outdoor woman}
Kara Tripp
Above photo by Marcel Siegle one of them took her aside and, showing her a pod of rising cutthroats, helped her cast and achieve a drag-free drift that put the fly right on their noses. And, she caught one. ..and another…and another! Arriving home that night, she gushed to her family about the experience, overwhelmed with excitement. Her father, did not really know much about fly fishing, but, nevertheless recognized true zeal when he saw it and arranged for the local Rassmussen boys to pick out a nice outfit for her and presented it at her next birthday. Kara’s never looked back. Feasting on curried vegetables and chicken, Kara’s face lights up as she reveals to me her latest adventure – a fourteen day fly fishing trek to the storied wilderness rivers of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. She is now just weeks away, and her excitement is palpable. This has been a dream for several years, and she has worked hard to 24
turn it into a reality.
She’s been busy during those years; her job at The Fly Shop helped open a door for her into yet another passion - providing fly casting and fishing instruction for the women of Casting for Recovery. Kara explains that this organization offers fly fishing retreats for women in various stages of breast cancer treatment, teaching them not only the art of fly fishing, but immersing them in the calming milieu of the pastime, as well. In fact, Kara spends a lot of time teaching women (and men) from all walks and circumstances of life to fly fish. Once largely the domain of men, she says women are increasingly being drawn to the sport, for various reasons. An analogy she finds that resonates strongly among them is the similarities between fly fishing and yoga; both are often done in proximity to others, but are at their respective hearts personal pursuits. Each is practiced by and for the individual, at their speed, for wherever they are in their life. Neither is about measuring up to anyone else’s standard; but, both allow the individual to proceed at their own pace physically, mentally and emotionally.
“I don’t want to look back in 30 years and have regrets about not pursuing the amazing Godgiven passions I’ve been given, you know? I have so many ideas and projects I’m involved in – there’s the schools and guide service, graphic designs, custom fly fishing jewelry, traveling to new waters, and most importantly working hard at encouraging women to become evolved.” Looking up from her meal, blue eyes dancing with intensity, she continues, “Life is so much like fishing a new stream; not knowing what I’m going to see and experience around the next bend…and yet that anticipation is the wonder of it all, and what I thrive on.” Kara Tripp has, in relatively few short years, vaulted from a little girl who could never get enough fishing, to one of the most-recognized women in the entire fly fishing industry. I suspect if fly fishing dreams, it’s seeing Kara, wandering down a remote Russian river, letting loose chaotic peals of laughter with each new monster trout hooked…..