If you’ve ever wondered how you can show support for women in the business industry of fisheries, here’s your chance! We’ve rounded up a list of women-founded businesses for you to check out. These businesses offer the best of both worlds – gear created with women in mind and the chance to support educational activities and fisheries conservation efforts through your purchase!
AnglHer
Founded by Kelli Jackson in 2008
In addition to providing apparel designed to fit women, AnglHer also strives to create opportunities for women to grow and learn in the sport of fly fishing. Their business is based around educating women and young girls about fly fishing, hosting destination fly fishing trips, and creating gear and apparel that will last on the water for years to come.
AnglHer supports:
Batoko
Founded by Melanie and Mark Bonsor in 2013
This company quite literally takes trash and turns it into treasure, or fun swimwear in this case! After volunteering with a beach cleanup group in England, founders Melanie and Mark decided to make a sustainable, environmentally friendly business out of recycling already existing plastic pollution into something new that could be used to raise awareness. They keep true to their mission by maintaining a small, efficient production process that limits waste and is powered by renewable energy sources.
Batoko supports:
Marine Conservation Society UK
Damsel Fly Fishing
Founded by Kara Tripp and Lynae Axelson in 2015
Created by sisters and fly fishing enthusiasts, Damsel Fly Fishing gives “feminine twists to bland fly fishing accessories”. What began as an outfitting business turned into an opportunity to create products designed for women to use on the water. Products available on the Damsel website include colorful wading belts and stylish snoods that feature fishing inspired patterns. Keeping true to their roots, Kara and Lynae continue to offer guided fly fishing excursions across the globe as well as educational videos and workshops to share their passion with other women.
Damsel Fly Fishing supports:
Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition
Fishe and Women’s Flyfishing
Founded by Linda Leary in 2015
It’s hard to miss the bold patterns and vivid colors incorporated into the product design of each FisheWear piece! With collections ranging from tarpon leggings to brook trout dry bags, Fishe has something for every woman angler out there. There are plenty of options to shop the Fishe brand including an online store, nationwide retailers, and a storefront in Anchorage, Alaska. Along with their sister company, Women’s Flyfishing, Fishe aims to “outfit, educate, and empower more women”.
Fishe and Women’s Flyfishing support:
Maven Fly
Founded by Lisa Lozelle in 2013
Maven Fly goes above and beyond when it comes to the details in their women’s tailored clothing including pockets for all your needs and adjustable Velcro waist bands. Their apparel is engineered to be fashionable yet remain completely functionable for anglers. Lisa, like many others in this industry, was inspired to start Maven Fly when she noticed the need for women’s fishing apparel that didn’t go along with the typical “shrink it and pink it”. Maven Fly offers everything from skorts to pullovers that are made in the USA and can take you from the water to everyday wear.
Maven Fly supports:
Miss Mayfly
Founded by Kimberly Ranalla in 2016
Leading the way in waders crafted for women is Miss Mayfly! After searching to no avail for waders to gift her daughter, Kimberly made it her mission to provide fishing gear for “women of all shapes and sizes”. Miss Mayfly’s line of color-coordinated chest waders and wading pants is carried in retail stores in five states and can also be purchased online. You can find fish-inspired buffs and socks available to purchase on their website as well.
Miss Mayfly supports:
Ocean Mimic
Founded by Emma Sparrow and Chelsea Clements in 2018
A brand and charity combined into one, Ocean Mimic is centered on creating a better marine environment. Their brand began as a line of diving suits and has now expanded into swimwear and accessories with patterns that *mimic* marine organisms. Every purchase supports beach cleanups, which they run in over 25 countries! Even more impressive is their ambassador program that engages with women ocean advocates including marine biologists, artists, and dive instructors.
Ocean Mimic supports:
Reel Skipper
Founded by Samantha Pettinaroli and Michelle Lynn in 2014
Florida-based company, Reel Skipper, designs apparel for women who love to be active on the water, whether enjoying a day of fishing or just leisurely paddle boarding. Outdoor time means sun exposure, luckily Samantha and Michelle kept this in mind by using sun protective materials with bonus moisture-wicking properties for their products. Sustainability is at the heart of their business with demand-based production processes that are local to Miami and feature compostable shipping supplies.
