Molly Semenik is textbook example of Be What You Don’t See Campaign. She started guiding professionally at the age of 43, became one of very few women to receive master certification by Fly Fishers International (FFI) for both single-handed and two-handed casting, started her own business Tie The Knot Fly Fishing, and authored a guide book, 25 Best Off-The-Beaten-Path Montana Fly Fishing Streams. She was mentored by women and men along the way and is now a teacher and mentor to others. In November, she sat down with one of her mentees and dear friend, iFishiBelong founder Heather Hodson, to talk about her extraordinary journey.
Whether it’s casting or building a business, you have to put in the time and effort and have a mentor to get you there. You have to want it.
Molly grew up on the suburbs of Detroit and taught herself to fish by targeting panfish in a nearby lake. Her father bought her a fishing pole from Kmart, along with a bike and tackle box and, at the age of 8, she was off. “I had a passion for fishing. I was born with it, and I still have it today.” Her father introduced her to fly fishing when she was 14. He worked in the automotive industry and fortunately had the resources to take her to fishing lodges in the west where she fished with guides.
This was the 1970’s, and she always felt welcome on the river and learned from each guide, although they are different from the guides of today. She was around 18 when she first fished on DePuy Spring Creek, a small tributary of the Yellowstone River south of Livingston, Montana. Twenty-five years later, she became a guide on that same river.
In 2000, Molly moved with her husband and then 14-year-old daughter from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Livingston, Montana, and became the primary earner for her family. She had been a white-water guide, but her goal was to become a full-time fly fishing guide. She was turned away by five outfitters when Dean Reiner, the late founder of Hatch Finders Fly Shop, gave her a chance. Molly was required to guide 120 days before acquiring her outfitter’s license. At the time, she was the only woman guiding and while the guys were hanging out at the bar after a day on the water, Molly went home to clean her boat and get dinner ready for her family.
In Livingston, Molly also happened upon a Fly Fishers International conclave. In attendance were legends in fly fishing, including Joan Wulff, who was a professional fly casting instructor. That encounter brought Molly to the realization that she, too, wanted to teach fly casting.
Molly quickly found her groove in guiding with an emphasis on instruction, which she offers through her business Tie The Knot, now in its 23rd year. Programs include individual and group fly casting instruction for all ages. At the same time, she offered hosted trips to Christmas Island, Alaska, South Carolina, Mexico, and Oregon for 21 years, and managed to found the Yellowstone Fly Fishing School with Matt Wilhelm. (She sold her share of that business to Matt for $10.)
Molly now operates Tie The Knot out of Blaine, Washington, where she and her husband relocated to be closer to their daughter and her growing family.
- Checkout Tie The Knot Fishing
- Schedule a coaching session with Molly
- Contact Molly for the name of a coach in your area
- Watch Molly’s YouTube videos
- Follow @mollysemenik on Instagram
Molly credits men and women along the way who gave her a chance and shared their knowledge. Here’s how you can provide support to anglers, from beginners to aspiring industry professionals:
- Share your knowledge of how and where to fish
- Open up to people who are different from you
- Understand and believe that fishing is for everybody
- Say “hello” on the water and in the fly shop to fellow anglers, make them feel welcome
- Take the first step
- Believe in yourself
- Don’t be afraid of setbacks
- Find people that you trust and build a support system for encouragement and safety
- Join a club and patronize a shop that feels right for you
- Find your niche and be the best at it – whether its catching, casting, photography, social media, or writing
- Be who you are naturally and let your strengths come to the surface
The 2025 iFishiBelong “Be What You Don’t See” campaign highlights leaders breaking barriers in the fishing industry. Each month, we will feature individuals who challenge conventions and inspire change with passion and resilience, motivating the next generation of anglers to create their paths and “be what they don’t see.” By highlighting these trailblazers, we aim to inspire broader participation and show that leadership roles in the fishing industry are accessible to everyone, creating a more inclusive vision of success.
