Fishing Ladies - Amanda Discovers
- New Wave Fishing Academy
- Apr 28
- 9 min read
Fishing Ladies
The fishing industry needs more women that fish! Women who fish now are exceptional role models for the next generation women of fishing - and we want to celebrate that! Meet today's fishing ladies as part of the Women In Angling blog series.
Amanda Discovers
This weeks Women In Angling feature female angler is Amanda better known by her alias "Amanda Discovers". Her passion for not just fishing but the outdoors as a whole is palpable from her social media posts. Check out her story below!
"Growing up in southern Ontario, I wasn’t exactly the “outdoorsy” type, at least not at first. My early childhood was mostly spent indoors, with little exposure to the wilderness beyond the occasional park visit. It all changed when I spent a week at an overnight camp in Muskoka. That week was the first time I really connected with nature. I built rafts to paddle out onto the water, caught crayfish with my own hands, cooked and even ate them over an open fire. I spent my days outside, learning about the beauty and abundance that existed all around me. Something inside me shifted, and I realized just how much I loved being outdoors. Looking back I never would have guessed that a week at summer camp would change the course of my life so much.
By the time I reached high school, my passion for exploring had only grown stronger. I found myself going on 20-30K walks, discovering new places, and soaking in everything I could about the natural world. Despite my love for the outdoors I took a more traditional path when it came to my education. I studied Political Science at university, then went to college for business. However, I eventually had to face a hard truth: this wasn’t the life I wanted. I wasn’t meant to be behind a desk. That’s when I truly embraced the outdoors again - through fishing, hiking, and survival skills. I threw myself into learning everything I could about the land, the water, and how to thrive in the wild. Now, after moving to Manitoba to pursue a new path, I get to share that knowledge with others as a survival instructor. I teach both kids and adults how to feel confident and capable in the wilderness. It’s not just about learning skills, it’s about realizing that we are more resilient than we think, and that nature has so much to offer if we’re willing to step outside and experience it.
Fishing has become more than just a pastime for me, it’s a passion that keeps pushing me to explore, learn, and grow. As a female angler, I’ve found an incredible sense of community in the fishing world, and while I still fish recreationally, I’m in the process of taking things to the next level. Right now, I’m working toward multiple guiding licenses for fishing, hunting, and backcountry canoe and kayak trips - pretty much anything that gets me outside and on the water!
One of my most memorable fishing experiences was when I first started brook trout fishing. It wasn’t just about the fish; it was about the environment they thrived in. The places where brook trout live are remote, rugged, and full of adventure - exactly the kind of places I love exploring. I’ve always believed that fishing is the chase of something elusive yet attainable, and that’s what keeps me coming back. There’s always a new challenge - whether it’s finding the right spot, figuring out the best techniques for different species, or just pushing myself to get to a hard-to-reach fishing hole.
I’ve fished in rivers, creeks, and open water lakes all over Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, as well as in the Caribbean Sea. While I still have a few species I’m determined to check off my list one day, some of my favorite catches so far have been sturgeon, tuna, bass, and every species of trout. After all, trout fishing is where it all started for me, and that sense of adventure behind every fishing trip is what keeps me going.
The fishing community has been incredibly welcoming, and I’m grateful for that - especially as someone who’s relatively new to the sport. I’ll never forget one experience at the river when I was fishing for steelhead - a gentleman came over to check my setup, made a few small adjustments, and before I knew it, I had my first steelhead on the line. It was a small moment, but it meant a lot. Throughout the years, I’ve grown my confidence to a level where I can now help others land fish and experience the same thrill and sense of accomplishment for themselves. Personally, I believe anyone can fish, no matter when they start. As someone who’s still growing within this world, I think it’s important that we make fishing accessible to those who want to give it a try. There are a lot of regulations, techniques, and local knowledge that can feel overwhelming to beginners, and having that information readily available would make it easier for people to get started and keep learning. Fishing isn’t just about catching fish, it’s about the experience, the challenge, and the connection to nature. That’s something I want to help more people discover.
Being a female angler in the fishing industry has come with its fair share of challenges and accomplishments, but every experience - good or bad, has shaped me into the woman and angler I am today. I’ve always believed that if you want something, you have to go after it, and that’s exactly what I did back in 2024 when I took a solo trip to British Columbia. I knew I couldn’t visit B.C. without making time to fish its beautiful waters, so I set out on a long hike to a remote mountain lake, determined to land my first cutthroat trout. The conditions were far from ideal - windy, cold, and unpredictable but I stuck with it, using everything I’d learned over the years to figure out what I needed to do to make it happen. When I finally hooked into that first cutthroat, the feeling was unreal. After that, I wanted to push myself even further, so I reached out to a few local guides to target different species. One of the most memorable days of that trip was when I spent an entire day fishing for sturgeon. I was stubborn, I wanted to land one on my own and after a hard-fought battle, I did. A six-foot-long sturgeon, all by myself. The exhaustion, the adrenaline, the sheer power of that fish, it’s something I’ll never forget. Another day, I went out fly fishing with a different guide and landed a stunning brown trout, a bull trout, and enough Kokanee to take with me for the rest of my trip. That night, I cooked and ate those Kokanee with the mountains in the background, completely in my element. Even though I had taken the trip solo, I knew that to truly experience everything B.C. had to offer, I needed to seek the right help and that’s something I’ve come to embrace - fishing is a lifelong learning experience, and sometimes the best thing you can do is learn from those who know the waters best.
