Fishing Report from RodnReelGirl By Wanda Stewart Fishing has become my first love and sharing that passion has become my dream. More often than not a day on the water has been my saving grace, to me, it is as close as you can get to heaven with out actually dying! Beautiful blue skies and a soft morning breeze with a splash of activity on the water here and there skimming through the marsh, gets my adrenaline pumping. Throttle back tilt and drop the trolling motor I can just feel the suspense in the air, FALSE ALARM, it isn’t until I am getting ready to hit another spot after 15 minutes of anticipation, that my cork goes under and that sound I love so much, A screaming reel, I know a big bull red wants to play! How many times has one of my Charter Guides warned me not to horse him, they may as well have handed me a saddle! Fighting him for a short period of time I have him back at the boat, netting him a different story. Once done he is a tag and release after a few nice pics. Fishing hasn’t always gone so smooth for me and trying to find my niche in this industry has been more than tough. Shut downs from would be sponsors constantly being told I would never work in the fishing industry and being shunned by many. I knew all I needed was just a small bit of support even if those closet to me offered none, by now I was literally hooked on promoting our fishing industry, getting our kids out to fish, preserving our natural resources for future generations. But getting the guides to work with me was not an easy task, I needed their business in order to continue on my journey. Once they realized I could give them much needed visibility they slowly accepted me into their business world of chartering and opened up to me about what fishing meant to them. Then doors started to open for me and I worked harder, going to boat shows promoting products, staying visible at all times, then more and more women started to follow me to reach out to me and ask how they could get sponsors and product and how much they had come to loving the their time on the water. I am now an equal partner in a website that told me I would never wok in the fishing industry again and no charter guide would work 28- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCTOBER 2018
with me, it did not stop me from going forward, it did not stop me from following my passion and it shouldn’t stop you either. I have come through some troubled storms to be where I am today. There is an untapped market out there for women my age 55 to 65 and fishing products sales have gone up drastically! “I’ve noticed that [women] will enter into the activity only after they … commit to caring for the resource in the same way they do their families, friends, home, and work,” “They’re not going to overlook conservation education.” Last but not least encouraging other women my age to follow their passion, BELIEVE and ACHIEVE. It is never to late in life to pursue your passion and when no one else believes in you, don’t ever give up. After much hard work I have earned some credibility among my peers. I fish with and promote numerous charter guides in the state of Louisiana and several other states as well. People have come from all over the world to Fish Louisiana with Wanda Stewart. Fishing has traditionally been a boys’ club. But more women are challenging norms and carving out their own space at the fishing hole. This is why it’s a great thing. Only 35 percent of anglers are female. We need more women on the water. And there’s definitely a market. In response to women’s evident enthusiasm for angling, some big brands have hopped on board, recently releasing women’s-specific gear. This should be good for the bottom line, as according to the 2017 special report published by the Outdoor Industry Association and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, women are now the fastest-growing demographic in fishing. More women anglers will lead to more product sales, opportunities for guides, and diversity in the sport. Women’s increased involvement unites communities and invigorates conservation initiatives, ultimately leading to sustainability of angling and healthier ecosystems. Best of all, the result is a sport that is increasingly accessible to all. Fortunately, it’s happening now. Join me once a month as I share some fishing reports or stories about our great Sportsman’s Paradise, Right here in Louisiana! Feel free to email me with any questions or fishing stories you may have or want to share. Or go to www.rodnreel.com and post your own fishing reports.
Wanda Stewart Rodnreelgirlfishing@gmail.com www.rodnreel.com