OUR COMMITEMENT

Fishing is for everyone, but the reality is that many women still face barriers to getting started in fly fishing. Lack of access to mentors, fishing partners, gear, or simply a welcoming place to learn can make the sport feel difficult to enter.

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Over the past several years, we’ve been working to change that.

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Led by guide and fisheries biologist Carolyn Knapper, Lakeview Outfitters has been growing initiatives to create welcoming opportunities for women to learn, connect, and grow as anglers. Our Ladies Trout Nights brings women together at the shop to learn fly tying, and then head out on the water to learn fishing skills in a relaxed, supportive environment. The Steelhead Sirens community connects women anglers through retreats, fishing gatherings, and an ongoing newsletter that shares local fishing knowledge, seasonal updates, and opportunities to get involved.

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These programs are about more than learning how to fish. They’re about building community, sharing knowledge, and creating a space where women feel confident stepping onto the river.

PARTNERING WITH TROUT UNLIMITED​

We’re proud to continue this work in partnership with Trout Unlimited, an organization dedicated to protecting rivers and fisheries while strengthening the communities that care for them.

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Recently, Lakeview Outfitters and Trout Unlimited were awarded a grant from the FishAmerica Foundation and the American Sportfishing Association to support a new initiative focused on expanding opportunities for women anglers in Southcentral Alaska.

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This project, Keeping Alaskan Women Anglers on the Water, will fund a series of free educational and on-the-water opportunities designed to help more women gain experience, skills, and confidence as anglers.

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These opportunities will include: 

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• Guided scenic float trips on the Upper Kenai River

• Walk-in fishing trips on local creeks

• Women’s fly-tying nights and instructional gatherings

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Participants will be selected through an application process, and applications are expected to open in May.

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This program builds on the momentum we’ve already seen through Ladies Trout Nights, Steelhead Sirens gatherings, and other women’s events in our community. Every time we’ve hosted these events, the response has been overwhelming. The demand for women-focused fishing opportunities continues to grow, and we’re excited to expand what’s possible.

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We’re grateful to partner with Trout Unlimited on this initiative and excited to continue building a strong, connected community of women anglers here in Alaska.