Seven years ago today, I married the love of my life.
The series of events that have happened since that day are both amazing and at yet times, unbelievable.
Since that day, we moved across the country to the land of big bass, and back again.
We became "Team Backa" in every sense of the phrase - and even added a new member to our team two years ago!
We have chased kayak tournament trails all over the country, met the most amazing people, and became sponsored by some of the biggest and best names in the industry.
We have gone on more adventures in this life than most will in their next ten.
To say we're blessed is the understatement of a lifetime.
But how did I get here?
The answer isn't simple or easy to explain, but to sum it up?
A whole lot of passion, work, fishing, and networking.
If you're hungry to get into this field, there are things that you should be doing to build your brand:
Go fishing. A lot.
This should seem obvious, but I think a lot of people underestimate how much you need to be on the water.
Building up steam in the first few years of breaking into this industry, I was on the water in excess of 200 days a year.
Over the years, I've also competed in the neighborhood of 100 tournaments - from local events, all the way up to national events, and everything in between.
Yeah. It was a lot.
Obviously not everyone has the ability to go out on the water that often - trust me, as a stay-at-home mom of a toddler, I completely understand!
But the more you can get out there, the better.
Take pictures and video. The more content you capture, the better.
Pick your best shots, and post them far and wide.
Social media is still the fastest and easiest way to build a following;
just make sure that you take advantage of tagging your content with hash tags, and tagging the companies of the products you use.
Be a good person.
How you carry and handle yourself matters - a lot.
If you're the type of person who enjoys heated arguments in person and particularly, on-line, then this industry probably isn't for you.
Sponsors want to have the best in the business representing their company.
They want to see kind, competitive professionals striving to help and inspire others in the industry -
not someone who tears others down to make themselves feel "superior".
Find your niche.
Despite what a lot of people believe, you don't have to win tons of tournaments or pose in a bikini to get noticed anymore.
Sponsors want to see what you're passionate about; do you love fun fishing and talking to your camera? Good.
Are you chasing tournament trails locally or around the country? Awesome.
Are you someone who likes to create all different types of content, including writing? Fantastic.
Do you enjoy doing ALL of those things?? Even better!
The most important thing is to be true to what YOU want to do.
There's room for all of us to do our own unique thing in this industry!
Lift others up.
One thing that stands out the most about the kayak fishing community? Is the sense of community.
It's genuine, and it's palpable.
Whether it's in-person or on-line, kayak anglers are truly a different breed that put their heart and soul into what they love.
They lift others up where others might tear someone down.
Being supportive of your fellow anglers is key - it builds a network that's worth remembering, and that's incredibly important.
Be an inspiration
At the end of the day, you may not become a sponsored angler, and that's okay.
The longer you express your passion to others, the more history and content you build, and the more experiences you have - are all an inspiration.
But if you don't want to take "no" for an answer? Then don't! Keep fishing, keep digging, keep striving to reach your goals, because it's never too late to live your dreams.
Build your network
Talk to people. Talk to people on the water, talk to people at trade shows, talk to people in your local fishing shops, talk to people on-line - reach out, and let others know who you are.
And once you've built up a network, make sure you don't forget to include them in your future endeavors when the opportunity presents itself.
Case in point?
I asked a few of my lady friends what advice they have for others, and here's what they had to say:
"Get out there and learn. Ask questions. Catch your PB. Get skunked. Have the greatest day ever. Have the worst day of fishing. The most important and best experience you can get is to just get out there."
- Susie Roloff
“With so many aspects to the fishing industry there is a place for a multitude of interests and ways of fishing. My advice to women (or anyone) is to start where you feel comfortable and don’t be afraid to evolve, whether it’s with more involvement or with less. The beauty of the sport is that it can be done as a solo adventure like wading or kayaking to more group activities like tournaments, fishing teams, sponsorships, trade shows and to educating through clinics, writing, photography and promoting conservation. There is a niche for everyone.”
- Jean Wilson
“Best advice I can give, and this goes for everything in life- attitude is everything. Cultivate a positive one, and a grateful one. It’s your disposition, not your circumstances that dictate your success.”
– Kristine Fischer
“As a female angler don’t be afraid to immerse yourself in the sport. Take the opportunity to become involved with local and national trails. Uphold your integrity and surround yourself with likeminded individuals. When faced with adversity, approach the situation with confidence. The bad days will never define you and always be a student of the sport.”
