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Home - iFishiBelongiFishiBelong is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive fishing community where everyone feels welcome, empowered, and connected.Home - iFishiBelong Skip to main content Scroll Top Primary Menu About Team Impact Commitment Partners Resources Services Sponsors Volunteer Events Becca Sue Klein All Kids Fish Pennsylvania DIY Fishing Events Fish California Fish Montana Fish North Carolina Fish Oregon Fish Washington We Are Here Programs Becca Sue Klein All Kids Fish Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Scholarship DIY Fishing Events Fish California Fish Montana Fish North Carolina Fish Oregon Fish Washington Ubuntu Fly Anglers Future Fishers: Empowering BIPOC Youth On the Real We Are Here Ubuntu Team Ubuntu Sponsors Support Ubuntu United Women on the Fly Donate Shop Be What You Don’t See On the Real Resources Blog Pennsylvania Scholarship Scholarships Becca Sue Klein All Kids Fish Oregon Scholarship Montana Scholarship North Carolina Scholarship Washington Scholarship Women Resources Women Fishing Guides Women’s Fishing Groups Women Owned Fishing Businesses Women Owned Fly Shops Support Volunteer Sponsors Home iFishiBelong is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a diverse, inclusive fishing community where everyone feels welcome, empowered, and connected. This organization is for everyone who supports all people, all techniques, and all species. Through programs like All Kids Fish, DIY Fishing Events, Ubuntu Fly Anglers, and United Women on the Fly, we provide education, leadership opportunities, and a platform for underrepresented groups in the fishing world. We believe true integration honors individual differences, elevating them within the collective whole rather than forcing uniformity. We promote equitable representation, offer financial assistance, and create spaces for all anglers to thrive. At iFishiBelong, we celebrate individuality within the collective love for fishing, ensuring that every person has access to the sport and the opportunity to lead. Real change begins when we come together, united in purpose and action. iFishiBelong Mission Our mission is to cultivate leadership opportunities, advocate for equitable representation, offer financial assistance, and promote access and belonging for all people within the angling community and fishing industry. Learn More 2026 DIY Fishing Events iFishiBelong’s DIY Fishing Events are created with minimal registration costs and maximum value, supporting anglers of all budgets while expanding access to meaningful fishing experiences. These events focus on education from introductory to intermediate levels, helping participants build confidence, independence, and skills on the water.  Click on a state above to explore that event, or click here to learn more about all iFishiBelong DIY Fishing Events and this program. 2026 DIY Fishing Events Q&A Sessions Interested in one of our 2026 DIY Fishing Weekend locations and want to learn more? Or have you already signed up and have questions about the weekend itinerary? Join us for one of our Live Q&A Sessions! Go to 2026 Q&A Session Links OUR Programs iFishiBelong is committed to creating programs that support and advocate for diverse communities within fishing, including women, BIPOC anglers, youth, and people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Each of our iFishiBelong programs has its own unique projects and missions, all aligned with the shared goal of creating positive change within the fishing industry and local communities. Together, as a united iFishiBelong organization, we work collaboratively to cultivate leadership opportunities, advocate for equitable representation, offer financial assistance, and promote access and belonging for all people within the angling community. All Kids Fish All Kids Fish hosts day-long retreats nationwide, teaching youth ages 10–18 fly fishing, conservation, and river ecosystems through hands-on learning. Go to All Kids Fish DIY Events These affordable events focus on DIY fishing education, highlight local guides and businesses, and create a welcoming, inclusive space for all. Go to DIY Events Ubuntu Ubuntu builds community, education, and leadership while promoting visibility for Black and Brown individuals outdoors through dialogue, engagement, and advocacy. Go to Ubuntu UWOTF United Women on the Fly (UWOTF) aims to empower and unite women in fly fishing through advocacy work, mentorship, and representation. Go to UWOTF Advocacy Initiatives Be What You DOn't See Featuring individuals involved in the fishing industry motivating the next generation of anglers to create their own paths and “be what they don’t see.” Go to "Be What You Don't See" On the Real Podcast Making the invisible visible. This podcast gets real with Black and Brown anglers, guides, outfitters, and outdoor enthusiasts about what matters most to