In the spring of 2025, WWF ambassador, Maggie Johnson, and Trout Unlimited Project Manager, Dominique Lujan, taught the very first Trout'n About course. Trout'n About is a weekend long beginngers flyfishing course developed by Maggie and Dominique. This course is specifically for women and meant to lower the barrier to get more women into the flyfishing space. Below, Maggie and Dominique reflect on the experience, what led them to developing the course, and what they hope for the future of Trout'n About.
Maggie: Dominique and I first met through a women’s fly fishing club at the University of Wyoming called Fish N’ Chicks. I was serving as the club president at the time, and we quickly became friends through our shared love of fly fishing and the outdoors. Dominique later became vice president of the club, and that’s where our shared passion for getting more women on the water really started to grow.
Dominique: When I moved to Wyoming for graduate school I posted on fly fishing social media pages to inquire about any local clubs. Someone suggested Fish N’ Chicks. When I was in undergrad, I was a part of the local fly fishing club in Las Cruces, NM, Mesilla Valley Flyfishers. Mesilla Valley Flyfishers, like many fly fishing clubs, is comprised primarily of men. When a women’s club was recommended to me, I honestly found it intimidating. I didn’t realize how accustomed I was to thinking of my interests and career choice as male-dominated fields that a women’s club would be intimidating. Luckily, I attended a Fish N’ Chicks meeting and quickly became good friends with Maggie.
That was the start of our fishing and hunting adventures. Through those adventures, we both gained confidence in ourselves, leading to the desire to encourage other women in the sport.
This class—later coined Trout N’ About—wasn’t just a weekend idea. It’s something we’ve been dreaming up for years. Over the years, friends, coworkers, and other women in our circles would ask us to teach a class or help them get started. We both have a passion for teaching and mentoring, especially when it comes to helping women feel confident and empowered in outdoor spaces. The shared experience of fishing together, of seeing others light up when they catch their first fish, shaped what this class became: a chance to pass that feeling on, and to help grow a more inclusive, supportive fly fishing community.
After years of juggling busy schedules and growing careers, we finally found ourselves in a place where we could bring this idea to life. Dominique now works for Trout Unlimited, and Maggie stepped into a more flexible job while being able to represent the Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF) as a conservation ambassador. Together, we were able to carve out the time to make this happen. And what an incredible weekend it turned out to be.
Fly fishing has traditionally been a male-dominated space, but that’s changing. The goal of this class was never just about a one-off event, putting a fly rod into someone's hands and letting them fish. Our goal was focused on creating a space for women to connect with each other as a part of an inclusive and welcoming community. We often hear people talk about growing up fishing or hunting with their fathers and grandfathers. We want to help create space in this sport for the important women in people’s lives so that we have these memories with them as well. For example, one of the participants at Trout N’ About talked about her goal from the class being to learn enough to be confident in her abilities to take her twin boys out on her own. Others talked about learning from this group and friends to take the pressure off trying to learn from significant others so they can purely enjoy future outings. Whether participants were brand new to the sport or just needed a refresher, we really hope everyone walked away with new skills, new friendships, and a sense of empowerment.
We were also deeply committed to making this class accessible. It is easy to look at fly fishing as an expensive sport and become overwhelmed with the wide variety of gear options. This class was a collaboration between Trout Unlimited and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, and we’re so proud of what that partnership made possible. With Trout N’ About we wanted to talk about gear and options to enter the sport without a huge price. Thanks to the use of Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s fly rods and the generous support of the Laramie Valley Trout Unlimited chapter, we were able to provide each participant with a rod to borrow and a fly box, flies, forceps, nippers, and a macroinvertebrate guide of their own to help them hit the ground running. Events like this show just how impactful it can be when conservation organizations work together toward a shared goal.
We talked about this class for so long that it almost didn’t feel real when we finally stood in front of the group on a Saturday morning. You can’t help but feel a little imposter syndrome, wondering what exactly makes us qualified to be the ones up there teaching. But it was emotional in the best way. This dream turned into something tangible, and even more so, something that brought women outdoors, brought them together, and created space to think about fishing and conservation beyond just this one class. It felt like the start of something that can truly empower people to get outside, connect, and make this part of their lives. It reminded us that even small ideas can grow into something meaningful when you stay rooted in purpose and are surrounded by the right people.
Looking ahead, we hope to bring Trout N’ About to more communities across the state and continue growing a network of women who want to learn about fly fishing and the future of our waters.
We can't thank Maggie and Dominique enough for their hard work in developing, leading, and teaching Trout'n About. We can't wait to see what next year brings! If this is something you're interested in, please email info@wyomingwildlife.org so you can be notified of future programming!
