My name is Jacqui, and I enjoy fishing with my husband. Is it such a shocking thing? And he enjoys when I come fishing with him. Yes, occasionally, he will want to fish by himself, or with a mate. Or sometimes I won’t want to go, like when it’s really windy or really cold. But most of the time, we are a good fishing team.
I will regularly have my say on this blog, so watch out for my posts, ladies. I will post to the Fishing for Women category, and I will put up videos occasionally too.
To all my fishing sisters, this is somewhere where I’d love to hear from you. We can celebrate women and fishing. Whether you fish often and you’re very experienced, or you’re just beginning to fish with your husband, or if you just love to fish on your own, this is somewhere where I hope you come back to again and again, and have your say.
[big_title2]Fishing and family[/big_title2]
When I speak to other mean about camping, fishing, and boating, they say that their wives don’t fish. They do this with their mates. They say it’s really good that I fish, because they wish their wives would. They probably pretend to their wife that they love having this activity to themselves, but secretly they really want their wives beside them, spending time with them.
If you have children, fishing is a great outdoors activity for the whole family. Traditionally, dad would take his son off fishing, but let’s encourage dad to take his daughter fishing. Or for the whole family to go together.
Outdoor family activities where everyone is involved are getting fewer and far between. Outdoor activities often involve standing around a football field and watching one member of the family. But fishing is something that everyone can do. There are rods for all sizes, and dad can prepare all the bait. Watch the kids’ faces light up when they catch their fish!
[big_title2]Fishing and health[/big_title2]
We need to be getting more sun, in a healthy sun-smart way, of course. Vitamin D is made in our bodies when we have sun exposure, and it only needs to be as little as 10 minutes per day on a bit of skin, like your arms. Most of the time we wear sunscreen in our moisturiser or BB cream on our faces, and maybe only our hands are exposed to the sun. Often, it’s not enough.
Conservatively, it is estimated that 30% of adults have low or are deficient in Vitamin D and don’t get enough sunlight. Vitamin D is crucial to bone health, because without it we cannot absorb calcium. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, and our brains are about 60% fat. Serotonin is a happy hormone for our brains – there are links to depression and low Vitamin D. It could also play a role in the prevention of diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis.
Getting outdoors, into the boat, and out fishing – great for your Vitamin D.
Fish is full of Omega-3 fatty acids – a great fat for our health. Freshly caught, low mercury fish is very healthy for you. And what could be more rewarding than eating a fish that you caught yourself. I’m generally an advocate for catch-and-release programs. But it you catch a nice edible fish, that is what the legal bag limits are for – you are allowed to keep one occasionally. Enjoy it!
[big_title2]Fishing and wellbeing[/big_title2]
The number one reason that I enjoy fishing, other than spending time with my husband and getting my dose of the outdoors – the mental health benefits I get from it.
I unplug from the world. I put my phone on airplane mode, even if we are going somewhere where the reception is poor. I cannot be contacted, and I’m not tempted to check Facebook or work emails.
Then I meditate. My husband thinks I’m sitting there enjoying the fishing. What I enjoy most is the scenery, and practising some mindfulness. I notice the beauty of the surroundings. I practice gratefulness. I sit back with the rod in its holder, and a bell on its tip – and I zone out. I believe that this is what men do as well, in a different form, and they’d appreciate it in a different way. My husband and I sit for hours without talking, or just a few words here or there about moving to the next spot.
I don’t practice a particular kind of meditation, and usually I don’t even close my eyes. I just let me mind wonder as I focus on appreciating the world around me. I let me thoughts wonder in and out. I con’t consciously make lists, or let myself agonise over this or that. I let the thoughts come and go – I cannot shut my mind off, and I don’t want to. But it’s down time for my brain. It doesn’t have to focus and problem solve; it just has to be ready for a bite! If I don’t catch a fish, it’s not heart breaking, because I can return from the day fishing with lower blood pressure and a revitalised, refreshed brain.