Distinctly Montana Magazine

ADVENTURE W hen it comes to blazing trails and casting off traditional roles, Montana women have long hit the mark. And today women are looking to other women to hone their outdoor skills, from horseback riding to clay shooting. Meet some of the adventurous Montana women who are teaching others a way into the woods. ON THE RIVER People like to brag about Stacy Jen- nings as if they've caught a big fish. The Kingfisher Flyshop guide teaches a popular women's fly-fishing course at the University of Montana—and she's inspiring a new gen- eration of women anglers. Jennings says that hearing her fa- ther's stories of fishing the Madison River and watching brook trout rise to the surface of the water spawned a curiosity in her that only grew once she learned how to cast at age four. It was 19 years before she began teaching professionally. Whether guiding or teaching, Jennings' motivation is the same: "I know how much richness all aspects of the sport have added to my life and I want to facilitate that type of satisfaction in the lives of others. It fits right in with my other profession as a family therapist. I thrive on seeing others do well." Yet, Jennings prefers to focus on the individual, rather than on gender. She gets results by providing detailed, digestible information. For women, she says, "Often A Kingfisher Flyshop student shows off her catch. times it's as simple as being able to help them disavow preconceived notions and show them that fly fish- ing, once thought of as a male do- minion, is a lifelong endeavor of self enrichment that is almost meditative and tailor-made for female success. It's a profound realization for many women who don't grow up knowing this." Molly Semenik, who offers women's fly fishing ad- ventures through her business, Tie the Knot Fly Fishing in Livingston, also comments, "In my experience, many women, by nature, really prefer a lot of interaction up front. I begin by opening the door to all kinds of ques- tions and concerns they may have. It is much easier for a woman to ask a woman certain questions about the sport—like, 'Will I hurt the fish?' or 'Am I strong enough?' They feel a little safer and a little more comfortable than they would if they were asking a guy." Both women want to inspire in others the same joy and passion they feel when casting a stream. For them, it's life giving. For many of their clients, it's life changing. DISTINCTLY MONTANA WOMAN 9 PREMIERE ISSUE • SPRING 2012 STEPHANIE JENNINGS

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