My name is Joanna and I’m a 31-year-old Registered Nurse from Ohio. I was introduced to fishing by my dad and grandfather before I can even remember. I grew up camping nearly every weekend on the pontoon with my family.
We would sleep on the boat and I remember waking up to the sounds of bells ringing on fishing poles and the shaking of the boat underneath me as my dad ran across the boat to reel in his fish.
My job then was to catch the little fish during the day and show them to my dad and he would give me the okay to throw it in the bucket or toss it back in the water. I never understood why I was supposed to catch all of those little fish and why my dad was so excited about it.
Throughout my early adult life, I was focused mainly on raising a family of four children and attending nursing school. Around the age of 25, I was blindsided by an unforeseen divorce during nursing school. It emotionally and mentally drained me.
I made a decision to go back to my roots. I headed back to the water to clear my head and find myself. I dabbled in fishing for whatever would bite for a while just happy to be outdoors and enjoying the idea of fishing.
I quickly found my passion in catfishing and began targeting them exclusively. That’s when I realized why my dad got so excited for those little fish I caught so long ago, and I got myself a bucket.
Today, I have upgraded my buckets to bait tanks and livewells and I spend nearly every spare moment catching bait with my kids or planning our next fishing adventure.
My 4-year-old begs to go fishing nearly every day and cries if it rains saying, “Now we can never go fishing.” The passion in her melts grown men’s hearts and she is why I catfish. When we are walking to a bank spot to fish, she takes a deep breath and says “It smells like catfish here, Mom.”
I love sharing my passion with others and watching it spread like wildfire after they fight and land their first flathead. The thrill and adrenaline when my rod buries down and I watch the drag peel out of my reel is a feeling I can’t compare to anything else.
Trophy catfishing, in my opinion, is one of the most challenging and rewarding freshwater fishing available here in Ohio and across much of the nation. The time and energy spent targeting and catching bait and the long hours of waiting for that bite is often overlooked by most.
Some nights you can sit for hours without one single bite, while others are so productive you can’t even keep up. I don’t remember exactly where I catch most of my catfish but I always remember where I lost the big one.
The devastation of knowing in your heart how big and strong the fight was but losing it before you hold it can drive you to the brink of insanity. Suddenly, everything you thought you knew is out the window, your mindset changes, and you begin the strategic planning of catching that one fish. We all have that one fish and that is part of why we catfish.
Catch, Photo, Release (CPR) is something I try to instill in others as I educate them about its benefits. Without conservation now our children will never be able to feel the gut-wrenching thrill of catching the beloved trophy catfish we are lucky enough to catch today.
My daughter asked me one day, “Why can’t I put the big ones in the bucket?” I tell her to imagine another little girl like her that is fishing and how happy she will be to catch that same fish, just as when she caught it.
Then, I wondered if I asked my dad that same question when I was her age. The thought of passing catfishing through at least three generations made me smile with pride.
I hope to continue to inspire and encourage women and children to take up the sport of catfishing. I enjoy teaching and guiding them along the way more than anything and hope to reach out to so many more.
Seeing pictures or watching someone’s face light up after they land a new personal best makes my heart swell with pride and joy for them. The look on their face and the sound of their voice full of shock, amazement, and pure happiness is another reason why I catfish.
Sometimes I wonder if I get more excited about someone else catching a giant flathead than when I do myself. I truly believe that catfishing saved my life during some of my darkest days and has given me a gift that I can share with others.
Epilogue: LadyCat Outdoors, LLC
Joanna Renee started LadyCat Outdoors, LLC as a way to separate her fishing life from her personal life. She made a Facebook page for her personal fishing adventures aimed at women angling and family fishing. People started messaging her, indicating that they wanted to see more from her. They were asking for advice and tips on how she caught fish and she responded.
“I started making videos (LadyCat Outdoors YouTube) and helping anyone that reached out for advice or help,” Joanna said. “I decided to get my LLC and have a logo made. Soon we will have apparel and merchandise with the LadyCat logo available for purchase.”
I’ve recruited a few women that I’ve had the pleasure of watching on social media,” continued Joanna. “They have grown into amazing and independent anglers with positive attitudes and beautiful personalities. LadyCat has quickly turned from my personal fishing page into a page that promotes the triumphs and advice from many successful lady anglers.”
“The entire thing has been a blast and a whirlwind of an adventure,” concluded Joanna. “I have no idea where LadyCat will end up but with the help of our catfish community and giving women the courage, wisdom, and support, our possibilities are endless!”