– Christa Hibbs
“I wish I had a Pepsi for every time someone said to me: ‘I wish I could fish for a living.’ I don’t think I would be thirsty for the rest of my life! The thing I want women/girls to understand about the fishing industry is that it is a difficult and fickle industry for females and males alike. There are a lot of people wanting to get involved. With that competition in mind, I want to encourage women/girls that truly want to be seriously involved, get their mind set that it is a profession. In order to be taken seriously by potential sponsors and fishing peers, carry yourself as a professional would. Make sure their social media is well thought out, they are always well kept, be respectful, and work their butt off to be the best angler they can be. Remember, sponsors are looking for marketing partners to be professional! I may be sounding negative, but if a woman/girl really wants it, professional fishing has many, many more positive attributes than negative.”
– Robin Babb
“No matter who you are and what you came from…Don’t ever give up! To every little girl out there with a fishing pole in her hand, you can accomplish anything you desire. Don’t let anyone discourage you!”
– Christie Cooper Graham
“Cast your fears aside. Fish don't see gender at the end of your line. The best part of this community is the willingness to accept, teach, and learn.”
– Erin Mathis
“The reality is you only have so much time on this earth. If you want to try something new (like fishing), just do it. Don't wait for the "perfect" time. There never is one. You do you!”
– Rose Brown Newton
“Put the time in on you! Nothing will improve your game like time on the water!!”
– Carol Wells
“Seek out other women and especially local clubs or groups on social media. You will learn more from them than from the internet, and you’ll meet some of the greatest women who share your passion. They will help you any time you have a question no matter what it is!”
– Tonya Antle
“Two things come to mind when I think about women in fishing - and neither of these were said to me by anyone in the fishing world - but they’re two pieces of advice that I try to live by. First, comparison is the thief of joy. I don’t know who coined the phrase - but it is so true! It breeds jealousy and resentment rather than admiration and support. Be a girl’s girl and LIFT UP other women. Support them! Second, there’s a little bit of a story here, but, I’ll try keep it short; A mentor of mine, Kelli Arena, a former CNN news anchor - stopped me one day while we were chatting to tell me I had something stuck in my teeth. I was so embarrassed! She said - “Honey! My mother raised me to never be the girl who lets someone go around with spinach in her teeth.” I can’t explain why that made such an impact on me - but I care about the people in my life so much that, even if it’s a little embarrassing, I’m going tell you when something’s stuck in your teeth. In other words - just be a good friend to everyone. Do your best to help someone out when you can. If you see someone struggling to pick up a new technique - offer to help them out - they don’t know what they don’t know. Lend a helping hand and pay it forward. Everyone has to start somewhere. People may not always remember what you said - but they’ll remember how you made them feel. Fishing should feel happy! So, keep it positive and lend a helping hand.”
– Weslie Gray
“There will be good days and bad, successful and unsuccessful when it comes to fishing & life, but remember this, you learn more from failure than from success. Don’t let it stop you from reaching whatever goal you have in the fishing world! Failure only builds character and makes you stronger if you choose to keep learning and pressing forward!”
– Mel Isaacs
“I'm thinking about the common barrier that is frequently communicated to me. Interestingly, it's not about catching fish at all. I find that women are terrified of operating, and more specifically, launching a boat. My piece of advice is to not be afraid of making mistakes. Don't be embarrassed. Everyone has started where you are, and everyone has made the same exact mistakes that you are going to make. All you need is a little practice! *To guys: try not to discourage your wives/girlfriends/sisters/daughters! This is generally why they give up. *”
– Cazbar Saelao
“Fishing has been one of the most exciting and enjoyable sports I have ever been involved in. I didn’t start until I was 56 and now turning 60, it’s what I want to do any and every chance I get. There is so much to learn, the experiences are amazing! I learned so much on our kayaking journey fishing and literally diving into the Hobie BOS was incredible! The biggest piece of advice would be to not be afraid of what you don’t know. Life is short and you need to grab every experience you can! Fresh water, salt water, fly fishing, kayaks, surf fishing, deep sea sport fishing and loving every moment of this journey! Don’t wait!”
– CJ Black
“Confidence is key—trust your skills, knowledge, and instincts on the water. Whether you’re learning a new technique, handling your kayak, or competing in a tournament, believe in yourself and don’t be intimidated. The more you fish, the more you grow, so keep casting and never stop learning!”
– Jennifer Wilhite
“If fishing and competition bring you joy, don’t hesitate—go for it! Female anglers are receiving more recognition than ever, and the opportunities are growing.”
– Amy Brown
Tight lines, ladies!!
Kat
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