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 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 there are a lot of unnecessary hurdles for women and young girls to get into fishing. While we know that these hurdles are not set up by those that represent the majority of the members in the industry they unfortunately are often the loudest voice. To combat this we started the "Women In Angling" blog series last year to highlight some of the best female ambassadors for the sport of fishing and share their stories for those that just need a little push or some role models to look towards to get into this sport we all love!
This weeks feature is Rebecca Maxwell better known by her instagram handle @bexmax_ where she shares her life outdoors. It's obvious from her content that fishing and the outdoors isn't just a hobby but a lifestyle engrained into every part of her being. Without any more delay here's her story:
"I could start this off with saying “I developed a passion for the outdoors at a very young age”
BUT
what I think is most important and what I want to mention first is that the outdoors is what makes me happy. I know people, much like myself, who have been fishing since before they could walk. I also know people who only started fishing this year. Regardless of when they started the thing we all have in common: WE LOVE IT and thats the most important part of it.
My family is generations of fishermen. My great-great-great grandfather and all his brothers bought a bunch of land on a lake and they each built their own fishing cabins. That family grew and to this day, my immediate and extended family continue to go to the lake and fish in those same cabins. So needless to say, from a very young age, I was playing with worms and hooks instead of Barbie dolls.
And look at me now: writing to you guys about my love for fishing 20 odd years later. Wild.
I grew up on bass fishing, it will always have a big place in my heart. I spent all my time learning how to fish on a lake that primarily had largemouth and smallmouth. Once I got the hang of bass fishing and discovered how much I loved it, I started pursuing other species of fish and other outdoors activities like hunting. In either activity the skills and traditions taught to me by family members along the way were a big part of developing into who I am today.
Without question fishing is one of my biggest passions in life. It is equally a nostalgic feeling, a bonding time with my old man, a therapeutic and peaceful time with myself, and a way to continually learn new and exciting skills. I actively look for opportunities to try new ways of fishing as well, such as deep sea fishing in Mexico, crabbing in Maryland, a very sad and failed attempt at self-taught fly-fish in Montana (if anyone wants to teach me, I will not say no LOL). I picked up my first ice fishing rod in 2016, so that was a fairly recent hobby I’ve adapted (and love of course). But I’ll say there is absolutely no shortage of things to learn. I swear every time I throw a line in the water, whether I catch something or not, I always find something new to take away from it, which is one of the reasons I love it so much.
On a concluding note, I want to say that fishing is one of those things that I’ll never get bored of. It’s a sport that I hold near and dear to my heart and is not only a cherished pastime, but something I want to eventually teach any future family I may have. It’s been a bonding experience for me and many of my friends, my family, heck even the dogs love coming fishing :) It’s lead me to so many amazing opportunities that I do not and will never take for granted. Being able to share this passion of mine with many other people is nothing short of amazing and I want to thank every single person who follows and supports me along the way.
Tight lines and keep smiling
-Bex"
We would like to thank Bex for taking the time to share her passion for our favorite actiivity with everyone and touching on the important thing that can be easy to forget in todays life with social media: WE LOVE IT, that's why we do it. Not for the pictures, the bragging rights, or even the catch but simple because its what we love to do. If you want to connect with Rebecca you can follow her page on instagram @bexmax_!
For more Women in Angling features be sure to click the link below.
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.
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To experience a day of fishing on the water with us be sure to check out our YouTube channel at the link below.
New Wave Fishing Academy is here to teach you all we know and everything we continue to learn about fishing. Check out our fishing courses at the link below: https://www.newwavefishingacademy.com/learn-to-fish-ontario
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
Check out the results of our fishing students and teachers to see what you can accomplish with New Wave Fishing Academy: https://www.newwavefishingacademy.com/best-fishing-ontario