I’d like to introduce the readers of KFM to Dee.  Dee is going to moderate our forum entitled “The Ladies Room” a forum for women anglers.  We first met Dee when we held the first Jamaica Bay Tournament.  Dee is involved with the organization “Casting for Recovery” and they were the prime beneficiary of this charitable event.  She lives in northern New Jersey and recently retired from her nursing career.  This life change has her splitting time there and southwest Florida.  Dee is a licensed NY State fishing guide, casting instructor and retreat coordinator for Casting for Recovery, and winner of ‘Fly rod and Reel” magazine, Trout Bum contest in 2003.  She’s also a member of the Long Island base club the Salty Flyrodders.

When did you start fishing?

My dad was an avid fisherman and since I didn’t have any brothers, I started fishing at age 9 with a spin rod. I started fishing freshwater lakes and streams with lures and occasionally live bait.  My dad and I would go with my uncles and cousins and I remember always having a ball   As I got older I was allowed to also join dad on ice fishing trips.  I would bring my ice skates and keep warm by skating around all the Tip Ups to check to see if ice formed around the holes.  I still remember how exciting it was to see a red flag go up and then reel in what usually was a big pickerel or perch.  In summer I went to sleep away camp.  While my mother sewed my name in my clothes, my dad and I were packing up my tackle box.  He made sure that during my two weeks away I would have everything I needed to make fishing a part of the camp experience.  I was the envy of all the kids when it came to my fishing gear.

You’re an avid fly fisherwoman, how did you get involved?

Although my dad wasn’t big into fly-fishing he did have a few rods that I inherited.  One was a Shakespeare combo spin and fly rod.  He called it the candy cane because it had red trim on white.  I learned how to use it and the rest is history.  I went to a few fly fishing classes, weekend fly fishing school and then joined a local women’s fly fishing club ….. I was hooked. That was almost 16 years and millions of casts ago. 

When did you first start kayak fishing and what made you start?

I have always been around non-powered boats.  I have a canoe, rowboat and even a personal pontoon boat that I use for fishing rivers.  When fishing the surf it became so frustrating to see the birds working and blitzes exploding beyond my casting range.  A kayak seemed like the perfect way to reach the fish.  A few members of my salt-water club (The Salty Flyrodders) were into kayak fishing so it was a natural evolution for me too.  I guess that was 4 – 5 years and 3 three kayaks ago.  My kayaks have given me the freedom to explore areas and gain access to waters unreachable when wading alone. 

Whether it is targeting small or large mouth bass on a fresh water lake, cruising estuaries for striped bass or chasing red fish and tarpon in the gulf, a kayak is my preference.

What goals do you have?  

Landing a Florida tarpon on a fly.