Building Connections to the River and Community Across Generations

Testing the Waters: An Interview with a Young Angler

I’m Jenny Adkins, a mother of two great kids, and a wetland scientist at MAD Scientist

Associates. I ran across the Ohio Women on the Fly account on Instagram and quickly followed them. I saw they had a meetup planned for October on the Mad River and I was excited to connect with a group of (clearly) awesome women and introduce my daughter to a new experience. Let me tell you, if you are looking for a group of fun, intelligent, accepting and adventurous women, look no further. We showed up not knowing what to expect, and without any formal gear beyond waders, and were readily welcomed. Pam Allen took my daughter aside and let her practice holding and casting her rod on land to see if she’d be comfortable trying it in the river. She was a little apprehensive, but willing to give it a go. Here’s what she had to say about the day…

What made you want to come to the outing on the Mad River?

I wanted to come to the outing because I’ve never done anything like it before.

What did you think when you saw everyone getting ready to fish?

I was a little bit nervous because there were a lot of people and I didn’t know what to expect, but everyone was really nice!

Was there anything that surprised you about fly fishing?

I thought that it was going to be hard, but after practicing a bit, I got the hang of it. I learned how to cast, where to put the lure in the stream, and how to reel in a fish once it bites. It’s different from a regular pole because you gently pull the line in with your hand. It’s important not to let too much line out because then the fish can swim away with it.

What was it like meeting all the women anglers?

It was kind of intense. I didn’t know what they were going to be like, but they were all really nice and fun! I liked hearing about their experiences with their kids and grandkids, and they gave me good advice on what gear to get and how to fish. I especially enjoyed learning from Pam.

What made you decide to come to lunch with everyone afterward?

I love going out to eat! But I also wanted to spend time with the rest of the group. While we were fishing, we were all spread out, so I didn’t get to talk to them.

How did being in the river make you feel?

It was cold! The waders didn’t keep my legs and feet warm, so next time I’ll wear warmer

clothes underneath. My Mom made me wear my winter coat and stuffed it inside my waders. I was interested to learn that trout like the cold, clear water. I thought it was really kind that we released the trout too. We were careful about how we took out the lure, how we held them, and how we let them swim back in the river.

What was your favorite part of the day?

Catching fish! I was able to use the rod by myself after practicing and I hooked 12 trout and got 6 in the net! I liked casting with the fly rod too. I learned to cast vertically and horizontally to avoid getting the lures and line stuck in the trees. I also liked seeing the lures they made by hand. I’d like to learn how to make them.

What did you like about hanging out with the group?

I had fun with Pam because she taught me how to fish. I also had a lot of fun at lunch. It was fun to joke around with them and learn about what they do for jobs. One of them is an electrical engineer and she ordered fried pickles!

Would you want to come to another outing sometime?

Yes. Definitely.

If you could tell your friends one thing about fly fishing, what would it be?

It’s fun! You learn a lot about fish and where they spend time in the river. They like runs and pools and like to keep to shadows where they can hide from herons. Also, when you’re walking in a stream, it’s best to shuffle your feet so you don’t trip or slip.

What kind of fish would you like to catch on a fly rod?

I had a lot of fun catching trout. If I had to choose something else, it would be a bass, salmon, or muskie.