them. Go to "On the Real" Podcaast Free fly fishing education Everyone deserves education. iFishiBelong partners with Fly Fish Instruct to offer a Free Intro to Fly Fishing recorded virtual course. Go to Free Education 2025 Impact Events 0 Total Event Participants 0 Scholarships 0 Education Hours 0 Learn More About Our Impact Read the latest Blog The iFishiBelong Blog is a hub for our advocacy work, storytelling, and education—amplifying voices and experiences from across the fishing community. Here you’ll find content connected to On the Real Podcast, Community Spotlights, community-written guides, fishing and ally education, and stories from events that support people of all identities. Our blog exists to inform, inspire, and build understanding while strengthening an inclusive fishing culture where everyone belongs. Click HERE to go to the iFiB Blog. Her Waters: Yolanda Edwards Be What You Don't See Blog By Georgi de la Torre  -  March 13, 2026 Her Waters: Yolanda Edwards Meet Yolanda Edwards, March’s iFishiBelong’s Be What You Don’t See leader highlight and founder of Remain Hooked on the Outdoors and Her Waters. 1 Protected: Paddle Craft Fishing: Access, Gear & the Trade-Offs Worth Knowing Blog Education United Women on the Fly By Heather Hodson  -  March 10, 2026 Protected: Paddle Craft Fishing: Access, Gear & the Trade-Offs Worth Knowing There is no excerpt because this is a protected post. 1 EP 16: Yolanda Edwards – Healing, Empowerment, Representation: The Story Behind Her Waters Be What You Don't See On the Real By Heather Hodson  -  March 2, 2026 EP 16: Yolanda Edwards – Healing, Empowerment, Representation: The Story Behind Her Waters Dr. Yolanda Edwards, founder of Her Waters, Inc. and retired Army veteran, shares her deeply personal journey from childhood fishing trips with her mother in Cleveland, Ohio to becoming a passionate fly fishing advocate for Black women and female veterans. After finding profound healing and peace on the water following personal losses, she created Her Waters, an intentionally designed organization that brings women of color, female veterans, and young girls into fly-fishing spaces where they are rarely represented. Her mission, rooted in healing, empowerment, and representation, is to ensure that every woman who comes to the water knows she belongs there. 4 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Analiza del Rosario Blog Community Spotlight By Heather Hodson  -  February 18, 2026 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Analiza del Rosario Analiza del Rosario is a lifelong angler, community builder, and marketing professional whose Filipino heritage and deep connection to land and water guide her passion for fly fishing and conservation. She is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces and inspiring more women and communities of color to experience the outdoors. 0 EP 15: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect: Dr. Loleta Robinson on Fly Fishing, Identity, and the Power of Imperfection On the Real By Heather Hodson  -  February 16, 2026 EP 15: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect: Dr. Loleta Robinson on Fly Fishing, Identity, and the Power of Imperfection In this episode of On the Reel, host Bob Bartlett welcomes Dr. Loleta Robinson, a passionate fly angler, world traveler, and member of the Ubuntu Fly Anglers leadership team. Loleta shares her journey into fly fishing as a Black woman, the importance of finding community in the outdoors, and the power of embracing imperfection on and off the water. Their conversation is a heartfelt reflection on belonging, growth, and the joy of casting lines with purpose. 4 Roslyn Riffle 2026: A Weekend Celebrating Women of All Identities in Fly Fishing Blog Events By Heather Hodson  -  February 5, 2026 Roslyn Riffle 2026: A Weekend Celebrating Women of All Identities in Fly Fishing 1 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Mario Guel Blog Community Spotlight By Heather Hodson  -  February 4, 2026 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Mario Guel Mario Guel, founder of Taco Fly Co., is an angler from San Jose who brings authenticity, generosity, and inclusivity to the fly fishing community. He values kindness on the water, celebrates diverse species, and helps make the outdoors welcoming for everyone. 0 2026 Spey Clave Dates Blog Education By Heather Hodson  -  January 31, 2026 2026 Spey Clave Dates 1 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Albert White Blog Community Spotlight By Bob Bartlett  -  January 21, 2026 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Albert White Al White discovered fishing later in life and has since become fully immersed in the sport, embracing it as a passion and way of life. 0 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Emma Brown Blog Community Spotlight By Heather Hodson  -  January 7, 2026 Ubuntu Community Spotlight: Emma Brown Emma Brown shares her journey as a transracial adoptee, rancher, and fly fishing guide, reflecting on identity, inclusion, and building community in the outdoor world. 