The Power of Community in "For Women" Classes
BY SUSAN E., INSTRUCTOR & EMILY B., PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
For me, fly fishing has opened the door to so much more than catching fish. It has helped me feel more confident and comfortable outdoors, given me a meaningful way to connect with nature, and introduced me to a welcoming community of people who love spending time on the water. Those experiences have been truly life changing—and they’re something I’d love to see more women enjoy, too.
The good news is that more women are finding their way to fishing. According to the 2025 Special Report on Fishing, more than 8 million people participated in fly fishing in the United States during 2024. Women represented 37% of all anglers and 39% of first-time fishing participants—yet women’s enrollment in fly-fishing courses still has room to grow.
If you’ve ever watched someone cast a fly line and thought, “That looks beautiful, but I’m not sure I could do it,” you’re not alone. While fly casting can look effortless from an outside perspective, learning how to form a smooth loop or place a fly near your target takes plenty of practice. It can be humbling, sometimes funny, and occasionally frustrating—but it is also incredibly rewarding. Having a supportive learning environment can make all the difference.
That’s one reason I was so excited to join Outdoor Discovery Programs as a fly-casting instructor in 2025—by offering a range of classes exclusively for women, L.L.Bean shows a commitment to creating learning environments that value comfortability, community, and camaraderie.
The curriculum in a “For Women” fly-casting class may be similar to our classes that are open to everyone, but the experience often feels uniquely encouraging. In the Fly Casting for Women classes, I’ve seen participants bring all kinds of backgrounds and experience levels—some picking up a fly rod for the very first time, others returning to a sport they already love.
That mix creates a wonderful sense of shared learning. Participants learn from the instructor, from one another, and from the simple joy of trying something new together. Often, women arrive feeling unsure or a little nervous. By the end, they leave with new skills, more confidence, and sometimes new friendships.
If you’ve been curious about fly fishing, you don’t need prior experience, special knowledge, or perfect technique to begin. Whether you’re brand new, brushing up on old skills, or simply looking for a welcoming way to spend more time outside, there is a place for you on the water. We’d be glad to help you take that first cast.
Be sure to check out our range of "For Women" courses offered by L.L.Bean's Outdoor Discovery Programs.
