The “We Are Here” gatherings are at the heart of the Ubuntu Fly Anglers Network. In 2024, we saw tremendous growth starting with our first meet-up in Spokane, WA, where, thanks to generous donors, friends, and a local grant, we spent three days on the Spokane River achieving key goals: building a strategic plan, putting fly rods in the hands of local youth of color, recognizing our supporters, and, of course, fishing. Out of that gathering came a clear consensus: we need to come together annually to celebrate our community, our love of fly angling, and to share both with others who look like us.
This year, our gathering moves to the Twin Cities, where we will continue expanding our network, introduce new anglers to the sport, honor our friends and donors, and, of course, enjoy time on the water. We remain committed to changing the face of the outdoors.
Email [email protected] for more information.
“We Are Here, Where Are You?” is an initiative dedicated to making the invisible visible within the fishing community. It uplifts Black and Brown anglers by recognizing their presence, celebrating their expertise, and affirming their role as the next generation of leaders and educators in the sport.
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.
Joyce’s fly fishing journey, which began in the 1990s with the International Women’s Fly Fishers, has grown into a lifelong passion for teaching, conservation, and community leadership—culminating in her Hall of Fame induction for her dedication to empowering youth, women, and veterans through the sport.
Nicole, an angler from Montreal now living in Ottawa, discovered fly fishing a decade ago, and since then has become deeply involved in the community—tying her own flies, mentoring others, and fishing across North America—all while advocating for greater inclusivity and representation of BIPOC anglers in the sport.
