You’d have to go back nearly 15 years ago to Island Beach State Park along the Jersey shore, when Dianne Tidy took her first fly fishing lesson in the unforgiving Atlantic surf no less. She remembers, “I was the only woman fly fishing on the beach.” Today, she’s an accomplished fly fishing instructor.
In this month’s edition of “Top Hook,” Dianne shares with PropTalk how that lesson spurred a lifelong love affair with fly fishing. In the years since, she says she has been “very lucky to have some of the greatest saltwater fly fishermen on the East Coast willing to share their love of fly fishing and their knowledge with a newbie gal fly fisher.” And it was their willingness to share that inspires her to mentor and encourage other women to discover and enjoy fly fishing.
Dianne currently sits on the board of the directors of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, where she has the distinction of being the only woman who is a Certified Casting Instructor in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey. Dianne is also a member of the Chesapeake Women Anglers (CWA) fly fishing club, where she is very active in spreading the word about CWA while helping raise money for CWA’s Casting for Recovery retreat, held every September.
She has volunteered and taught for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a national group that helps disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans heal through fly fishing. Dianne lives with her husband, Ken, in North East, MD. To learn more about CWA, visit its website at sites.google.com/site/cwawebsite/.
PropTalk: What are your three favorite fish to catch and why?
Dianne Tidy: I don’t have a favorite, but I do keep track of each different species I have caught. The challenge is to figure out what fly a fish might take and how they will respond when caught. Do they make a blistering run (false albacore)? Or race around the lily pads to tangle your line (snakehead)? Or perhaps they jump into the air and shake their gill plates trying, and more often than not, succeeding to spit the hook (tarpon). Imagine the thrill of seeing a flounder come up off the bottom and attack a fly that you are drifting just under the surface. Say it can’t be done? Think again!
What are your favorite snacks to take fishing?
Finger foods that don’t need refrigeration such as apples, unsalted nuts, and granola bars. We always carry plenty of water and never forget the bug repellant or sun screen.
What famous person (real or fictional) would you like to fish with and why?
Lefty Kreh! Lefty was one of the mentors who taught me how to cast; but I have never had an opportunity to actually fish with him. That would be a “bucket list” adventure!
What advice would you give for would-be fly anglers, particularly women?
Joining any fly fishing club gives a beginner an advantage, but a club (such as CWA) that specializes in teaching women is particularly helpful for those that may not have any previous fishing experience. The club (also) provides support by loaning fly fishing equipment and mentoring those just getting started on the water. What I love about fly fishing is that it knows no age or gender. A fly fisher can be 18 or 80 and still continue an outdoor sport that is great fun. Fly fishing takes finesse—not brute strength—and women can excel at the sport. Fly fishers don’t have to deal with live bait (yucky!) and can “kiss” the fish and let it go, understanding that they are preserving the resource for their children and grandchildren.
It’s obvious you enjoy sharing and teaching fly fishing with others, including supporting groups such as Casting For Recovery. Can you expand on that?
When you first start to fly fish, you also begin to notice nature around you. It starts with the sound of the water lapping against the sides of the boat or a creek that cascades down a long run and into a quiet pool. You begin to notice the osprey that swoops down to take a cut throat trout out of a Yellowstone stream. The damsel flies flit around, and you know the water is clean or they wouldn’t be there. The amazing sight of a white fly hatch that is so heavy it looks like a snow storm… with wings.
These are all wondrous experiences that may not have happened unless you fly fish. My wish is that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the wildness of being part of the ecosystem. Seeing someone catch their first fish on the fly, seeing the joy in their eyes and the smile on their face gives me great pleasure. I know that person has been changed, even if for a little time, and has enjoyed the experience.
Get Out There: Fly Fishing Clubs on the Bay
by Captain Chris D. Dollar
Thursday, May 5, 2016 - 09:25
You’d have to go back nearly 15 years ago to Island Beach State Park along the Jersey shore, when Dianne Tidy took her first fly fishing lesson in the unforgiving Atlantic surf no less. She remembers, “I was the only woman fly fishing on the beach.” Today, she’s an accomplished fly fishing instructor.
In this month’s edition of “Top Hook,” Dianne shares with PropTalk how that lesson spurred a lifelong love affair with fly fishing. In the years since, she says she has been “very lucky to have some of the greatest saltwater fly fishermen on the East Coast willing to share their love of fly fishing and their knowledge with a newbie gal fly fisher.” And it was their willingness to share that inspires her to mentor and encourage other women to discover and enjoy fly fishing.
Dianne currently sits on the board of the directors of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, where she has the distinction of being the only woman who is a Certified Casting Instructor in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey. Dianne is also a member of the Chesapeake Women Anglers (CWA) fly fishing club, where she is very active in spreading the word about CWA while helping raise money for CWA’s Casting for Recovery retreat, held every September.
She has volunteered and taught for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a national group that helps disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans heal through fly fishing. Dianne lives with her husband, Ken, in North East, MD. To learn more about CWA, visit its website at sites.google.com/site/cwawebsite/.
PropTalk: What are your three favorite fish to catch and why?
Dianne Tidy: I don’t have a favorite, but I do keep track of each different species I have caught. The challenge is to figure out what fly a fish might take and how they will respond when caught. Do they make a blistering run (false albacore)? Or race around the lily pads to tangle your line (snakehead)? Or perhaps they jump into the air and shake their gill plates trying, and more often than not, succeeding to spit the hook (tarpon). Imagine the thrill of seeing a flounder come up off the bottom and attack a fly that you are drifting just under the surface. Say it can’t be done? Think again!
What are your favorite snacks to take fishing?
Finger foods that don’t need refrigeration such as apples, unsalted nuts, and granola bars. We always carry plenty of water and never forget the bug repellant or sun screen.
What famous person (real or fictional) would you like to fish with and why?
Lefty Kreh! Lefty was one of the mentors who taught me how to cast; but I have never had an opportunity to actually fish with him. That would be a “bucket list” adventure!
What advice would you give for would-be fly anglers, particularly women?
Joining any fly fishing club gives a beginner an advantage, but a club (such as CWA) that specializes in teaching women is particularly helpful for those that may not have any previous fishing experience. The club (also) provides support by loaning fly fishing equipment and mentoring those just getting started on the water. What I love about fly fishing is that it knows no age or gender. A fly fisher can be 18 or 80 and still continue an outdoor sport that is great fun. Fly fishing takes finesse—not brute strength—and women can excel at the sport. Fly fishers don’t have to deal with live bait (yucky!) and can “kiss” the fish and let it go, understanding that they are preserving the resource for their children and grandchildren.
It’s obvious you enjoy sharing and teaching fly fishing with others, including supporting groups such as Casting For Recovery. Can you expand on that?
When you first start to fly fish, you also begin to notice nature around you. It starts with the sound of the water lapping against the sides of the boat or a creek that cascades down a long run and into a quiet pool. You begin to notice the osprey that swoops down to take a cut throat trout out of a Yellowstone stream. The damsel flies flit around, and you know the water is clean or they wouldn’t be there. The amazing sight of a white fly hatch that is so heavy it looks like a snow storm… with wings.
These are all wondrous experiences that may not have happened unless you fly fish. My wish is that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the wildness of being part of the ecosystem. Seeing someone catch their first fish on the fly, seeing the joy in their eyes and the smile on their face gives me great pleasure. I know that person has been changed, even if for a little time, and has enjoyed the experience.
Get Out There: Fly Fishing Clubs on the Bay
by Captain Chris D. Dollar