  Fly Fishing at Bidwell Ranch – It just doesn’t get any better than this. And, I have 15 very happy women who would agree with me. The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, California (BOW) organization had the privilege of converging on Bidwell Ranch to learn the basics of fly fishing from the best instructors in the universe! The comments from the participants prove it. From “I can’t believe how patient and positive they are.” to “How did you recruit this caliber of instructor?” And the answer is – I didn’t. They are instructors who run the  Wilderness Unlimited Fly Fishing School and offered to instruct the BOW workshop at one of the most beautiful fly fishing spots in California (or the universe). We are so very fortunate. Thanks guys. And thank you Wilderness Unlimited for your continued support of the BOW organization. We wouldn’t be here without YOU.
As the participants take in this little part of heaven, they become transformed. They are learning to fly fish and recognize that this class is just the beginning of their journey. The positive reinforcement from the instructors allows them to learn at their own pace and laugh at themselves. Frustration seems to be at a minimum. Laughter and camaraderie are the uniform of the day.
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I would like to try to convey to you the energy of the weekend. It’s sometimes difficult to put into words. I’ll start by describing the location. Bidwell Ranch is a working cattle ranch at the base of the Hat Creek Rim. The geology of the ranch is spectacular. Volcanic rock supports the rim and provides a spectacular mountainous setting. Lost Creek flows from the rim and continues underground and emerges into four large ponds. The trout in Pond 1 and Pond 2 are native trout and are smart enough to know the difference between a natural bug and an artificial bug if not artfully presented by the fly angler. And while trying to perfect that cast, red-tailed hawks are scooping up ground squirrels for lunch, ospreys are
diving into the water and harvesting fish for their babies and Sandhill cranes are catching the upward grinding air current. At night there is no ambient light so the stars seem to hang just out of reach. The Milky Way is so visible that it looks like a white scarf lying across the sky.
The class concludes at the Saturday evening bon-fire, (“bond” fire) where we share our stories about our journeys and Sherry’s Dutch oven apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Food is such a good bonding agent! All agree that they experienced elevated self-esteem and renewed confidence. And, that’s just an added bonus to learning the art of fly fishing.
I feel privileged to be a member of Wilderness Unlimited and have access to some of the most beautiful properties in the west. The benefits are almost innumerable. If you are interested in joining this very important organization, and have any questions about my experience, please contact me at susan@bowca.org. I’d be more than happy to give you my perspective. And, please check out all of the other workshops BOW has to offer at 