FisherGirl Toronto Star Editorial: Fishing for Women

- March 18th, 2005

"Sport fishing was once considered a male preserve, a getaway allowing guys to bond over the shared challenge of putting a fish on the end of a line. That's changing.

 

Female anglers are taking to Ontario's streams and lakes in large numbers. A survey of recreational fishing has found about 22 per cent of Ontario's 815,000 anglers are women.

 

There is certainly room for more, especially on the often-lucrative tournament circuit, where female anglers remain under-represented.

 

Terri MacKinnon is working to change that and put more females, of all ages, on the quest for fish. She heads a new company, called FisherGirl Inc., providing fishing gear specifically for women and girls, ranging from pink "Minnow" rods for toddlers, to fly fishing rods for adults.

 

MacKinnon says more women may enter the sport given an alternative to existing equipment designed for men. In addition, 10 per cent of her sales goes to breast cancer research.

 

Recreational fishing is a way for generations to bond, teaches patience, and can draw youngsters into the great outdoors, away from their video games and TV sets. Women and girls should be encouraged to share more deeply in that tradition."