Spring slips by and before you know it you're on a plane heading home. Easter Sunday 2008 marks the day that I started embracing my journey to Europe to attend several angling and fly-fishing shows, promoting women in fly fishing. Reflecting back to each fair attended is like revisiting a well done stage play, where the play ends and only a strong memory is left. The role of Goodwill Ambassador of International Women Fly Fishers has offered me the opportunity to watch women in the sport of fly fishing evolve in several European countries. I am sure I have evolved along the way as well, there was a time where I could not imagine myself standing on a podium demonstrating what we call 'casting' to a spectrum of people. Looking back at the results these last couple of months is like looking at magic and wonder how it was performed, it makes me smile.

I began my round of angling shows with the attendance of VISMA held in Rotterdam during the period of March 27 - 30; what holds special significance of this show was the announcement of the first women fly only club by the pioneers of the club, Andrea and Ellen of Forellenvisvijver de Bernisse. It is at Visma where we sat down and started the first outline giving shape of the 'Fly Only Club for Women of the Netherlands'. For me it marked an achievement to watch the women rally forward in starting a club for women that will create a safe environment to come together and learn from each other about the skills and sport of fly-fishing. The first meeting was held May 10th at Forellenvisvijver de Bernisse in Geervliet, Forellenvisvijver de Bernisse is a trout fishery owned and operated by the women Andrea and Ellen.

May 10th will be forever etched in my memory; a day marked by bubbles, sunshine and new women angling friends. Ellen and Andrea had invited the community at large to join and celebrate the first gathering of women interested in starting the 'Fly Only Club for Women '. Andrea and Ellen welcomed the group and I followed the welcoming with a letter from J.W. Leeuweburg, private secretary to Her Royal Highness, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. I had written her an invitation, because of her other obligations the Princess was not able to attend but in the letter sent she gave her best wishes for a successful event. The event was indeed successful, we celebrated the day with champagne and the day was punctuated with casting instruction, fly tying demonstrations from the WC Spijkenisse and DAAFT fly fishing clubs. The men were wonderful with the women and provided support and encouragement. To top off the day, Wim van Montfoort presented a PowerPoint program on the Oostvoomse Meer; it was informative and appreciated by the attending audience.

This wonderful new women's fly-fishing club is now in the process of developing a 'Casting for Recovery Retreat' for women who are recovering from breast cancer. This is the club to join if you want to be part of evolving as a female angler and be part of worthwhile projects such as 'Casting for Recovery'; giving back to the world or in this case the community at large.

For further information of the club you can visit: www.forellenplasdebernisse.nl or email Ellen and Andrea at info@forellenplasdebernisse.nl.
For information in regards to International Women of Fly Fishers (IWFF, www.intlwomenflyfishers.org)
Please visit the website for current festival information and registration. Benefits as a member of IWFF you will receive 4 newsletters each year connecting you with other women who fly fish and women's fly fishing clubs. 'Fly Only Club for Women' is now included in the club directory of IWFF, it is an honour to see the Netherlands with a club listing. I look forward to adding more fledging European clubs to the list.