WOMEN'S FLY FISHING FOR BEGINNERS #190803 Check-in starts at 4:00 p.m. Start: 8/12/2019 at 7:00 p.m. If you are running late please call us at End: 8/17/2019 at 5:00 p.m. 307.344.7749 Location: Lamar Buffalo Ranch Welcome to Yellowstone National Park. If you are a newcomer to the Yellowstone Forever Institute, you will be amazed at what awaits you during each day of exploration. We are glad that you are able to join us in Lamar Valley, a truly special place to call home while in Yellowstone! Our goal is to provide you with an enjoyable, high-quality educational experience and a safe and memorable visit to Yellowstone. The following information is provided to help you prepare for your program. Please read it thoroughly and call us at 406.848.2400 or email [email protected] if you have any questions. We recommend all first- time visitors seek general park information through the National Park Service at 307.344.2107 or www.nps.gov/yell. Important Information Included in this Document: ● Letter from Your Instructor ● What’s Included ● How to Prepare for this Program ● Suggested Reading ● Yellowstone Forever Park Store Information ● Yellowstone Forever Supporter Information ● Code of Ethics ● Cancellation Policy ● Travel Information ● Supplemental Lodging Information From the Instructor Hey ladies~ What a great opportunity to take your fishing education into your own hands! I’m so thrilled to see more and more women on our rivers every year and am excited to give you the opportunity to empower yourselves to have the skills necessary to catch that wily trout on your own. It’ll just be us ladies as we spend our days having FUN uncovering what all the fuss about “fishing” is. Fly fishing creates connections that last a lifetime, and it is with this in mind that we will use the extraordinary classroom that is Yellowstone to dive more deeply into our natural world! Intro to Fly Fishing for Women is as much about the resource as it is about catching a big fish. An understanding of, and appreciation for, the ecosystem requirements that allow for good trout habitat will be instrumental in setting the stage for acquiring the skills to not only hook that elusive fish, but discover why they’re able to survive here in the first place. We’ll learn not just to read a river, cast a line, and land a fish correctly, but also how we can do our part to ensure that rivers and lakes around the country remain in a natural, healthy, and pristine state to create the same opportunities for future generations. Although we will spend much of this Field Seminar learning the basic skill set necessary to participate in and enjoy this activity, we will also focus much of our time on better understanding the interconnectedness of cold water fisheries in an ecosystem as a whole, which will include lessons on flora, fauna and our rapidly changing climate. In another 100 years will we even have the cold waters that provide the necessary habitat trout require? How will a decline in trout populations affect our aquatic, avian, amphibious, and mammalian inhabitants? What impact could that decline have on our flora? Through the beautifully simple activity that is fly fishing, we will discover the complexities of a natural world in flux all around us. My hope is that each of you come away with a love for the art of fly fishing and a passion to preserve the most essential piece of “gear” required for the sport—our cold water ecosystems. Using the endless waters available to us in Yellowstone, a landscape that is legendary for its magnificent trout fishing, this program will provide an equal amount of hands-on instruction/practice both on dry land and our waters, lessons on the greater ecosystem as a whole, and classroom presentations necessary to learn the nuts and bolts of the sport. Our approach to this experience will be one of mutual discussion, Q & A, and working together to help each other maximize our individual skills and learning styles to get the most out of this seminar. I can be contacted via e-mail ([email protected]) for advice about basic gear requirements or to answer other questions regarding this Field Seminar. Several weeks before the program, I will contact you with further information. Best fishes, Tyrene Riedl Program Itinerary Day 1 Evening 7:00 p.m. Meet at Lamar Buffalo Ranch Welcome & Introductions A brief history of fly fishing (slideshow) Day 2 Morning Meet at Lamar Buffalo Ranch Classroom 8:00 a.m. Gear and basic techniques: how to get started, i.e. knots, rod rigging, etc. Trout species & habitat requirement and their connection to the ecosystem Dry land casting practice Afternoon Where trout live (habitat) and what they eat (entomology) Basics of landing and releasing fish