Each year in May, The River’s Edge and Simms Fishing Products host a women’s flyfishing event in Bozeman, MT—Chica de Mayo. The gathering has evolved into the largest women’s flyfishing event in Montana, the United States, and well, probably in the world. This year’s event celebrates women in flyfishing and offers educational clinics, phenomenal female speakers, prizes, a cocktail party, and much more. It also marks the 10th Annual Chica de Mayo—a labor of love and a true milestone to celebrate.
Over the years guest speakers have presented on Kick Plastic, Aquatic Invasive Species, and other topics. And more recently, local conservation organizations have joined in to educate and invite women to their boots-on-the-ground projects. Throughout the day, merchandise sales and pink bucket raffles raise funds for Casting for Recovery – a non-profit organization offering breast cancer survivors a unique retreat program that combines breast cancer education and peer support with the therapeutic sport of flyfishing.
“From the 2017 event fundraising, a check for $5,000 was presented to Casting for Recovery—double the amount raised in 2016,” said Simms’ Diane Bristol. “Between this and the continued growth in participation, it indicates that women are not only excited to potentially win an amazing prize, but that they also really want to support other women in flyfishing.”
The River’s Edge and Simms Fishing are inviting all women anglers, near and far, to attend this year’s Chica de Mayo. As the date draws closer, a team of incredible lady anglers are highly motivated to make this year an epic celebration. Watch The River’s Edge and Simms Fishing Products Instagram and Facebook feeds for updates and to plan your trip to Bozeman to help us celebrate ten years.
[Call The River’s Edge at (406) 586-5373 or (406) 284-2401 for more info.]
Tom Bie is the founder, editor, and publisher of The Drake. He started the magazine in 1998 as an annual newsprint publication based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He then moved it to Steamboat, Colorado (1999), Boulder, Colorado (2001), and San Clemente, California (2004), as he took jobs as managing editor at Paddler, Senior Editor at Skiing, and Editor-in-Chief at Powder, respectively. Tom and The Drake are now both based in Denver, Colorado, where The Drake is finally all grows up(Swingers, 1996) to a quarterly magazine.