Introduction to Fishing
I was introduced to fishing as a child by my mom and dad. It was not until I was an adult that a friend suggested a guided trip. Once that happened, I got the bug and joined a local club. My competitive nature took over from there.
Experiences and Challenges
I have been very blessed and have not personally experienced a great deal of negative interactions. One negative experience that comes to mind was bullying from a man who did not feel I should be a regular on a morning talk show. He would call me personally and make negative and lewd comments trying to deter me. He even pressured the host of the fishing show, who asked me not to call in as often. When I wouldn’t answer the man’s call one morning, he left a vulgar voicemail. With this evidence, I got the police involved, and his harassment stopped.
Another challenge has been obtaining cash sponsorships. Discount opportunities are easier, as I suspect it is for most anglers. Can I say for sure that the cash sponsorship challenges have been because I am a woman? No, I cannot. I have no evidence to prove either way on that. On a positive note, there are many businesses that treat me as a tournament angler and not as a female. There are three that are most notable. First is the folks at Cabela’s in Fort Worth, Texas, which includes the store and the service department. The second is Rockwall Marine in Rockwall, Texas. Thirdly, Anglers Pro Tackle in North Richland Hills, Texas. Kudos to each of them for their professionalism and support!
Support Systems
I have seen supportive networks and groups. The Lady Bass Anglers Association is one of those, along with the local/regional clubs (Tri-State Federation or Women’s Bass Tour, East Texas Lady Anglers, Indiana Bass’n Gals, Gateway Bass’n Gals, Women Fish Too, and others). While some individuals and entities do not see the need for women to have an organization separate from men, a separate organization/opportunity provides a space where women can build confidence and develop skills with much less skepticism and much more support.
I think larger and more well-known organizations tend to be less supportive as the focus seems to be more on their bottom line than the sport. Don’t get me wrong, making a profit is a necessary part of the world. I guess I would circle back to a question. Why is it okay for men who work regular jobs and fish competitively to be considered “professionals,” and it not okay for women who do the same to be considered professionals?
Equality and Inclusion Efforts
Women should not be given special treatment, but they should be afforded the same opportunities within the industry. I would like to see more of the well-known sponsors consider women as ambassadors for their products and brands. I also feel women should work to earn this, but it is hard to work to earn something when women seemingly are not afforded the opportunities. For as big as the fishing industry is in dollar figures, it is in reality a smaller footprint that controls the market. Women who are out there and doing the work should be included as the faces of the sport. Maybe another take on this would be to find out what the fishing industry feels women should be doing in order to gain greater equity and inclusion for women.
Personal Achievements
There are several that I am proud of. I was fortunate enough to win the Lady Bass Classic in 2012 and 2016, and I was part of a feature on women in USA Today Magazine and Newspaper in August of 2017.
Advice for Aspiring Female Anglers
Just do it! Make a plan, work the plan that develops your fishing skills as well as your marketability. Show potential sponsors what you are capable of and willing to do to bring them a return on their investment. Work to be the “Caitlyn Clark” of fishing. She works hard and represents herself in a positive light. She is not perfect, but she is a good example.