Observing an ecosystem at work Casting practice (without flies) on the water Walk along the Lamar River or Soda Butte Creek Evening Optional – “The Woman Who Paved the Way” Video/Slide show on Joan Wulff Day 3 Morning 8:00 a.m. Understanding fly selection (adults, larvae, pupae, emergers, terrestrials) Late A.M. Fishing adults (dries) on a river on the northern range (pack lunch on river) May include hike of up to 5 miles with elevation loss/gain of 600’ Afternoon Fishing adults (dries) on a river on the northern range (pack lunch on river) May include hike of up to 5 miles with elevation loss/gain of 600’ After dinner Optional – A River Runs Through It Day 4 May require a hike up to 6 miles with elevation loss/gain of 600’ off trail Will be determined by river/stream conditions (pack lunch on river) Morning The art fishing of nymphing (underwater trout food) and terrestials (ants, beetles, and grasshoppers) Afternoon More practice on the river (TBD) Evening Optional - Dinner at Roosevelt Lodge (not included in program pricing) Day 5 May require a hike up to 6 miles with elevation loss/gain of 600’ off trail Will be determined by river/stream conditions (pack lunch on river) Morning Fishing the 2 fly rig Afternoon Graduation!!! You’re on your own—I will act as your “guide” for the afternoon! 4:00 p.m. Program ends What’s Included: Your tuition includes daily outings and transportation during your program. It does not include transportation to the park, park entrance fees, or lodging. Meals are included only on select programs with included catering. Gratuities are not included in the price of programming. If you would like to recognize exceptional service by a Yellowstone Forever Institute staff member, tips are appreciated. Donations to support Yellowstone Forever educational programs are also appropriate and will be used to improve and expand opportunities for people to make deep connections to Yellowstone. Continuing Education Credit Many of our Field Seminars are recognized by universities across the country. We are happy to provide a letter of completion and supporting documentation that you can submit to the institution of your choice to request approval for university credit or CEUs. Lodging Option Yellowstone Forever Institute students in Field Seminars based out of Lamar Valley have the opportunity to stay in our comfortable lodging at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch for an additional charge. Each log cabin has three single beds, chairs, propane heaters, and reading lamps. The ranch has a bathhouse with private showers and a common building with a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. For more information please see the last page of this document. Feel free to call our contact center at 406.848.2400 to make your reservations today. How to Prepare for this Program: How fit do you need to be? This program is an activity level 3 and students enrolled in this program are expected to be active participants. Be prepared to hike up to 5 miles per day, comfortably, with occasional elevation gains up to 1000 feet in undulating terrain. We recommend you begin an exercise program right away if you have not already done so. Participants residing at lower elevations may want to arrive a day early to adjust to the altitude. To learn more about how specific medical conditions can be affected by Yellowstone's environment and our activities, please visit www.Yellowstone.org/experience/health-information/ General Clothing and Equipment List Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow, or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important. Spring, summer, and fall temperatures can range from below freezing in the mornings to 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoons. The layered use of garments for protection against the wind, sun, and temperature extremes should guide your clothing choices. Loose-fitting layers allow you to maintain a comfortable and dry body as outside temperatures change, and as your own body temperature and moisture output changes with different levels of exertion. Some colder-weather items may not be needed in July or August, but please keep in mind that Yellowstone’s weather is unpredictable. Equipment: Yellowstone Forever field staff assigned to your program will be carrying a first aid kit, bear spray, and emergency communication device. □ Daypack, with enough capacity to carry extra clothes, water, lunch, camera, binoculars, field guides, etc. □ Water bottle, one-quart is the minimum recommended. Camelback or similar hydration systems work well in summer but can freeze in winter. □ Sunglasses □ Sunscreen/lip protector, sun at high altitude can burn unprotected skin quickly.