Women anglers ask to be let into gentlemen’s club for fly fishing

Britain’s oldest fly-fishing club is facing a Garrick-style protest from women anglers over its men-only policy.

Marina Gibson, a fly-fishing instructor and guide, has asked to be allowed into The Flyfishers’ Club in Mayfair, which counts the King as its patron.

Established in 1884, it is “a club for gentlemen interested in the art of fly fishing” and currently has around 600 members. It also has a male-only guest policy, except in the case of events.

Ms Gibson, who has written a book about her passion for fly fishing, has called on the club to embrace change. Her plea comes weeks after the Garrick Club bowed to pressure and voted to admit women members.

“I would absolutely love to join The Flyfishers’ Club,” she said during an appearance at the Hay Festival.

“I don’t go to London that often but if I did, I would just love to go and sit and read a book and talk about fishing to other fishermen.

“I think a lot of people have a difficult time with change and I completely understand that people want to keep it as it is, but I think that there are so many really hardcore women anglers out there and they would all love a chance to go and sit there at lunchtime – because we’re not allowed in at lunch – and just chill.”

Ms Gibson is not the only woman to lobby the club. Lucy Mantle, chairman and co-founder of the City Flickers fly-fishing organisation, has written an open letter to the club president that reads: “In light of the recent press reports on the Garrick Club, I thought the timing might be right to raise my concerns.

“I am of course aware that the club was founded in 1884 as a ‘gentlemen’s club for fly fishers’, but it now seems increasingly anachronistic and archaic to continue to ban women given the vast societal changes that have occurred.

“There are many of us – both men and women – who view the policy as indefensible, unsustainable and, above all, unwise for a whole series of reasons.”

Ms Mantle said that the ban on women would deter younger people from participating in the fly-fishing world, and would propagate the notion in Britain “that fly fishing is only for old fogeys or wealthy, elderly men” – unlike in North America and Australasia, she said, where it is “in vogue for all”.

She assured the club: “Whatever the fears of some members, I can confidently assert that, although we may sometimes wear colourful dresses, most women anglers… know how to behave.”

She signed off: “I am sure this issue has arisen on several previous occasions. But, as the Garrick experience has shown, it won’t go away and momentum is building. Please help do the right thing. And yes, I would have liked to join.”

Alastair Collett, president of the club, told The Telegraph that “the matter is under consideration” and may be put to a membership vote.

“The rules are the rules, and until someone changes them, they remain the rules,” Mr Collett said.

“The matter is under consideration by the general committee. No decision has been taken. We were already discussing the matter before the Garrick changed their rules.

“Women can come for any event which is open. They can come to lunch on an event day if invited.”

As for Ms Mantle’s reference to old fogeys, Mr Collett said: “She is entitled to her own opinion, of course. But we have young members and old members.”

The matter was last discussed by the general committee in 2013 but was not put to a vote and the men-only rule remained.

Ms Gibson raised the issue at the Hay Festival during a talk to promote her memoir, Cast Catch Release. She is a certified FFI (Fly Fishers International) casting instructor who founded the Northern Fishing School at Swinton Park in North Yorkshire.

After being introduced to angling by her mother, Ms Gibson set up in business in her 20s and said she is one of only half-a-dozen women who are full-time guides or instructors in the UK.

Women are just as capable as men when it comes to fishing, she told the audience. “Really, you don’t have to be strong to fish. It’s timing, finesse, it’s application of power but you don’t need a lot of it. It’s a sport for everyone.”

Yet women are not attracted to the pursuit, she said. “I’m trying to figure out why so many women are shooting but not fishing.”

Ms Gibson said she had asked women who have attended her school “and they said that fishing doesn’t look glamorous. Whenever they see fishermen, it’s normally in the rain underneath an umbrella. I said it’s not like that, and you don’t have to go fishing in the rain.

“I think shooting right now is, in a way, quite sexy because there are so many brands out there. You can look the part. Whereas fishing is probably a bit more chilled. It’s also harder.”

In 2020, the BBC was ridiculed for referring to “fisherpeople” rather than “fishermen”. Ms Gibson said she was perfectly happy with the latter description.

“The BBC started it – it was ‘fisherperson’ – and this year Sam Smith [the non-binary pop star] said he was a ‘fisherthem’. But I quite like to say I’m a fisherman because it’s only really changed recently. And I don’t get offended either,” she said.