0 EP 14 : Outside Is My Church: Healing, Mental Health, and Fly Fishing with The Gentleman Lumberjack On the Real By AlishaBartlett  -  January 5, 2026 EP 14 : Outside Is My Church: Healing, Mental Health, and Fly Fishing with The Gentleman Lumberjack In this episode of On the Real, professional fly fishing guide Ashley White, aka The Gentleman Lumberjack, shares his powerful journey through mental illness, trauma, and recovery. After a medical crisis nearly took his wife’s life, Ashley faced years of unprocessed pain, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts before discovering the healing power of nature. Through therapy, mindfulness, and fly fishing, he found a path back to wellness, and now helps others reconnect to themselves through the outdoors. 4 EP 13- More Than a Catch: Fly Fishing and Belonging with Erica Nelson On the Real By AlishaBartlett  -  December 1, 2025 EP 13- More Than a Catch: Fly Fishing and Belonging with Erica Nelson Erika Nelson is a professional fly fishing guide, educator, and advocate for equity and inclusion in the outdoors. She is the founder of REAL Consulting and a founding guide for Wanderland Outdoors, where she works to create accessible and empowering outdoor experiences for historically excluded communities. 2 On the Real Podcast On The Real is all about making the invisible visible. This podcast, hosted by Ubuntu Fly Anglers, is a space where we get real with Black and Brown anglers, guides, outfitters, and outdoor enthusiasts about what matters most to them. Through candid conversations, On The Real explores the joys, challenges, and truths of living the outdoor life, from fly fishing and guiding to building businesses, mentoring others, and finding belonging in nature. It’s about sharing wisdom, celebrating identity, and holding space for the real stories that often go unheard. Click HERE to go the On the Real podcast. EP 16: Yolanda Edwards – Healing, Empowerment, Representation: The Story Behind Her Waters EP 16: Yolanda Edwards – Healing, Empowerment, Representation: The Story Behind Her Waters EP 15: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect: Dr. Loleta Robinson on Fly Fishing, Identity, and the Power of Imperfection EP 15: You Don’t Have to Be Perfect: Dr. Loleta Robinson on Fly Fishing, Identity, and the Power of Imperfection EP 14 : Outside Is My Church: Healing, Mental Health, and Fly Fishing with The Gentleman Lumberjack EP 14 : Outside Is My Church: Healing, Mental Health, and Fly Fishing with The Gentleman Lumberjack EP 13- More Than a Catch: Fly Fishing and Belonging with Erica Nelson EP 13- More Than a Catch: Fly Fishing and Belonging with Erica Nelson EP 12 : Healing in the Wild: Angel Massie on Mindfulness, Fly Fishing & Black Joy Outdoors EP 12 : Healing in the Wild: Angel Massie on Mindfulness, Fly Fishing & Black Joy Outdoors EP 11: Scot Simmons – Hooks, Healing, and Ubuntu: The Fly Life of Scot Simmons EP 11: Scot Simmons – Hooks, Healing, and Ubuntu: The Fly Life of Scot Simmons EP 10: Angelica Talan – Raising Role Models: Motherhood and Fly Fishing EP 10: Angelica Talan – Raising Role Models: Motherhood and Fly Fishing EP 9: Lael Johnson – Visibility, Vision, and the Vow to Fish EP 9: Lael Johnson – Visibility, Vision, and the Vow to Fish EP 8: Lino Jubilado – From East LA to the LA River: Lino’s Fly Fishing Journey EP 8: Lino Jubilado – From East LA to the LA River: Lino’s Fly Fishing Journey EP 7: Carl Crawford – Ubuntu in 2024: A Co-Founder’s Reflections and Vision Ahead EP 7: Carl Crawford – Ubuntu in 2024: A Co-Founder’s Reflections and Vision Ahead Ep 6: Analiza del Rosario – Just Fishing: Community, Culture & the Fly Life Ep 6: Analiza del Rosario – Just Fishing: Community, Culture & the Fly Life Ep 5: Mario Guel – Fly Fishing, Tacos, and Creating Space Ep 5: Mario Guel – Fly Fishing, Tacos, and Creating Space Support iFishiBelong As the year comes to a close, iFishiBelong invites you to help sustain our mission of creating inclusive, empowering, and accessible fishing experiences for all. There are many ways to get involved: donate to support essential programs and operational costs, volunteer your time and skills, follow, like, share, and comment (on social media), to amplify our message, or attend an event to experience the community firsthand. Many companies also offer donation matching, doubling the impact of your gift. Every contribution, whether time, resources, or engagement, helps us continue building a diverse and welcoming fishing community. Join us in keeping iFishiBelong thriving and expanding its reach. Learn more and contribute HERE. Support iFishiBelong Susbsribe to the iFishiBelong Email List © Copyright 2023 iFishiBelongenusen-US1773556982https://ifishibelong.org

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