Introduction to Fishing
When I was around 5 years old, my parents gave me a Barbie fishing rod. They themselves knew little to nothing about fishing, but they tied on a bobber and hooked a worm. There, on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, I caught my very first sunfish. I was a tomboy growing up, and absolutely loved the outdoors/lake life. My mother came from a hunting and fishing family. However, all the anglers on her side were men.
I begged my uncle to take me fishing on a summer weekend in Maine where I learned how to catch a wild brook trout, filet, and cook it. I was under the age of ten at that time, but I’ll never forget how that experience hooked me. Unfortunately, that was the last time they ever took me. I think because I was a girl, they didn’t really care the give me the time of day to continue it. My cousin, who was a boy, got all the fishing, hunting, and outdoors gear for Christmas from my relatives. I was so jealous, and each year I’d express how badly I wanted the same gifts. But, because I was a girl, I got girl things.
I’ll never forget how mad it would make me. As a young outdoorsy girl, I became determined to show them that I too was deserving of these gifts and prove I could be just as good as them at fishing. As I became more involved on the water, one of my uncles gave me a fishing rod for my birthday. For years that was my dedicated fishing rod, until I broke it off the side of my kayak mid cast! Today, I’d like to say it all worked out. I now have an entire fishing platform, I work with some amazing companies, and all of the men in my life are incredibly proud of me! I am so grateful for what this industry has done for me, but I am even grateful that I have something I can go out, enjoy, and find peace in.
Experiences & Challenges
Let’s start with the positive. Being a woman can have its advantages. Because there are very few of us in this industry, companies like to seek us out. I feel that I was very lucky to have been chosen to help represent companies, and receive gear that I could learn how to utilize to better my expertise as an angler free of charge. People are usually very surprised when they hear that I am a female angler, and they express how they hope their daughters, and sons, are able to get into this sport.
Because I purposefully dress modestly and present myself professionally, they can go to my YouTube and other social platforms and learn how to fish or watch for fun without fear or inappropriate language or too much skin showing. With that being said, being a woman has its downfalls. The amount of men who message me inappropriate things about how if I dressed in a bathing suit or wore little clothing, I’d be liked more or have a larger following. The unsolicited sexual comments I receive are insane. I either am respected by men (with morals) for how I present myself, or resented and harassed by how I don’t show enough skin, or just the down right fact that I am a female in a male dominated industry. Or, even with clothes, get harassed anyways.
I have even had to discontinue working with companies due to this as well. I left a company where I made YouTube videos for them where their subscribers would be down right mean and bully me in the comment section, and they never once stood up for me. On the flip side, I’ve currently work with amazing companies who greatly support me and have my best interest! Just like any other female angler, we have experienced amazing things like having the opportunity to fish with likeminded women and men, go on crazy cool trips, and learn from each other.
Personal Achievements
Within the last year, my social media has grown immensely. I work so hard creating fun reels and sharing photos of my catches, I’m so excited that more people are seeing them and liking my stuff! I have always dreamed of going to the Bassmaster Classic, and this year my dreams came true! I was finally able to attend the Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was everything and more than I could have imagined! I caught my very first frog fish this past year, too!
I have tried fishing with frogs for years, and I don’t know why but I absolutely suck at it. I did not give up, and it finally happened this past summer! Also, I finally got a bass boat! This I think is my biggest achievement so far. I have been praying for this day to come. My fiancé and I officially are boat owners and I am so excited to see where this brings me this year. My goal is to begin teaching kids how to fish, on the boat and through my social media! This may come a little later in the season as I get comfortable moving from a kayak to a boat, but I have been wanting to do this forever.
When I grew up, I wanted to know more about fishing, but my parents knew little to nothing about it. I have friends and clients who express how their kids are interested, but they don’t have a clue on what to do to get them started. Now, I’ll be able to bring them both out and teach them, parent and child. I am so excited. The boat it the current achievement, the teaching is to come!
Equality & Inclusions Efforts
Women are not shown nearly as much as they should. In some cases, the women I work with for a company have even reached out about how there aren’t enough women broadcasted in any of their commercials or posts. What I have seen though is companies changing this a lot recently, even within the ones I work with, and I love it! Women are amazing anglers too, if not even better in some cases! I’d love to see more women in tournament angling or even on YouTube.
I know I was terrified the I started my YouTube channel because I was afraid of all the men that would come in and challenge me or think I was full of a crap because I was a female and “I knew nothing.” I mean, yes I get these comments, but not regularly. But, I don’t let them phase me! I’d love to see more women brave enough to get behind the camera and share what they know!
I would love to see more companies sponsoring women, AND POSTING ABOUT IT. I would love to see more pages made for strictly women on social media platforms. I would love to see men holding their tongues and being more supportive and less judgmental. I must add, there are many men though that aren’t this way. I love that BassmastHER is being created, this is a huge lunge in the bass fishing community.
We only ever see men competing in the Classic. I believe there has only ever been one woman that’s competed in the opens. I think this will help women feel more comfortable getting into tournament angling, but also shed more light on deserving female anglers that work so hard to make something of themselves within this bass fishing community.
Advice for Aspiring Female Anglers
JUST DO IT. Buy the kayak or boat, buy that rod, ask those hard or dumb questions, post that photo, just go fishing! Who cares how you look. Put on that full face of makeup, or don’t! If you’re scared you’re going to be judged, don’t worry, you will! But, that’s okay! You don’t need to appease every single one of your followers. You’re going to get weird messages, hate comments, etc. If you don’t just do it, you’ll never get to experience the amazing support this community has, or inspire someone else to begin fishing.
Your story is important, so share it. You’re hair might have been blowing weird in that video, but post it anyways! We are not perfect, and no one is expecting you to be that. I used to get up extra early before a day on the water where I was planning to film just to put a full face of makeup on and do my hair in fear that people would judge me. I learned that I fish better when I’m comfortable and get adequate sleep, so I don’t really put anything on anymore and just throw my hair up in a bun or put a hat on. No one cares what I look like, they just want to see my rod bent over and putting fish on the deck!
Don’t over think it. If you enjoy it, others will see that. If you don’t want to post about it, but are still scared of feeling dumb because you’re just starting out, find one person that can help you answer those hard questions. Message me! I’ll always answer and never judge. Us women are extremely supportive of one another because there aren’t many of us and we want to see more women enjoying what we love so much, too.
You can follow Noelle on social media here: https://linktr.ee/noelleroth