My passion for fishing and learning doesn’t stop in Canada. When I was in Jamaica, I had the chance to go out with a local fisherman who showed me how commercial fishers survive there. Their methods were much more primitive and efficient than what I was used to, designed purely for feeding families and communities. It was a humbling experience, seeing firsthand the deep connection they have with the ocean and their way of life. That’s what I love about fishing, it’s never just about catching fish. It’s about the adventure, the people you meet along the way, and the lessons you learn when you step outside your comfort zone. Every new species, every new location, every challenge makes me a better angler and a better person. There’s no limit to how much you can learn, and that’s exactly why I’ll never stop chasing the next adventure.
My advice to other female anglers? Just get out there and try. The best way to learn is by doing, and the more time you spend on the water, the more confident you’ll become. Fishing can feel intimidating at first; there are so many techniques, species, and locations to figure out but everyone starts somewhere. The key is to keep going, even when things don’t go as planned.
Personally, I always keep a rod in my car, whether it’s ice fishing season or open water. You never know when the opportunity for an adventure will present itself, and being prepared means I never have to pass up a chance to fish. Some of my best fishing days have been completely unplanned - just me, my gear, and a spot that looked too good not to try. Another piece of advice? Seek out help and ask questions. There’s no shame in learning from others, whether it’s a local angler at the river, a fishing guide, or someone you follow online. Familiarize yourself with the regulations in your area and know you have the tools to take you where you want to go. The fishing community has been incredibly welcoming to me, and I’ve found that most people are more than happy to share their knowledge. Don’t be afraid to reach out and learn from those with more experience - it can make a huge difference in your growth as an angler. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to try new things. If one technique isn’t working, switch it up. If you’ve always fished lakes, try moving water. If you usually fish for one species, challenge yourself to target something new. Fishing is all about adapting, learning, and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. At the end of the day, the best thing you can do is just keep going. Keep casting, keep exploring, and keep chasing that next adventure because the more you put into fishing, the more it gives back.
If you’re a female angler, or someone who’s just starting out and looking for advice - I’d love to connect with you! You can find me on social media at @Amandadiscovers, where I share my fishing adventures, experiences, and everything I’ve learned along the way. Whether you need tips, encouragement, or just want to see what I’m up to on the water, I’m always happy to help in any way I can. Fishing has taught me so much - not just about technique, but about resilience, patience, and the importance of pushing past self-doubt. We are so much more capable than we think, and when we support each other, we make the fishing community stronger. So if you’re out there chasing your next adventure, keep going. Keep learning, keep exploring, and most importantly… keep fishing! Together, we’ll continue to grow this amazing community, one cast at a time."
We would like to thank Amanda for taking the time to share her story & passion for the outdoors with us all. Be sure to connect with her to continue following along on her journey.
Women Who Love Fishing
Thank you fishing ladies! All the women of fishing who has participated in the "Women in Angling" blog series as well as everyone who reads, likes, or shares the profiles is contributing to making the sport more inclusive.
If you know women who love fishing, is a great ambassador for Women In Angling, or simply the outdoors lifestyle, that deserves to be recognized please reach out to us on any of our social media platforms so we can get in touch with them.
Women And Fishing Resources
Additional "women and fishing" resources and links for female fishing enthusiasts to connect:
Fishing For Women
New Wave Fishing Academy is an educational platform for the recreational fishing industry that allows everyone to learn how to catch fish; virtually. Not catching fish on outings is a sure way to keep new anglers from coming back to the sport BUT most who go fishing have no idea where to start or how to find success without HOURS of trial and error on the water that nobody has. Before you ever get to the water you can learn how to turn fishing trips into catching trips with our online fishing educational resources.
Click the link to Learn How To Fish!
To experience a day of fishing on the water with us be sure to check out our YouTube channel at the link below.
Women In Angling History
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 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. These hurdles are not set up by those that represent the majority of the members in the industry but unfortunately they are often the loudest voice.
To combat this we started the "Women In Angling" blog series in 2022 to celebrate the women who love fishing, highlight female ambassadors and role models for the sport of fishing, and share their stories for those that just need a little push or someone to look towards to get into this sport we all love!
To read all of the amazing Women In Angling profiles click the link below:
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