ALL IT TAKES IS AN IDEA
PHOTOS // RYAN MCARTHUR
We fancy authenticity, and gravitate towards the people that make the most out of their time off of the clock. Plus, we can appreciate something created from a “we should just do this,” moment. For Bri and Kensey, founders of Richmond Fly Women, that’s all it took.
WHAT HAPPENS AT ESCATAWBA, MAKES ITS WAY TO RICHMOND
The origin story of Richmond Fly Women starts on a freezing cold day at Escatawba. Bri and Kensey, both freshly back in Virginia, signed up for a trout fly-fishing class with a local guide outfit. Specifics remain fuzzy thanks to the frigid temps but techniques were learned, fish were caught, confidence was built, good times were had, and a bond was formed.
One of the biggest takeaways: of the five people in that class, four were women, Bri, Kensey, and two others, Hannah and Tori. Somewhere between shivering, casting, and fish photos, the four of them made a deal to fish together again in the spring.
Kensey sent a group text that spring to meet up for the shad run in Richmond. They did. Nobody caught anything. It didn't matter.
"There wasn't a group like this in Richmond," Bri said, "So we just made an Instagram page the next day."
They quickly learned that they weren’t the only ones searching. Their first event, a fly-tying meet-and-greet at Orvis, drew 20 women, and that type of turnout has held steady since.
GETTING INTO FLY FISHING
Bri has been around fly fishing for a minute. Growing up in New Mexico, she’d tag along with her pops fishing trout streams in the Jemez Spring Mountains. She started with kiddie poles and salmon eggs, then moved on to woolly buggers and nymphs on a Remington 4-wt that she still has today.
“Fishing was always a casual, family thing—and always with the men in my life: my dad, brothers, husband, and brother-in-law. It never struck me as unusual. We were just spending time together doing something fun outside,” she said.
Over the years, and after raising babies, fly fishing became a way for her to reclaim her identity. Connecting with like-minded women has created a space that is uniquely hers.
Bri technically claims responsibility for introducing Kensey to fly fishing. Still, after the two climbing buddies parted ways for a few years, it took reconnecting in Virginia for their addiction to the sport to take hold.
Kensey is a biologist by trade. She has a Master's in Biology and spent time performing water quality assessments on rivers and streams, before switching professions for a better work-life balance.
“So, I got into the bugs,” Kensey explained. “Then we started doing bio-shocking and fish assessments, and it was a way to see what lived in the streams, which was really freaking cool.”
An outing with Bri lit the fire and for Christmas Kensey got an Echo beginner fly rod and reel setup and a fly tying kit.
“I tried to teach myself for a while, and didn’t really know what I was doing but I was having a ton of fun,” she said. “Things definitely started slow over the last few years but this past year fly fishing has taken over my life,” Kensey laughed.
NO EGO, JUST FISH
Richmond presents a unique opportunity for fly anglers. You’re an hour and a half from the coast, an hour and a half from the mountains, and have a pretty unique urban fishery right downtown. Richmond's accessibility makes it easy to scratch the itch without a boat or all sorts of gear.
“It's really cool having an urban fishery because you can go after work,” said Bri. “You can just park, walk down, rock hop, catch a sunset, and wet wade without needing a bunch of gear.”
At the crux of it all, fishing is about being free. Yet, fly fishing presents a unique imperfection that can make or break your commitment, and sometimes it’s what keeps you coming back.
“I like the challenge,” Kensey explained. “It's operant conditioning. You don’t get rewarded every time, so you keep coming back. It makes it more addictive.”
The rewards may not come in the form of a fish, but that’s okay. Solitude, the water, and time in nature are also key parts of the puzzle for Bri and Kensey.
Tapping into that and helping fuel the pursuit for other women in the area has also been a big motivator for the duo. In a sport that can often feel gatekept or stuffy, Kensey and Bri are keeping the vibe light and accessible.
“There is no ego involved,” Bri said. “I’m a natural teacher, and I love to help people learn.”
Kensey added, “Women are good at saying what their limits of knowledge are, I’m willing to admit where my gaps are. Plus, if you suck at fly fishing, what's going to happen? There’s literally no impact on your life, except maybe being out a couple hundred bucks.”
There’s also a more practical part to Richmond Fly Women: creating partnerships so women have someone to fish with. One downside to areas of Richmond’s fishery is safety.
“A big hurdle for us is a lot of the wading areas in spring are not super safe because of the times of day you're fishing, so this is about connecting women with fishing buddies,” explained Kensey.
WHAT'S NEXT
More fishing. More fly-tying meetups. More trips. The stage is set, and the community of female fly anglers is growing. Richmond Fly Women is currently working toward 501(c)(3) status, which has been slow-going, mostly because fishing takes priority- something we all can relate to.
Once things are official, the plan is to help improve accessibility and consistency. A gear library, rods, waders, and kids' equipment, to help offset costs of entry has been on the girls' radar.
“There’s so many species you can target in Virginia, and a lot of times you need different weight rods and reels, we’re hoping to buy or get donations on gear and waders to help keep women fishing,” explained Kensey.
Improving meetup consistency, encouraging others to step into instructing roles, and getting crafty with fundraising to keep trip costs down also anchor the top of the to-do list, but the on-going community support continues to reaffirm the mission.
“I think it's just crazy how much support we’ve received from other women’s groups. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that,” said Kensey.
She continued, “I know we’ve inspired some other women’s groups to start, so that said, I think the future is female, it’s really cool to see.”
If you’re interested in getting involved, it’s simple: just shoot the girls a DM on Instagram or contact them via their website, richmondflywomen.org
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