system.

A place to step away from daily chaos and return to something grounding.

Growth Beyond Expectation

When the four founders first launched Richmond Fly Women, they expected a small circle. Maybe five women who would meet regularly to fish and tie flies.

Instead, interest grew quickly.

Richmond Fly Women, Fly Tying and Fishing Events

What began as a modest meetup group revealed a much larger demand for community. The response made one thing clear: women in the Richmond area were looking for this.

Faced with that momentum, the founders made a decision.

They would lean in.

Welcoming Without Competition

Maintaining a low-pressure environment while still helping members grow is intentional.

Fun is the baseline. Everyone is still learning. Skill levels vary, and that variation is embraced rather than judged.

There is no competition for who catches the most fish. No hierarchy based on gear. No gatekeeping around knowledge.

Richmond Fly Women, Fly Tying and Fishing Events

As the group becomes more established, the founders plan to partner with guides and organizations to expand the educational offerings. But the core will remain the same: supportive women spending time together on the water.

The growth in confidence happens naturally.

Rediscovering Identity Through Community

For co-founder Bri Winter, the impact of Richmond Fly Women is personal.

After becoming a mother, much of her identity centered on her children. As they grew older and more independent, she realized that many of her adult friendships had quietly faded.

Fishing changed that.

Richmond Fly Women gave her a renewed sense of identity and belonging.

“I am a mom... But I am also a fly angler.”

That dual identity matters.

Groups like this create space for women to reconnect with themselves outside of work, outside of parenting, and outside of expectation. In a time when isolation is common, shared outdoor experiences become more than recreation. They become restoration.

Looking Forward

The vision for Richmond Fly Women extends well beyond monthly meetups.

The founders hope to continue growing their community and collaborating with other outdoor groups across Virginia. Long term, they aim to become a nonprofit organization, which would allow them to raise more funds and expand programming.

Their aspirations include working not only with women, but also with children and aging populations.

The mission remains simple and consistent.

They love to fish.

And they want to create more access to that lifestyle for others.

Why It Matters Now

At a time when much of life is filtered through screens, outdoor communities matter.

Fishing demands presence. It encourages conversation. It requires stepping away from notifications and into real water.

In a sport historically dominated by men, spaces like Richmond Fly Women provide visibility, safety, and encouragement for women entering the sport or looking to deepen their involvement.

Virginia offers abundant opportunities to get outside. The more people who feel confident accessing those spaces, the healthier the broader fly fishing culture becomes.

Richmond Fly Women is not just a meetup group.

It is proof that when space does not exist, you can create it.