LADIES OF THE LURE
PG.38
34 The Bend
A sea change in the sport of fishing has happened in the last decade, with women leading the way. Following female pioneers who blazed a trail for women in fishing, these three local female anglers are not just reeling in their own catch, they're inspiring other women to do the same. Jen Merchant grew up running and fishing the creeks and lakes in East Texas with her dad and brother, and has spent more than a decade as the first female surf fishing guide on Padre Island National Seashore. The thrill of not knowing what's going to be on the line, what's going to bite next, is one element that fuels Merchant’s love for saltwater fishing. Always an outdoorsy type, Merchant shares how she had to learn for herself the differences between fresh- and saltwater fishing. “I would look up a different species, let's say redfish. I know how to target redfish. So, I would read up on them, watch YouTube videos about when they're biting, what they're biting on and the best time of the year to catch them. Then I would target that species until I caught it. I did that with every single species until I got what I was going for,” she says of her early angler days. Upon moving to the Coastal Bend, she didn’t see many women fishing — so she decided to change that. What started as basic lessons for women and children evolved into a full fishing guide service, Fishing with Jen. Now, Merchant is sharing her knowledge to help others learn and experience the joy of fishing. "There were some women who wanted to learn to fish, but didn't know [where to start]. They felt intimidated, which got me thinking about teaching them how and doing lessons
for women and children — that's what got me started with guiding,” said Merchant. “I get joy from fishing when I put somebody else on a fish they've never caught, especially women and children. I love seeing the white in their eyes open. It's so much fun to put that drive and love for fishing into somebody else.” Another female angler who carries a hands-on approach to empowering women to fish is Kelli Green, who owns and operates Blonde Bomber Guide Service. Specializing in bay fishing trips, Green guides in the shallow waters where redfish, black drum and spotted sea trout can be found. She believes consistency is key for a woman in a male-dominated field. "I was super lucky getting into this field. I credit so much of what I've learned and done to Jennifer DeLeon, who's been a guide for about seven or eight years now. She taught me a lot about what to expect being a woman in this field: Just don't stop. There are bullies everywhere. Just keep doing your thing and let them deal with it," Green said confidently. Her motivation to keep going stems from the sheer happiness and excitement she sees on customers when they nab their first catch. “Whenever you have a little kid on the boat and it’s their first-ever fish, you see their face light up. Or when you [hook] into the fish and the customers are so excited. Seeing them light up is the best,” Green said. For local angler Nina Stenholm Garrett, the love of fishing goes beyond catching the biggest fish. Garrett and her husband volunteer their time on the water with
photos byLILLIAN REITZ
A SPOTLIGHT ON THE AREA'S FEMALE ANGLER COMMUNITY
