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Get hooked on 'Fishin' Chix'
By Nancy Cooey Splash! Magazine
 | | Fishin' Chix start early; Isabella Espenscheid, Nikki Dalton, and Charlotte Engel, left, show off their catch from the Pink Rubber Boots Ladies Fishing Rodeo. |
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In the past few months every so often you might have noticed that your mother/girlfriend/wife has disappeared for a day and the only sign left of her says "gone fishin'." To those who this might confuse, she is most likely a proud member of Fishin' Chix, a relatively new organization that allows women to forget the stresses of work and home and experience a sport which has recently begun to appeal to even more women.
Fishin' Chix was founded and is presided over by Claudia Espenscheid; however, Espenscheid's love for fishing didn't surface until a few months before Ivan when she reluctantly agreed to go on a fishing trip with some of her Merrill Lynch colleagues. At that point Espenscheid not only discovered a passion for fishing but also found an outlet where she could relax.
The epiphany for the club, which officially started July 2005, surfaced after Hurricane Ivan when Espenscheid realized the importance of fishing.
 | | Espencheid |
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"In that post traumatic stress, you get in touch with a primitive, basic mode," stated Espenscheid. "You appreciate everything more from food to water, and I missed my dock and being able to get away from stress by throwing a cast net."
"The Mothers' Day after Ivan," stated Espenscheid. "I stood on the sea wall for three minutes and caught a 27 inch red fish. Something struck me: I'm so happy doing this and I never imagined finding a passion like this."
Espenscheid now works full time for the for-profit side of the organization, Fishin' Chix, LLC, where she is selling fishing gear including shirts, boots, cleaning rags, etc. that are design for women, which is an enterprising concept, as the fishing supplies market predominantly focuses its sales towards men.
The non-profit side of Fishin' Chix has not only succeeded in branching out and bring in new members (the group now boasts almost 120 chix and will soon induct two new male members: Curt Morse and Joe Zwierzchowski) but also contributed over $5,000 to Covenant Hospice after the Fishin' Chix 1st Annual Pink Rubber Boots Ladies Fishing Rodeo and with the support of local businesses including Ber Jewelers, Pensacola Apothecary and Lamar Advertising.
 | | Tracey Dalton, Fishin' chick. |
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Fishin' Chix is also supported, educated and captained by honorary member Captain Wes Rozier, a fishing guide who leads inshore fishing, charter fishing, guide fishing and fly fishing tours and has been recognized in Florida Sportsman, Gulf Coast Outdoors, and Gulfcoast Boating and Fishing.
In the next few months the Fishin' Chix have an oceans worth of activities planned including a Dock Hop in July, a deep sea trip in August, a street party in September, the Rockin' Red Fish Tournament in October, a trip to the oil rigs in November, and the "Merry Fishmas" party in December.
In addition to the local success, Fishin' Chix is also expanding and is trying to help 12 new chapters open up in such areas as Savannah, Key West, Atlanta, and Orange Beach. Fishin' Chix has also been recognized nationally by the media.
Despite all the press, however, Fishin' Chix is keeping it "reel" and looking to reach out to more women. "My goal is that a lot more women will take a chance in trying a sport that they never would have tried," stated Espenscheid. "It's a whole different gig from what many women have done."
For more information about Fishin' Chix and to find out how to join, visit www.fishinchix.com.
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