Women anglers inspired to fish from childhood spent outdoors
Courtesy Photo Bray Valley, Kendra Miller, and Jenny Valley came in third place in the Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic. Their team, Hookin' Ain't Easy, was sponsored by Valley Canvas.
ALPENA — Women anglers say that childhoods spent outdoors and on the water with mothers and fathers have encouraged their continuing interest in fishing.
Though fishing may have the perception of being a male-dominated sport, women anglers hold their own during tournaments, including the Michigan Brown Trout Festival tournament.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported in 2022 that 35.1 million anglers spent 559 million days fishing in freshwater in the United States. In total, this added up to 359 million freshwater fishing trips.
According to the report, Michigan is included under the “East North Central” umbrella that also includes Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Of the total East North Central population, 17% of the population fished in 2022, above the national average of 15%. Each state in this region touches a Great Lake.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service documented that 31% of all anglers in 2022 were women.
Courtesy Photo Marie Mellen, Taylor Roznowski, and Samantha Lenard placed first in the Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic. Their team, Daybreak, was sponsored by Alpena Agency.
According to Marcee Wardell, Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) communications specialist, for the 2024 license year, approximately 21% Michigan fishing license customers were female.
Haley Birmingham, 2025 Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic participant, told The News that she’s been drawn to fishing her whole life by watching women in her life participate in the Michigan Brown Trout Festival tournament.
“I’m a third-generation ladies day fisher,” Birmingham said. “I watched my grandma, Linda Clegg, fish and my mom, Robin Birmingham, fish, so I knew I always wanted to do it.”
Birmingham said that this is her seventh year fishing in the Ladies Classic tournament.
“I love fishing but there is nothing better than fishing the Big Lake during Brown Trout … especially Ladies Day,” she said.
Courtesy Photo Chelsea Barilik, Megan Shank, and Michelle Eagling participated in the Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic on Thursday.
Michelle Eagling, 2025 Ladies Classic participant, said that she’s participated in the Brown Trout for the past 10 years, and has fished the regular tournament three times.
Born in Alaska, Eagling has been fishing and hunting for as long as she can remember.
“My love of fishing stemmed from being young,” Eagling said. “My love of water came from my dad.”
Though there is a consistent mix of women and men who fish in the Brown Trout Festival, Eagling said that fishing overall is perceived as a male-dominated sport as they are usually the ones with all the gear.
“They are usually the ones who own the boats,” Eagling said
Though this year her boat’s crew is not all women, she still considers the camaraderie between women anglers the best part.
“I think women look forward to the ladies day,” Eagling said. “You know you are fishing with other women.”
Eagling said that her lifelong involvement with 4-H has further encouraged her to hunt, fish, and stay outdoors. She has continued those traditions with her own children.
“Being outdoors is something I did my whole childhood,” Eagling said. “I want my kids to experience that as well.”
Overall, Eagling said she is pleased with the successes that both men and women have had in all the events thus far.
Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic Results
1. Captain Marie Mellen, 75.4 lbs. cooler weight
2. Captain Shirley Bloom, 66.3 lbs. cooler weight
3. Captain Bray Valley, 65.65 lbs. cooler weight
4. Captain Tia Szatkowski, 64.9 lbs. cooler weight
5. Captain Katie Braun, 62.05 lbs. cooler weight
6. Captain Wendy Polk, 61.85 lbs. cooler weight
7. Captain Angela Tanner, 60.45 lbs. cooler weight
8. Captain Jamie Susick, 59.6 lbs. cooler weight
9. Captain Kathy Stelmachowske, 57.9 lbs. cooler weight
10. Captain Stephanie Carey, 57.45 lbs. cooler weight
Shirley Bloom won the $250 big fish pot with a 15-pounder.
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.
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- Courtesy Photo Bray Valley, Kendra Miller, and Jenny Valley came in third place in the Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic. Their team, Hookin’ Ain’t Easy, was sponsored by Valley Canvas.
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- Courtesy Photo Marie Mellen, Taylor Roznowski, and Samantha Lenard placed first in the Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic. Their team, Daybreak, was sponsored by Alpena Agency.
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- Courtesy Photo Chelsea Barilik, Megan Shank, and Michelle Eagling participated in the Bolenz Jewelry Ladies Classic on Thursday.
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