'Nothing like it': Pair helping women into hunting, fishing

Two South Island women are working to make traditionally male-dominated outdoor pursuits more accessible to women — teaching them to fly fish and hunt, and now are joining forces for a women-only getaway that brings the two together.

Kristina Placko runs Stray South Fishing Outfitters in Southland, teaching women to fly fish through guided trips and workshops. For her, it's a lifelong passion.

"I'm definitely a lover of fly fishing. It's a passion, but also a vocation," she said.

Placko grew up with opportunities to fish and says spending time on the river has brought her a huge amount of joy.

“To be able to share that with our community and build communities as we go — there’s nothing like it.”

Alice Sanders took a different path into the outdoors. The Central Otago woman grew up on a high-country farm near Alexandra, though hunting wasn't part of her upbringing beyond some pest control.

"I'm a farmer's daughter. I'm from a farm — we have a high-country station near Alexandra," she said.

After 14 years working as a lawyer, Sanders returned to the family farm and decided to learn to hunt. Her own experience was positive, but hearing from other women made her realise not everyone felt as comfortable getting started.

"I thought, how do we fix that? How do we provide a space where, especially women, can get out and learn and ask all the questions they might feel they can't ask when they're just being taken out by a mate?"

That question led her to establish Mount Campbell Hunting Club, creating a supportive space for women to learn.

"It's been really special."

Both women say a lack of knowledge, confidence and support can make traditionally male-dominated outdoor activities intimidating.

Placko said women can pick up fly fishing quickly because of the technical skills involved.

"Girls are so good at it. Women pick it up in an absolute flash because we have that finesse, and we like the technicalities and the skills that come with it."

Good tuition, she said, makes all the difference.

"It comes down to those fundamental skills and learning them from somebody who knows how to do it themselves. Quality tuition goes a long way in fly fishing."

For Sanders, helping women connect with the outdoors has become one of the most rewarding parts of her work.

"It's really about helping somebody come back to themselves, come back to nature and create a skill — one of those original skills that we used to all have."

Watching a woman catch her first fish or take her first animal is deeply meaningful, she said.

"Every time I finish one, my heart just bursts. Watching somebody catch their first fish or take their first animal, succeed and seeing what it means to them — it's so special."

Placko says fly fishing has also carried her through some of the hardest periods of her own life. Her advice is simple: get outside.

"If you're feeling that way, get out on the river, get out on a hill in a safe space and just come back to yourself."

Both women say there are far fewer barriers to getting started than people might assume.

"You don't have to be super fit. You can just walk along, and you don't need all the gear," Sanders said.

She said women don't need expensive equipment or years of experience to get involved.

"We look like we've got all the gear, but we've been doing it a long time. You can just wear your gym tights and good boots and get out there."

And it's not only rural women who are keen. Sanders says she's taught everyone from a CFO and a police officer to conservation workers and vegetarians — including people who've spent their entire lives in the city.

"It's really anybody. Lots of these people have nobody in their life who does it, and now they do. And that's so special."

Now, the pair are combining their passions to create a women-focused outdoor experience, bringing hunting and fly fishing together in one weekend away.

"It's a girls' weekend away where we get to disconnect and get back to nature," Placko said.

"Because I think as Kiwis, that's what we love the most — being outdoors."