While fishing has traditionally been a male-dominated activity, quantified by the 2010 survey report of Recreational Fishing in Canada by the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which shows that 73% of all resident adult anglers in Canada are male, in recent years there has been a significant rise in the number of women taking part in both recreational and competitive angling.Today, various associations and bodies have been formed to promote and support women anglers and the internet is brimming with forums, blogs and websites for women anglers. For instance, The Ontario Women Anglers Association and The Great Canadian Female Anglers Association. Which “promotes and empowers female anglers across Canada to tell ‘her’ fishing story”

There are numerous world class records held by female anglers, though undoubtedly the most famous held and as of yet, unbroken, is that of Georgina Ballantine. Georgina was in her early 30’s when she caught the 29 kilograms (64 pounds) record salmon on the River Tay near Caputh in Perthshire, Scotland, on October 7th 1922. Georgina has been fishing with her father, a ghillie, on the river and it took over two hours to play and land the mammoth fish. The record salmon is the heaviest British rod-caught salmon and a record that is unlikely to be beaten. Earlier in the day she had caught three salmon – one of 25lbs, one of 21lbs and one of 17lbs. The salmon was gifted to Perth Royal Infirmary and eaten by staff and patients alike.

While the internet is buzzing with tales of monster fish being caught, the memory of Georgina Ballantine remains an inspiration for generations of anglers, male and female alike, all over the world.