When New Wave Fishing Academy was started it was based around the mission of helping everyone become more successful anglers and especially those who do not have the family, friends, or easily accessible opportunities to push them into the sport. From our short time in operation trying to make accomplish this mission there has been a very clear population that has a hard time breaking into the industry. From critics online challenging their skills as anglers to talking down or belittling their accomplishments / questions there are a lot of unnecessary hurdles for women and young girls to get into the sport. While we know that these people setting up these hurdles do not represent the bulk of the members in the industry they unfortunately are often the loudest voice. To combat this we want to highlight some of the best ambassadors for "Women In Angling" that we know and share their stories for those that just need a little push to get into the sport or some role models to look towards!
This weeks feature is Jamie Stevenson! We have followed Jamie on instagram for the past few years now and are constantly impressed by the fish she puts in the boat. Not just because of the size of the fish but because her boat is a kayak! Kayak fishing is something that we spent a ton of time doing when we were younger and know the challenges that come with it. With the Women In Angling series we knew we had to reach out and were lucky enough to get her in for a feature.
"My love for the outdoors was developed from an early age while growing up on my family farm. I am from the Great Lakes region of Ontario and was always outside working, or at the bottom of a ditch catching tadpoles and crayfish. Unlike many anglers you will usually hear from, I did not grow up fishing! I didn’t learn to fish until I was in my 20’s.
Ice fishing was where my love and addiction to fishing really began. Ice fishing enabled me to fish entirely on my own as I didn't need to rely on someone else to take me out on a boat with them. I put in a lot of work, learned about fish behaviour, how to find the fish, and build the confidence I needed to take the next big step! I purchased my first kayak in April 2018, while I wasn’t new to fishing on the water; kayak fishing was entirely new to me. In the past my focus was always on panfish. Once I got the kayak I decided to try targeting bass. The
moment I got on the water in a kayak, I was hooked.
I wasn’t even sure at the time how big the sport was. I began searching for others in Ontario who were also interested in kayak fishing. In my first search, I found a tournament series called the Ontario Kayak Bass Trail (OKBT). The OKBT were holding several bass fishing tournaments in Ontario in 2018, and one was local to me in Mitchell’s Bay of Lake St. Clair. I signed up for the tournament which was being held in September. Throughout the summer of 2018 I learned how to target bass while fishing and although it was a constant learning experience my determination to improve lead to more consistent results which continued at my first OKBT event. My hope that day was just to get on the leader board but I exceeded my expectations placing 12th out of 30 anglers! After the 2018 season, I continued my competitive angling adventure competing in local tournament circuits as well as international tournaments. I was lucky to be able to take part in the Pan American Black Bass Championship in Tennessee and in the summer of 2022 I competed in the Hobie Fishing World Championship in Åmål, Sweden.
While my tournament fishing mainly focuses around small and largemouth bass, my main
passion is fishing for walleye in the St. Clair River. Despite the challenges, I find vertical jigging for walleye very relaxing out of a kayak. As soon as the ice moves out of the river in March, you’ll find me out there almost every day of the week targeting walleye.
Kayak fishing has completely changed my perspective on fishing, I no longer own a boat and I can’t see myself going back to boat ownership anytime soon, if at all. I have put a lot of work into increasing my skill set and becoming a better angler. I spend a lot of time on the water but I also spend a lot time researching new areas to fish when I’m not on the water. I’ve been very lucky to have met a lot of supportive fellow anglers along the Ontario tournament trails. These anglers have supported me throughout the learning process and have become of the best travelling companions. I’d also like to thank Fogh Marine in Etobicoke, Ontario for having me on as their first female fishing team member.
To anyone who is interested in participating in kayak fishing tournaments, the Ontario trails are very welcoming to newcomers and the learning process and a great way to meet fellow anglers."
We would like to thank Jamie for sharing her story with us all. Learning a new hobby as an adult and being able to take it to the highest level of competition in the world is an incredible accomplishment. You can connect with Jamie on instagram @northernkayakangler.
If you know somebody who is a great ambassador for Women In Angling (Or the outdoors) that deserves to be recognized and would be willing to create a post please reach out to us on any of our social media platforms so we can get in touch with them.
If you or someone you know is looking to get into fishing or you just want to become a more successful angler be sure to check out our "Zero To Hero Fishing Masterclass" for courses on everything fishing! The masterclass is built to help you learn how to find and catch fish like the pro's by providing all the information you need and a clear development path! Don't miss out check it out now at www.newwavefishingacademy.com/zero-to-hero
Have you ever wondered why lures don't come with instructions and wanted to know how to fish them? Look no further than our "How To Fish" series where you will learn what each bait is, how to use it, when and where it excels over other baits, our preferred setup to use it on, and the common mistakes anglers make when using it. www.newwavefishingacademy.com/how-to-fish
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