COEUR d'ALENE - A flock of fly-tying aficionados gathered at the Hayden library on May 11.

Spinning thread and tying knots, the eight North Idaho Fly Casters assembled green drakes, flying ants, woolly buggers, prince nymphs, Copper Johns and Renegades - just about every fly that catches trout in North Idaho.

When the fishermen finished up, 20 dozen new flies were ready for the river.

"It was just a good effort by the guys," said Dave Londeree, president of North Idaho Fly Casters.

All those nymphs, dries and streamers are reserved for a special cause: Casting for Recovery, a national nonprofit that provides fly-fishing retreats for women with breast cancer, is coming to the Panhandle next summer.

NIFC and the Kelly Creek Fly Casters will host a free CFR retreat in June 2012. Fourteen women from North Idaho and eastern Washington will come together on a local stream and learn the fly-fishing arts.

"The physical motion involved in fly-fishing is exactly the same kind of motion that's recommended after (breast cancer) surgery," said Charlene Douglas, event coordinator for the Lewiston-based Kelly Creek outfit. "It's a fantastic program."

On Monday, Casting for Recovery - headquartered in Vermont - sent word that the North Idaho CFR chapter had been officially accepted. The planning process is now in full swing.

"We're actually looking at about six different locations now," Douglas said.

The retreat location must meet certain criteria: a good fishing river nearby, enough room for each participant, proper cooking facilities and a close supply of drinking water.

Londeree is pushing for Shoshone Base Camp, high on the Coeur d'Alene River north of Prichard. The scenic camp has plenty of space and a good number of cabins.

It's also a stone's throw from some of Idaho's finest fly-fishing water.

"The beauty of the Shoshone camp is it's at the confluence of Shoshone Creek and the Coeur d'Alene River," Londeree said.

Any woman who has experienced breast cancer will be eligible for the program, from newly-diagnosed patients to longtime survivors. No prior fishing experience is required. Applications will be accepted prior to the event.

Emphasizing camaraderie, outdoor experience and developing new skills, a CFR retreat is more than just a fishing trip. In addition to throwing flies and hooking trout, the women receive counseling and educational services from trained staff.

"The rhythm of casting of the line and being in a natural setting also relieves everyday stress and provides a sense of calm," a CFR press release said. "The retreat offers respite, connectivity and provides information to survivors."

Next year's retreat will take place over a summer weekend - June 23, 2012, is the tentative date.

For the first day or two, the event will be all-female. Some males will join the retreat later in the weekend, though, when participants hit the water and additional guides are needed.

"I believe in the fact of getting out and spending time in nature," Douglas said. "I believe in the networking, and the peer-to-peer action. It's a very small, intimate group. (The women) get to know each other very well."

Casting for Recovery will furnish rods, reels, waders and other fishing equipment. Thanks to the North Idaho Fly Casters and other donors - including Orvis Northwest Outfitters in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden's Northwest Classic Tackle - plenty of flies will be available, too.

Meals and lodging are provided by the hosts.

Participants need little more than spare clothes and personal items.

"There's absolutely no cost to them," Londeree said.

According to the CFR release, 90 percent of retreat-goers felt better able to cope with their disease, and 100 percent would recommend the program to a friend.

Londeree and Douglas will be promoting the North Idaho retreat all year. Hospitals and cancer centers will be contacted, flyers hung, brochures printed. Right now, fundraising is a top priority.

"Putting on these retreats are not inexpensive," Douglas explained. "They run anywhere from $10,000 to $16,000. For the first one, we have to raise, at a minimum, $20,000."

To make a donation or learn more about CFR in North Idaho, call Dave Londeree at 946-6631 or Charlene Douglas at 476-7405. The mailing address for North Idaho Fly Casters is P.O. Box 1698, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816.

"It's a fantastic program, and it gets away from focusing just on the cancer," Douglas said. "You spend your time out in nature."