Welcome to Reel Divas.Com
The Reel Divas are dedicated to the art of flyfishing, the power of play, and that all women are queens—if they say they are.
Reel Divas believe that all women should look good while on the water, no matter what type of fishing they enjoy.
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Destiny Casts Reel Divas Nationwide
The beginning: The ladies of Mid-South Fly Fishers, one of the nation’s largest fly fishing clubs, were selected to host the October 2003 Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave’s Charitable Outreach Luncheon held annually at the Van Matre Senior Center in Mountain Home, Arkansas. So, at 6:00 pm, Wednesday, June 25, 2003 at a Memphis, Tennessee restaurant a group of lady fly fishers met for dinner to discuss the luncheon theme. All had recently read Jill Conner Browne’s first book, The Sweet Potato Queens’ Book of Love, and were inspired by Jill’s messages to women: “Every woman is a Queen – if she says she is” and “Life is too short – and too long – not to do the things you love” and “If you ain’t lovin’ your life, change it.” The group especially resonated to the messages about the power of play: women who do not make time (or forget) to play, grow old. Before the evening was concluded, the group decided to use Sweet Potato Queens™ as the theme for the luncheon and to become an “Official Chapter of the World-Wide Sweet Potato Queen Movement.” The Reel Divas concept was born.
The Outreach Luncheon that fall turned out to be a big splash as Reel Divas supplied tiaras for the attendees, and spiffy fish motif Mardi Gras beads and boas of all colors, along with copies of Jill Conner Browne’s books as table centerpieces.
Since that Memphis summer’s evening, the Reel Divas movement has been met with enthusiasm and gained momentum rapidly throughout the USA – perhaps even internationally – as these dedicated ladies continue to introduce the art of fly fishing, through mentoring and teaching conservation, education and safety. Any female can become an actual Reel Diva, if she so chooses, by joining Mid-South Fly Fishers – or declare herself a Reel Diva while enjoying a passion for life, play, frivolity and support for one another in addition to the common bond and enjoyment of fly fishing.
Reel Divas activities: Reel Divas certainly have a passion for play and REELY do enjoy being in parades and strutting their fly fishing stuff! For the past four years, Reel Divas from Tennessee to Louisiana have joined together along with THE Sweet Potato Queens and the “Million Queen March™” in the Jackson, Mississippi annual St. Paddy’s Day Parade. Cheers can be heard as Reel Divas (adorned in bedazzling fly fishing vests lined with marabou, pink hiking boots, “fishnet” hose, bejeweled caps and casting marabou boas from short fly rods) toss fish beads to adoring crowds along the parade route.
To help celebrate Cotter, Arkansas’s 100th year history and rededication of the historic Ruthven Rainbow Arch Bridge, the Reel Divas were invited to participate in the Cotter Arkansas Fall Festival Parade on September 24, 2004. Since Cotter bills itself “Trout Capital USA”, the Reel Divas fly fishing theme once again rose to the occasion, as these ladies promoted the Mid-South Fly Fishers while outfitted in Reel Diva parade wear and riding in true fly fishing style in four river boats decorated with lots of sparkly stuff and feather boas, adding individually-wrapped fish candy to the fish beads as throws to the cheering crowds.
Near and dear to the hearts of the Reel Divas are the charitable organizations and worthwhile causes to which these ladies are devoted:
Casting for Recovery™ is a national non-profit, support and educational fly fishing retreat program for women who have or have had breast cancer – and the Reel Divas have assisted annually with Arkansas’ Casting for Recovery™ Retreat at Gaston’s since the first one in 2004.
The Reel Divas were involved as volunteers for the three years (2003, 2004, & 2005) that the Hooked on a Cure Celebrity Fly Fishing Classic benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was held in the Mountain Home area.
Reel Divas clean out their closets and donate gently-worn items to benefit Mountain Home’s Serenity House sanctuary for abused women.
Teaching the younger generation to embrace the love of fishing and conservation is evident as the Reel Divas, along with male members of the Mid-South Fly Fishers gather at a private bass and bream lake near Columbus, Mississippi to bring the joys for fishing to kids from the Palmer Children’s Home each spring since 2005.
The end of April, 2006 will mark the second year that Reel Divas participate with Mid-South Fly Fishers to take Memphis inner-city youth from the Streets Ministry fishing at a local pond. This outing is especially rewarding because, as a teenager was heard saying last year: he didn’t care if he caught any fish because “it just feels good to be someplace green.”
Reel Divas receive Special Recognition: At the October 2005 Mountain Home, Arkansas annual Conclave event, The Southern Council of The Federation of Fly Fishers presented the Reel Divas with the “2005 Woman of the Year Award” for “their unusual devotion to the Southern Council, and through their devotion has benefited the Southern Council, Federation of Fly Fishers, and their Club.” Reel Divas from Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas were among those in attendance to accept the award.
For Mid-South Fly Fishers information please contact msff.org web site. The Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers web site is southerncouncilfff.org and fedflyfishers.org is the Federation of Fly Fishers web site. (Links to these websites can be found on our Affiliations page)
Our e-mail address
Contact Information:
Reel Divas
299 S. Walnut Bend, Suite 101
Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 757-2383