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Women of Angling - International Women's Day 2023
With plenty of health benefits, both physical and mental, Angling is a pastime that all can enjoy, no matter your gender, age or capability.
Considered a male-dominated sport by many, recreational fishing has been evolving into an activity for females to enjoy too with more women casting their lines than ever. As part of Women’s Day, we thought we would share some top motivations for female anglers joining angling across Europe, in the hope to encourage more women to fish.
Let’s take a look at some of the many exceptional females paving the way in angling, inspiring many to tackle up too.
1. Amanda Hook (UK)
Trying out different forms and fishing for different disciplines has kept fishing a lot more interesting, rather than just fishing for one species. Working for Angling Direct enables that, as we sell such a wide variety of fishing equipment!" - Amanda Hook
Bio: Working as a photographer for AD, Amanda has opportunities to learn on the job! From carp to pike to chub, she is only diverging more into the world of angling with the help of the AD Youtube team and fishing guru, AD’s very own Phil Spinks.
If you want to follow more about Amanda’s angling journey and experiences, follow her on Instagram or watch out on the Angling Direct Blog for more of her fishing updates!
2. Claudia Darga (Germany)
"I spend many days and weeks a year by the water. Because fishing and above all nature are something unique for me and probably the most beautiful hobby there is!" - Claudia quoted from claudiadarga.com
Bio: Claudia has become a familiar, friendly face to many in the angling community, both from visiting the shows, here and aboard, to her work with fishing bait giants, Dynamite Baits.
Watch out on Claudia's blog for more of her fishing updates, or follow her on Instagram for more of her angling experiences! You can also listen to Claudia's passion and experiences with angling in AD’s Catch Up interview in the video below.
3. Lauren Stanford (UK)
In an interview with Total Carp Magazine, Lauren shared that her favourite bit about carping is:
"Being out on the bank away from ordinary life."
Bio: A representative for Korda and Mainline Baits, Lauren has been fishing since 2016. She fishes for most species but carp is her favourite. Lauren caught a PB when fishing on her 2nd time alone which made her confidence boost a lot more!
Watch out for Lauren’s fishing updates on her Instagram and for more of her angling experiences, you can also follow the Lauren Stanford Fishes Facebook page.
4. Bev Clifford (UK)
“I’ve seen so many women and younger people, in general, take up angling in the past five years and I think the ability to connect with other women [on social media] just like them has really helped. You can now follow Instagram hashtags about fishing or find local angling groups on Facebook where communities show that fishing is all about escaping to nature, and the great mental and physical benefits of angling.” - Interview with Sian Lewisover at Glorious Sport
Bio: Founder @ladiescarpacademy, Bev is also heavily involved with the Ladies Carp Team England. Bev’s aim is to get more women involved in the sport that has been a part of her life since childhood.
You can follow and support Bev’s contributions to the angling community via her Facebook and Instagram pages.
5. Marina Gibson (UK)
“Fishing is one of the most mindful sports you can do – the art of fly fishing requires complete concentration, total absorption, and is both exhilarating and relaxing. It is how I find calm and I know others would benefit from giving it a go too. Get outdoors, it’s great for the mind & soul.” - Marina quoted from marinagibsonfishing.com
Bio: An angler across the disciplines but mostly a focus on fly angling, Marina is a consultant of the Angling Trust, wanting to level up the sexes in angling. Marina also provides coaching sessions for fly angling, which is a great way to learn some tips and build confidence for when hitting the bankside independently. Check out Marina’s website.
Team AD has also spent time with Angling Trust Ambassador; Marina Gibson, giving us pointers on Fly Angling.
6. Lizette Beunders & Bianca Venema (Netherlands)
Lizette told Angling Trust that:
“I think more women are becoming interested in carp fishing because in this hectic world it is wonderful to be outside during your free time. Carp fishing brings together the fun of the great outdoors and being active. You can do it as a family, or individually, but also in a team, if you, like us, would like to add a competitive element.”
Read more on the pair’s interview with Angling Trust.
Bio: A Dutch Carp fishing team, Lizette Beunders & Bianca Venema have had a number of appearances in the Dutch media as well as writing articles in international magazines. Lizette and Bianca also co-host the Carp Travels blog and together they compete in fishing competitions. The couple is World Carp Cup winners, the first female pair in history. The pair also fish for Dynamite Baits and Shimano.
Follow and support Lizette & Bianca’s fishing adventures on their Instagram account, here or over on their dedicated Facebook page.
7. Pat Tuschewitzki (Germany)
“It’s not always easy, being a woman in a male domain, often you face prejudices, sometimes envy.. but the more happy I am being part of this wonderful community!” - Pat told CatchCrossingGirls.Com
Bio: Pat lives in a big city in Germany, with her boyfriend to whom she fishes. Pat really started to get into fishing for carp back in 2013, now fishing is her ‘time out’ from the busy city and work life. Pat believes that even when she blanks, a day spent at the lake is never a wasted day!
