Fish aren’t the only wonderful things
women get from fishing.
When you fish, you know that the experience can range from relaxing and stress-free to totally energizing and physically challenging! Truth be told, there are also times when the weather stinks, kids are bored and cranky, and the only bites you get are from those blood-thirsty mosquitos.
You might find it interesting to hear what other women anglers have shared in a recent national study* on women who fish. The results so inspired us that we invited a variety of Texas women to join in on a day of fishing. Our intention was to capture their experiences of “finding their best selves on the water.” We hope you can relate!
How Texas Women Experience
Being on the Water.
“I find my stress-free self on the water.”
 Stress-free, what’s that? For women who fish, it can look like this: being on a beautiful, clean waterbody teeming with life both above and below the water. Maybe it’s on a lake, a river, the ocean or in an urban area or out in the country. Being on the water involves slowing down the busy mind-chatter and can help diminish anxiety, fear, mental tension — even depression. So, relax, picture yourself with your fave fishing pole, some bait, a container of ice-cold sweet-tea, and a 10-inch catfish on the line. No stress here.
“I find my confident self on the water.”
 For sure, being on the water has its challenges, and we’ve all got our “remember when that happened” stories. But more often than not, these challenges turn into opportunities to rise above it, figure it out, not give up, push back on thoughts of failure, and that results in a big ole’ boost of confidence for you. So what if the line breaks, the big fish gets away, or the reel pops off the rod? Trust yourself, you’ll handle it with or without help from others – and feel all the better for it. P.S. Yes, it’s okay to brag!
“I find my patient self on the water.”
 They say, “you can’t push the river,” but that doesn’t mean we don’t try. Parallels in life include getting antsy at red lights, potty training your kids or pets, obsessing over late contractors, or trying to speed up anything you don’t have control over – like making the fish bite. So, you sit back, breathe deep, watch the butterflies, turtles or birds… and the moment your mind stills… FISH ON! Patience rewarded.
“I find my deeper self on the water.”
 Sometimes you may feel a deep sense of yourself, an inner stillness as you’ve taken time to be on the water. Water can have that effect on people, and throughout the ages many have sought peace this way. Today we all have our chosen ways to connect with our deeper selves — walk in nature, bike, sing, pray, write poetry, etc. BUT we women are also known for putting others, jobs and chores ahead of ourselves. We often don’t take enough time to truly listen to our inner voice that reminds us to seek solace inside ourselves, and to not always expect it from the external world — unless of course you’re fishing 😊.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hopes you too will find your best self on the water.
 Find more Fishing Information and Resources including:
*This study was conducted by the non-profit Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF), in conjunction with national research firm, IPSOS, in 2023.
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