Minnesota
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.
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.
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.
Scot Simmons is a Minnesota-based fly fishing guide, community leader, and passionate advocate for inclusion in the outdoors. He mentors youth, serves on the leadership team of Trout Unlimited’s Twin Cities chapter, and finds purpose in connecting people to nature through fly fishing.