Introduction to Fishing
My first memory fishing was with my blue and white Mickey Mouse Zebco. I think I was probably five or six years old when I caught my first bluegill. Over the years, I’ve always pond hopped and fished my small local lakes for fun, but it wasn’t until I was older that I realized I had a huge passion for bass fishing. My younger brother and I fish a lot together and one summer we both got pretty heavy into it, going any chance we could. After catching a few decent largemouth, I knew that feeling of getting a big bite would never go away.
Experiences and Challenges
I will be forever grateful for the experiences and opportunities bass fishing has given me. I never thought that as a 34-year-old wife and mother that I would be competing at the collegiate level (wild, I know!) in fishing. To make a very long story short on how I managed to get on a college fishing team at my age, I decided to finish my degree in education later in life so I could stay home with my daughter. The fishing coach (Tom Sutton) at the University of Rio Grande gave me a very good opportunity to be a part of the team and there was no way I was going to pass it up!
The funny thing is, I had never competitively fished. Sure, I had been on bass boats before, but to fish competitively was a whole new ball game for me. So when I say my coach gave me an opportunity, he took a huge chance on me. The overall experience I’ve had being on this team has been wonderful. Don’t get me wrong, I was intimidated by my teammates at first, but that all changed when we all got to know each other. Some challenges I’ve faced, and I think any woman in fishing has faced, is that we’re not taken as seriously as men.
I felt like I had to prove myself to my teammates in order for them to think I belong. At first, any time I screwed up or made a stupid cast, I would beat myself up and say to myself, “they probably think I don’t have a clue what I’m doing,” and the truth was I didn’t know everything and neither did they. You can learn something new every time you’re on the water, that’s what I love about it. I’ve been blessed with an amazing coach and teammates who have taught me so much over the years.
Perceptions and Attitudes
I feel we are currently in a major shift when it comes to all of the above. In the past few years, women in the fishing industry have grown significantly. When I fish collegiate tournaments I am never the only woman there, which to me is refreshing. I always think it’s awesome when I see a gal driving a boat and fishing in a tournament! I love the changes that are happening and I think we are going to continue to see more women in this male-dominated sport. I hope that within the next five to ten years we see a woman walk the stage at the Classic.
Support Systems
I have an amazing support system within my small community. I have always been encouraged by my friends and family to competitively fish. My coach and teammates have pushed me in more ways than I can imagine and they’ve never doubted my abilities. Without their support, there is no way I could’ve gotten the opportunities I’ve been given.
One of my biggest inspirations in fishing has been Kristine Fischer. The impact she’s made in my life has been huge. To see her succeed in a male-dominated sport is so awesome and gives hope to not only me but other women who want to compete. Although I’ve never met Kristine, I know she’s as humble as they come. There’s no doubt in my mind her success is only going to grow from here!
Personal Achievements
The thing I’m most proud of is graduating from the University of Rio Grande with my Bachelor’s in education. I am also the Graduate Assistant for our fishing team now, and will have my Master’s degree this spring. Without my coach and fishing none of this would have happened. As far as my fishing career goes, I competed in the Big Bass Bash on Kentucky Lake and placed 6th on Day 1, Session 2. There were 600 anglers competing that day, I was pretty excited about that.
Advice for Aspiring Female Anglers
The best advice I can give to aspiring female anglers is to find a mentor who you can learn from and spend as much time on the water as you possibly can. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! I was always worried or nervous about asking things, but that’s how I have learned a lot about techniques. Lastly, don’t let the opinions of others hold you back from your passion.
You can follow Kayleigh on Instagram: @_kayleighosborne
