Fly Fishing Friends Friday

Alleigh Raymond 

Most anglers can remember back to their youth and shake their head at how little they knew, or were aware of.  Perhaps that was confined to fly selection or casting prowess, or maybe it was the conservation behind the streams we were fishing. The innocence of youth is sometimes used as a crutch to mask deficiencies in both fly fishing and biological intellect.  One remarkable angler who doesn't have to feign ignorance or need a crutch in any of those arenas is Alleigh Raymond from North Carolina. 

​

Alleigh, despite only being 15,  is in many ways a trailblazer in the fly fishing community.  She excels as a competitive angler, often being the only female competitor at the events.  Last November she took part in the 2018 Youth National Championships hosted by the USA Youth Fly Fishing Team and placed 18th out of 32, as the only female angler.

It isn't often that a teen angler delves in the sport in such a way, and Alleigh attributes much of her passion to Rivercourse, a week-long coldwater conservation camp.  This Trout Unlimited-hosted event immerses attendees in all aspects of fly fishing, and through on-site lessons and activities they also learn the value of conservation.  "I can wholeheartedly say that I wouldn't be where I am today with Rivercourse," Alleigh remarked. 

"One of my greatest passions is teaching people of all ages how to fly fish, especially young ladies."

​What makes Alleigh so unique isn't just advocating for women fly fishers, but her incredible commitment to conservation as well.  As an active member of Trout Unlimited's TU Teen group, she has been able to attend events across the country and help educate and influence beginners anglers to show them the joy and passion that is fly fishing.​  She was also part of a group that traveled to Washington D.C. as the representative for the TU Youth Leadership Program, proof of her influence in the angling community 

"Advocating for the Orvis 50/50 On The Water campaign is something I work very closely with; inspiring, educating, and celebrating women on and off the water in the fly fishing community is somethingvery near and dear to my heart." 

When Alleigh isn't competing or volunteering for TU, she spends her time guiding in Georgia and North Carolina as well as hunting down brook trout, her favorite fish.  "I know how threatened brook trout are, and they're like little colorful gems," she said. " No one can say that they live in ugly places!"  We couldn't agree with her more! 

Follow along with Alleigh: 

Instagram: @reelgirlonthefly
Website: https://alleighbobber816.wixsite.com/reelgirlonthefly

---