On a beautiful day at the Nemours Wildlife Foundation in Yemassee, SC, a group of passionate women anglers gathered for the POWR+ Inshore Fishing with Artificials class, led by the knowledgeable and engaging Captain Tanya Dowdy of Reel Chica Charters. This all-women event celebrated skill-building, confidence, and empowerment on the water.

The day kicked off with Captain Tanya Dowdy diving into everything anglers need to know. From soft plastics and hard baits to rods, reels, and all the little tricks that make fishing successful, her in-depth knowledge is impressive!

She walked everyone through rigging, casting, and presenting artificial lures so they’d actually catch fish. By the end of the morning, everyone was brimming with confidence and ready to put their new skills to work on the water!

After a quick lunch generously provided by the American Sportfishing Association, everyone headed to the water to put their new skills to the test. The afternoon was filled with casting, reeling, and, most importantly, catching fish.

This class practiced catch and release techniques. The serene surroundings of Nemours Wildlife Foundation provided the perfect backdrop for learning and building confidence in a supportive, all-women environment.

The event also featured generous giveaways from sponsors like AFTCO, Angling Women, Haddrell’s Point Tackle, St. Croix, ZMan, Seviin, Reel Chica Charters, Palmetto State Armory and Yeti, ensuring participants left with new knowledge, confidence, and gear to continue their fishing journeys.

A huge thank you to Captain Tanya Dowdy for her expert instruction, to our sponsors for their generous support, and to the Nemours Wildlife Foundation for providing such a pristine location. This day not only strengthened fishing skills but also celebrated the power of women supporting women in the outdoors.  It was a memorable day of learning, fishing, and community that had everyone saying—fish on!

This POWR+ class is part of SCWF’s Palmetto Outdoors Women Retreat or POWR series. Check out our events page for upcoming POWR+ events and more opportunities to hone your outdoor skills!