FS Digest wrote:
I'm a pint sized passionate female angler. This afternoon I was made to feel uneasy in one of the only places I feel comfortable fishing alone. I always tell someone where I'm going, just in case. This particular place is a side road just outside of town that almost no one fishes. Probably because of the trek to get down to the creek. I've only ever seen one older gentleman fly fishing there and we had a pleasant interaction.
So I'm sitting in my car getting organized when a pickup slowly pulls up alongside me then parks infront of me. This is rather unusual I thought, so I decided to stay in my car and see what unfolds.
He's just sitting in his truck smoking, he has glanced at me a few times. He then proceeds to get out and walk around back of his truck bed. Just standing there smoking. So at this point I decide I'm not going to fish my beloved slice of paradise. I waited a few minutes then started my car, pulled a u-turn to head in the opposite direction. I did not act hastily but I did watch him in my rearview mirror.
He headed back to the driver seat, started his vehicle and proceeded to follow me. Thankfully I know my region well, I drove in the direction where I knew there was a residental area. Pulled into a driveway and hoped he would keep on trucking. He did.
Now this leaves me rather upset and unsure how to feel about going back there alone. It's not easy being female in a predominantly Male driven sport. I've been laughed at, gawked at, hit on and treated like an idiot while fishing my local tributaries. At times it really puts me off of something I love to do.
If you have made it this far thank you for reading. If you have any tips or advice short of finding someone to fish with me, I would love to hear it. I enjoy spending time alone in nature as it's therapeutic to me.
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by strang3trails
I'm a pint sized passionate female angler. This af... (
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Hello Strang3trails,
I'm thinking that I started something kinda getting out of hand when I suggested you arm yourself so I want to make a few things very clear for you about my advice.
First, I'm new to this forum; in fact, I don't usually get caught up in such things for lack of time! My name is Jim and my wife's name is Margarita; we are heading up into our local mountains for a week of rest and relaxation! Margarita had asked me to make reservations to spend some time up at a cabin on a lake where we've been before... she (actually both of us) like the area and I of course decided that I'm going to get some "fishing" in! :) Couple more years at my work and I'm retiring; we've decided to head in-land into Wyoming territory to spend our retirement where clean air, water and good conservative folk abide (we hope), we live in California now... I do apologize for my extended manner of writing; however, I normally am very thorough (can you tell I'm an engineer?) so I'll make this as short as I can to get my point across.
I wouldn't even be writing if I hadn't spotted some similarities between you and my wife, Margarita. You're both tiny, both hit on a lot because of that feature I'm sure, both obviously independent and I think... both fairly strong willed women (I know my wife is)... I think these are all commendable qualities in a woman and I applaud you for them. Here's the kicker... I think being independent may be a bit of a handicap for such individuals though, it causes you to do, or want to do things that most of us take for granted because of our size and personality! We feel safe because, at our core, we know size is a natural deterrent, that "how we come across to others" makes it very clear that we are no sheep, rather, that we are the ram... does that make sense to you? So I suppose my point in this is; don't be a sheep and follow what everyone else tells you to do (including me), be the ram and do what "you chose to do!"
I suggested that you apply for, train very diligently and acquire a weapon that you can lock onto your hip that lets all "people" know that you mean business if they so chose to get out of hand. Here's the down side of that suggestion; you're independence and power come from within, not from the firearm! The gun is only a tool; a tool that may be used against you if you chose not to dedicate time and effort into training with it... that it will not be taken from you! First, you do this by making it apparent you're armed while fishing. Secondly, you do this by "respectfully" requesting that no one come within a minimum of 25 feet of your "fishing position." This is a reasonable request, is it not? Learn how to read people (this is truly a lost art!), initially listen to your "instinctual" self when others come around, stay aware but NOT go psychotic on anyone, you'll just stress yourself out and what fun can that be!
The bottom line here is, TRAINING, TRAINING and more TRAINING! Once you attend a CCW (conceal carry weapon) course, a lot of this will explain itself. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, sign up for classes that teach training "how" to interact with a weapon as one of your tools. There's a lot more to it than first appears, it's actually a lifestyle, a choice to have a say on who and how other people will affect both yours and your loved ones lives! Sorry to say that it has come to this measure of arming ones' self, but as you have experienced; there are predators out there who don't care who they harm in the course of satisfying their own need for self-empowerment. As I said; an XD compact in 3" on your hip will serve to tell others that you will not be taken advantage of. The predators will turn and walk away, perhaps even try to re-approach within a fashion where you might not see them coming at you (this is where self awareness and training take over; you simply do not allow them this avenue of aggression). The armed people and/or honest kind hearted folks such as myself may approach you, see you're armed and ask what style of weapon there that you're carrying! Chances are; you are brothers/sisters of a single spirit and have a lot to talk about... they'll probably show you theirs to show you how you are two peas in pod so to speak, it's a common thread that binds you in ways that you now have no idea. Visit a gun range sometime; listen to and watch all the other people; it will become very apparent who is "old hat" at this life style and who is just then learning! You will notice one thing in particular; everyone there is very polite and respectful of others, the reason is... "an armed society is a polite society!" Yes there are idiots in all groups of people; however, you will also learn that 99 out of 100 those folks will be there on your side when harm comes a calling, it's the unspoken word of the gun-person!
Empowerment is an awesome weapon; the wielding of it properly AND responsibly is one possible key to an awesome society Strang3trails, empower yourself to not be afraid, to go fishing where and when you choose! Again, so sorry to write your ear off; I do tend to tell the complete story when I care about the issues! If you need an honest opinion and/or need help learning how to follow this path safely; my email is frosty53@surewest.net so anything you write won't be privy to view by "all" people out there. As I wrote, we live in California, are planning to move to Wyoming in a few years and generally we, like you just want to be left alone to enjoy life as we chose to do. Any help I can be, I'm glad to help you.