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 Jennifer Harlow! Jenn was recommended to us by others who heard about the Women In Angling series and so we knew we had to reach out. After some quick scans of social media it was easy to see why. A multi species guide including muskie with tons of multiple muskie days for clients under her belt is probably all we need to say to let you know she is the real deal. We were lucky enough to convince her to share her story with us and pass on some wisdom to the next generation of female anglers. Without further delay here's Jenn:
"For those that don't know me I should introduce myself, I’m Jenn from Tweed Ontario, I am a multi-species charter guide and I’ve been fishing since I was a little girl. I first started fishing off the dock at the cottage with my grandfather, but he would only allow me to use “fish safe baits” – meaning lure with no hooks, until I was a little older and learned to be safe with the fish slaying baits.
Despite where I started and where I am now as I grew up I disconnected with fishing and started spending my time hunting. Around the age of 33 I met my life partner, who had been fishing for over 24 years, sparking the adventure I had been missing for many years. We have been chasing fins together now for almost four years and spend a lot of time on the water chasing the next best adventure! Fast forward to now, we own Finaddicts Outdoor Adventures, a multi species fishing charter, get to live the lake life, and meet some awesome people along the way!
I've spent the last two years being a guide, teaching others how to fish, and getting to experience the excitement everyone has when catching their first fish, new personal best, or fish of a lifetime! This is why I love fishing so much, every day is a new adventure and one I will always chase.
While I have always enjoyed the outdoors from a young age never did I imagine I would be doing this as my next career in life. Stepping away from my career as a chef and making the move into guiding, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Not only would I need to prove myself as a guide but I would need to prove myself as a woman and it’s safe to say I am proud of where this adventure has taken me. It definitely hasn’t come easy but with many hours spent on the water I am always learning. I have been guiding two hard water (ice fishing) seasons and two open water seasons so far. This fall I came to realize my favourite apex fish to chase is musky! I stepped outside my comfort zone and told my partner I wanted to guide most of the fall clients on my own and chase this apex fish without him. I wanted to prove to myself that I could handle this species and be able to guide others with confidence. Not to mention seeing the pure rush when a client hooks one and gets to experience the fight of a musky. Nothing is more rewarding than getting to see someone smile after catching the "fish of 1000 casts".
As a guide I take pride in ensuring we are teaching others about the importance of proper handling with any species we are chasing and the importance of catch and release practices. Catch & release is the easiest way to ensure our fishery’s can
keep producing for many years to come. The other important part of guiding I love is giving back to our community any way I can. I am dedicated to supporting mental health initiatives and provide fishing as an outlet for Military vets, first responders, and anyone else who needs it. As a person with PTSD and high functioning anxiety fishing bought me back to find my balance and reminded me why I love the outdoors so much.
– Always be kind and humble
“Its all part of the adventure💛🎣” - Jenn
We would like to thank Jennifer for sharing her story with us all. Chasing after your passions is usually not the most secure or stable path but as you can see it can be the most rewarding despite its hurdles. You can connect with Jenn on instagram @finaddicts_outdoor_adventures.
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