Lakeview Outfitters & Trout Unlimited: Getting More Women on the Water

Carolyn Knapper
Jun 16
3 min read

Updated: Jun 17

A partnership dedicated to inclusivity in fishing.

From the beginning, Lakeview Outfitters believed that protecting fisheries also means helping people build meaningful connections to the water. And to do that, we need to create more opportunities for those connections to happen in the first place.

That’s a big part of why our partnership with Trout Unlimited has felt like such a natural fit.

What is Trout Unlimited?

For those unfamiliar, Trout Unlimited (TU) is one of North America’s leading coldwater conservation organizations, focused on protecting and restoring rivers, streams, and

fisheries.

But what we really love about TU is that they understand conservation isn't just about fish habitat. It's also about people.

They invest heavily in education, community-building, and helping people develop a lasting connection to fishing and wild places.

That mission matters deeply to us.

How the Partnership Grew

For many women, getting on the water has a lot of barriers to entry. We're working to change that.

Our relationship with Trout Unlimited started long before the Women on the Water grant.

Lakeview Outfitters has been a longtime TU Supporting Business because we genuinely believe in the work they do to protect fisheries, rivers, and access to wild places. Over the years, we worked alongside Trout Unlimited in a variety of ways: Helping distribute outreach materials through the shop, participating as Kenai River Guide Ambassadors for TU, and supporting local conservation efforts however we could.

As our women’s programming continued to grow, the partnership evolved naturally. Carolyn eventually joined the board for the Kenai Peninsula chapter of Trout Unlimited. As a fisheries biologist and a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated field, she care deeply about creating more opportunities for women to feel welcomed, supported, and confident on the water.

That perspective aligned closely with the kind of community-focused work TU was already doing.

The Women on the Water grant became the first major initiative launched through that growing partnership. It felt like a really exciting step forward for everyone involved.

The Women on the Water Grant

Through support from the FishAmerica Foundation, a program of the American Sportfishing Association, Trout Unlimited and Lakeview Outfitters partnered to launch Keeping Alaskan Women Anglers on the Water.

The program was created to help more women gain experience, skills, and confidence on the water through free educational and fishing opportunities in Southcentral Alaska.

That included things like:

guided float trips
walk-in fishing trips
women’s fly tying classes & events
educational opportunities focused on building confidence outdoors

The response to the program was honestly just incredible, with over 400 women applying to work with us. It’s been inspiring to see just how much interest is there when those opportunities exist.

There’s a persistent assumption that women aren’t interested in fishing or outdoor recreation, but our programs have shown the opposite. Time and again, women have shown up eager to learn, try something new, spend time outside, and build connections with other women who share those interests.

Although grant applications are now closed, the work behind the program is far from over.

Why This Work Matters

This work goes far beyond simply teaching someone how to cast a fly rod.

It’s about creating access.

It’s about mentorship.

It’s about helping women feel comfortable showing up on the river, asking questions, trying new things, and realizing they absolutely belong there.

We’ve watched women go from “I’ve never done this before” to confidently landing fish, tying their own flies, planning fishing trips together, and bringing friends back to future events.

There’s something pretty special about a group of women spending a day outside learning new skills, laughing through the learning curve, cheering each other on, and ending the day with fish stories and river snacks.

That community is what keeps us excited to continue growing this work!

What Comes Next

This partnership was never just about a single grant.

It’s about continuing to create more pathways for women to get involved in fishing, conservation, and outdoor community here in Alaska.

Over the coming season, we’ll continue offering opportunities through:

Ladies Trout Night
Steelhead Sirens retreats
women’s fly tying events
educational gatherings and fishing opportunities
future collaborative events with Trout Unlimited

If you’d like to stay updated on upcoming events, retreats, and opportunities for women on the water, we’d love to have you join the Steelhead Sirens newsletter.

Join the Newsletter

We’re incredibly grateful to Trout Unlimited, the FishAmerica Foundation, and everyone helping us continue building more opportunities for women on the water.

We’ve got a lot more planned 🎣