Reel Skipper supports:
Rep Your Water
Founded by Corinne and Garrison Doctor in 2011
Rep Your Water is a business with quite the reputation for supporting conservation and outdoor exploration. Founded by a Colorado husband and wife fly fishing duo, the brand is retailed in locations across the United States and donates 3% of every purchase. Within their plethora of products, you can find hats adorned with their signature fish logo along with home goods, fine art, and other accessories.
Rep Your Water supports:
Driftless Area Restoration Effort
Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture
Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership
Great Lakes Regional Center of NWF
Salmon Sisters
Founded by Emma Teal Laukitis and Claire Neaton in 2012
Nobody knows salmon better than Alaskan natives and sisters, Emma and Claire. Supported by an all-women team, Salmon Sisters is a brand that “celebrates coastal heritage, wild places, ocean stewardship and Alaska seafood”. Fishing is at the very core of their business, with the sisters often overseeing business while continuing to harvest seafood from the Alaskan waters. Among their best selling products are responsibly-harvested salmon fillets that are available to ship right to your doorstep. The sisters also founded the Give Fish Project as a way to share wild fish with others across their state.
Salmon Sisters supports:
SaraBella Fishing
Founded by April Archer, JT Archer, and Scott Grieble in 2014
Customizable fly rods are at the forefront of SaraBella Fishing’s expertise! Each rod is crafted by their team based on your needs with top-notch materials sourced from the United States. They have different levels of customization for you to choose from when purchasing – ready to ship options to full custom rods. They even offer special edition collaboration rods with partners like Fishe and The Mayfly Project. One of their latest achievements includes their partnership with the Fly Fishing Climate Alliance and commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.
SaraBella Fishing supports:
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing
Waterlust
Founded by Fiona Rynne, Patrick Rynne, and Laura Graham in 2014
No stranger to science, Waterlust started as an experiment among graduate students at the University of Miami. A trifecta of experience in sustainable merchandising, marine policy, and ocean engineering exists between the family of founders. They pride themselves in creating “Advocate Apparel” that serves as an innovative method of science outreach through clothing. Their products include environmentally conscious women’s and men’s apparel as well as accessories, all with nature-inspired patterns. You’ll be thrilled to see the inclusivity amongst their product models, who also happen to be marine scientists and ocean advocates themselves!
Waterlust supports:
Reef Environmental Education Foundation
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s Sharks & Rays Conservation Research Program
FSU Marine Turtle Research Ecology and Conservation Group
Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami
The Alaska Salmon Program at The University of Washington
Mote Marine Laboratory’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration
Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation
Alfred C. Glassell Jr. SUSTAIN Laboratory
Yellow Sally
Founded by Kara Schuett in 2019
Angler and fly fishing guide, Kara, created Yellow Sally to put quality women’s fishing apparel on the market. Using feedback from the women in the fishing community, she created a line of in demand products to fit their needs. Yellow Sally boasts a wide selection of trout-inspired apparel, accessories, and home goods. A bonus – you can also buy matching apparel in girls’ sizes!
Yellow Sally supports:
Other Women-Led Fisheries Businesses:
Women in Fishing
Chris Woodward serves as the Executive Editor for Sport Fishing magazine
The Women in Fishing section of Sport Fishing magazine highlights the “female angler’s perspective”. Their webpage is all encompassing with features including gear recommendations, highlights of women in the industry, and seafood recipes. Executive Editor, Chris, is no stranger to the industry with decades of experience as an editor with the magazine and a lifetime of fishing adventures under her belt. She also recently began hosting a Women in Fishing podcast series where she chats with other women about their experiences in fishing.
United Women on the Fly
Founded by Heather Hodson in September 2016
While it is impossible to name all the amazing women in the fisheries industry in a single post, the United Women on the Fly (UWOTF) website comes pretty close with their extensive guide of women that are involved in the fly fishing industry. A unique feature is their interactive maps that help you locate a fly fishing professional or group nearest to you. UWOTF also hosts online fly fishing courses covering multiple facets of the sport and in person events for women anglers at all levels. Their resources page is a great start if you are looking to learn even more about the industry or have your own company featured!
Reference material was gathered from the associated web pages for each business.