Getting hooked on fishing

Imagine this: Cool water flowing along a rocky streambed inviting you toward the pebbled bank. Balancing fishing pole and tackle box, you make your way downstream to an old bridge whose iron pillars are matted with a tangle of logs and root wads. The perfect spot! You drop your gear under the bridge and start preparing your line. When the hook is baited, you cast gracefully upstream and watch the line float down just short of the tangle where you know the fish are gathered. Time to wade out into the water. You squeal when the chill hits your ankles, but push on until it reaches the cuff of your shorts. This is the stuff “tough” is made of. Yep, you’re a “reel” woman. You cast again. This time, the line slips like magic beneath the roots. Just out of the current, it pauses to circle in a shadowed eddy. Suddenly, you see the tip of the rod bounce, and you pull back sharply to feel the weight of a feisty fish on the end of your line. Hooked! Getting caught by the fishing bug is just that easy, and once you’re hooked, it will reel you into a lifetime of wholesome fun where fresh air and sunshine are waiting to soothe your spirit. You Get a Line, I’ll Get a Pole If you’ve ever had the urge to fish, there’s no better time than now. After all, it’s summertime! Women of all backgrounds and experience levels are gathering up as we speak and wading into the water to satisfy their wildest urges. Don’t be shy about busting loose from the fisherman stereotype. Women who fish today refer to themselves as “fishers,” and there are over 17 million licensed female anglers in the U.S. who are passionately reclaiming their right to America’s last sacred sport. So if you’re unfamiliar with the territory, you’ll find lots of helping hands to guide you on your journey. From bait, flies and old-timer tricks to fillets in the frying pan, we’re learning from each other. Want to join a bona fide trail-blazing sisterhood? “Sisters on the Fly” awaits you. They’re a growing group of women who caravan around the country in cute vintage trailers, fishing, running rivers and having “more fun than anybody.” They’ll show you the ropes and spoil you rotten. Learn more at www.sistersonthefly.com. Also be sure to check with your local Fish and Game office for other women-only outdoor programs close to home. Don’t Get Snagged on Safety Fish is one of the healthiest meats we can eat, period. The trouble is, fish now seems to come with so many warnings attached that many people avoid eating it altogether. It’s true that things like improper industrial practices and heavy pesticide use have allowed chemicals and heavy metals to rudely invade our precious waterways. And fish, particularly the bigger species toward the top of the food chain, accumulate these toxins in their bodies over time. Disturbing? Definitely. But don’t let it scare you away from the water and its bounty. There are a number of ways that informed fishers can secure a safe catch. According to the EPA, most of the nation’s waters contain fish that are safe to eat, but occasional consumption advisories may recommend that people limit or avoid eating certain species of fish caught from certain lakes, rivers or coastal waters. Find advisories about fishing in your state here: www.epa.gov/fishadvisories/states.htm. Call your local or state environmental health department before you fish to find out if advisories are posted in areas where you want to fish. Also, younger fish harbor fewer pollutants than older, larger fish. And panfish (think perch, crappie, bluegill and sunfish) feed on insects and are less likely to build up pollutants than those that eat other fish. Learn tips about cleaning and cooking fish to reduce toxin exposure by downloading the brochure “Should I Eat the Fish I Catch?” at www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/publicinfo.html.