Watch out for Pat’s fishing updates on her Instagram and for more of her angling experiences, you can also follow her Facebook page.
8. Noémie Hehn (France)
"What I like in fishing is the total disconnection. To be in the middle of nature and to spend a good moment with my friends while crossing the way of fishes, more beautiful than the other."
Bio: With a preference for carp fishing on lakes, Noémie is a representative of Nash Tackle.
You can follow and support Noémie’s contributions to the angling community via her Facebook and Instagram pages.
9. Pauline Bellicourt (France)
“Fishing is a feeling of freedom, and escape, around a living nature. It is during a fishing trip that we can see magnificent paintings of nature, and travel through the different magical corners of France and the world.” - Paulina, quotes from paulinebellicourt.wixsite.com
Bio: A fishing guide instructor at Anim' Pêche Nature, Pauline is also a World champion of surfcasting as well as a French surfcasting champion. This angler specialises in sea fishing, mostly surfcasting as well as fishing in freshwater with carp.
Pauline's Facebook and Instagram pages allow you to follow and support her angling success and adventures. Pauline also offers guidance to new anglers in her local area of France.
10. Mandy Jellema (Netherlands)
Mandy stated on her Instagram, along with another great catch photo:
“It's great being active outdoors, clear the mind and just have fun with good company… [fishing] is way better than sitting at home with a grumpy face.”
Bio: A representative of Deeper Sonars PRO, Mandy started fishing with her grandpa and dad in childhood and now fishes with her husband.
Support and follow Mandy with her fishing journey on her Instagram and Facebook pages.
11. Loreen Schmidtke (Germany)
“Why shouldn't a woman love this hobby too?” - Loreen Schmidtke
Bio: Loreen Schmidtke is an angler through and through. Ever since she was a child, Loreen has been spending her free time on the water chasing everything that has fins. In recent years she has focused primarily on carp fishing and fly fishing and she is one of the brilliant people at Korda!
Follow and support Loreen's fishing adventures and success through her Facebook and Instagram pages.
12. Flora Jubault (France)
”I started fishing with my dad from a very young age, I specialized in carp at 12 years old and I have started to participate in all the championships existing in France…Outside of my working hours, I try to be as much as possible by the water and in nature.” - Flora told Carp Cross Girls
Bio: Flora has been fishing from an early age and now has participated in all the championships existing in France for carp angling. Flora joined the France female carp team back in 2018 and is currently part of the Shimano Team France.
Flora's Instagram page allows you to follow and support her angling success and adventures.
How to Start Fishing
For female angling inspiration, there are plenty more female anglers out there on social media to follow, support and exchange fishing tips. There are also fishing communities made just for women that you can join and angling campaigns and events encouraging female participation in fishing!
Carp Crossing Girls
With a Facebook Page, Instagram and Website, this community gives a platform for females to exchange their success and struggles with angling, especially all things carp!
Girl That Carp
A Facebook Page dedicated to sharing great carp catching by women! You can support other female anglers and their catches or submit your own to join this amazing community!
Angling Trust’s Get Fishing Campaign
To help increase female participation, there are many events run by Angling Trust for beginner anglers, no matter their age and gender, which has also helped with the growth of women in the angling community.
Dean Asplin, a Partnership Development Manager for the Angling Trust’s Get Fishing campaign commented:
“We’ve seen a noticeable uplift in female participation… The fact that our coaching days and events are all fun, safe and family-friendly has definitely helped. Mums, daughters and sisters are having a go with the family and those who take to it often enrol in more sessions.”
Read More on Angling Trust’s campaigns for female anglers here.
This Girl Can
Campaigns such as This Girl Can have certainly encouraged women to get involved in sport whether it's angling, golf, running. Opportunities and advice for joining in with fishing can be found on the This Girl Can Website and further support on their Instagram.
How Angling Direct Can Help
If you want to talk to someone in person about angling, our AD stores have trained ‘Get Fishing’ Ambassadors for you to pick their brains. You can read more about AD’s involvement with the Get Fishing Campaign here.
Find Your Nearest Fishing Tackle Store
We even have some stores with a dedicated Catcher’s Corner for you to sit and chat about angling. We want to make anglers beginner to experienced, as comfortable as possible.
2023 may be the chance to get yourself or a female relation or friend into angling. Fishing can be that new interest and a chance to get outside, and enjoy nature! Angling can also be used to up your fitness (which can never be a bad thing)!
If you want some help with where to start with angling, we, here at Angling Direct have a host of Beginner Guides for fishing on the AD blog and some great video tutorials over on our Youtube channel; ADTV. To share your angling success or great female anglers that influence you with your fishing, contact us via social media!
