Empowering Connections: Women Unite for a Holiday of Fishing on the Missouri River

By Marion Hiller

Women Connect participants spent Memorial Day weekend at the Missouri River Rendezvous, which brought together a group of passionate women anglers from across the United States—including MI, AK, TX, OR, WA, ID, VA, AZ, and IL—for three days of river fishing in sunny Craig, Montana. The river was in perfect condition. Each day offered a varied fishing experience: dry-fly fishing in the morning with BWO hatches, followed by nymphing at various times throughout the day.

A few anglers even achieved the “Missouri River Trifecta,” the freshwater equivalent of a saltwater grand slam: landing a rainbow trout, a brown trout, and a whitefish all in a single day. The fish were bright and healthy, averaging 18–23 inches in length. Light, variable winds, mild temperatures, and intermittent sunshine through broken clouds made for pleasant conditions, with no rain showers.

The event began with a meet-and-greet at the Tap House in Craig on the evening before the river fishing. The women got to know one another over a meal, chatted, attended casting lessons, and, just before sunset, took part in a raffle and a silent auction for a tenkara rod kit and a pair of Dryft waders.

After the first day on the river, Women Connect President Patty Lueken hosted a delicious spaghetti dinner where women gathered to swap fishing stories and enjoy a strong sense of belonging. Participants, including many newcomers, asked questions while experienced anglers generously shared their knowledge, fostering genuine camaraderie. The evening also featured casting lessons, a raffle, and a second silent auction for an Echo Trout X rod and Mako’s new freshwater reel. On the final evening at Patty’s, the women returned for a second group dinner, sharing angling dreams, bucket lists, and ideas for future Women Connect events. Adventures like this—on the beautiful waters of the Missouri River and in the company of like-minded women—inspire me to look forward to more safe, scenic, and memorable gatherings with other fly-fishing women.

Whether they were brand-new to fly fishing or longtime enthusiasts, the women felt welcomed and connected as they shared fun experiences in a beautiful setting with ideal fishing conditions. Everyone enjoyed rekindling old friendships and forming new ones.