Beyond the Stream Weekend 

Ever thought about catching your own trout for dinner? Want to pick-up skills like casting and cooking your catch? Maybe you like the idea of renewing yourself by spending time near clean, flowing water. You can do all this and more on the beautiful trout streams of Northeast Iowa—during the height of fall colors, in the company of other women!

BOW (Becoming an Outdoors Woman), NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation), and the Iowa DNR are jointly sponsoring this weekend of fun, fishing, and fellowship. Arrive Friday evenings for introductions, wine, trout appetizers, and casting, followed by a day on the stream Saturday with an experienced mentor. Saturday night you’ll learn how to cook your catch with one of the Midwest’s leading wild foods chefs and author of Fly Fisher’s Guide to Wisconsin and Iowa. Sunday you can hit the streams again, or head back home.

Grab a friend and register as space is limited! Instruction using spinning gear is provided, with a chanceto try your hand at fly fishing. No experience necessary; all equipment provided. Cost includes food, communal lodging at the charming Paint Creek Lodge, and equipment. Participants must purchase an Iowa fishing license and trout stamp.

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Agenda

Paint Creek Lodge, Harpers Ferry Iowa, October 18–20, 2018

Participant Note: Please come dressed for the variable fall weather. This is an active, skills-based event.  Come prepared to get muddy on the stream and to get your hands dirty during our cooking demo! Fishing rods, tackle, and waders will be provided, but participants may also bring their own.

Friday, October 18

5:00–5:30:           Arrivals and appetizers; fill out pre-survey

5:30–6:30             Group Introductions

6:30–8:00             Dinner and cleanup

8:00–Bedtime       Trout fishing basics; select gear for AM fishing; mentor-mentee pairing

Saturday, October 19

6:30–7:00:           Breakfast

7:00–8:00             Casting Practice

8:00–8:30             Pack lunches; mentor and mentees depart for the stream

8:30–3:00             Trout fishing with mentor on local streams - Skills to be covered, but not limited to: reading the water, fly casting, knot tying, basic lures and flies to use for trout, trout habitat 

3:00–3:30             Downtime

3:30–5:00             Cleaning and cooking of catch. Note: this is intended to be a fun, hands-on activity. Participants will have a chance to clean fish and prepare dinner. Questions encouraged!

5:00–6:00             Social hour and chance for more casting practice

6:00–7:00             Trout dinner!

7:00–Bedtime    Campfire discussion: what worked and what could be improved for this event. Additional questions. Fish stories.

Sunday, October 20

7:00–7:30             Breakfast; complete post-surveys

7:30–11:30             Skills to be covered, but not limited to: gear discussion, fly tying, discussion on trout fishing destinations in the Midwest and question/answers time for all things trout.

12:00–5:00            Additional fishing encouraged, with mentor or alone, as schedules permit. Those who do not wish to fish more can return home.  Note: anglers can come back to lodge as desired. All borrowed equipment must be returned by 5 PM.

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We have spin rods and waders available, if you'd like to use one, please make sure to note this in the registration.

Our loding will be communal and male instructors may be on site. We are looking into possible tent camping options on site.

If you do not wish to stay on site, there are camping options in Yellow River State Forest and lodging options in Harpers Ferry, IA. 

Register Now!