Fish start as fry and so do fishermen. An iconic phrase for those beginning their path as anglers. A journey is full of ups and downs, personal bests and all-time lows with plenty of mistakes made along the way. Wherever you are in your journey as an angler, you appreciate the progress made and recognition of how far you’ve come and how much more there still is to learn. Blanca Lopez, our last BD Outdoors Fishing Chick of 2019, highlights her progression as an angler over the years and what is still to come.
Iris Lopez, known by many as Blanca, was a BD Outdoors Fishing Chick several years ago. Like many SoCal anglers, Blanca was hooked on the sport of fishing after her first experience saltwater fishing. “I started fishing avidly a couple of years ago when a good friend of mine and her husband took me to a local lake. It was there where we met people who saltwater fish. We were invited to our first twilight trip, and that is when I was hooked.”
At the time when she started her newly found passion for sport fishing, there was a lot to learn. “The first time [becoming a BD Fishing Chick] I had just started fishing and I had my first white seabass and that’s pretty much it,” Lopez said. “Back then I had people teach me the basics and it was difficult at times to learn everything. When I used to go out, I would ask people what we are doing and what do I need to do.”
There’s an infinite amount of information and styles to learn in fishing that makes it unique compared to other sports. Knowing the what gear to use for which species you’re targeting, knot tying, how each fish fights differently and how you need to adjust accordingly, styles of fishing, State and Federal regulations, fishing etiquette and so much more. Throw in fishing from a private boat and you add a whole other grocery list of information you need to know.
However, like most things in life, time and experience turns your wounds into wisdom.
“Over time I have become more confident of my own knowledge and skills. Now when I go fishing, I tie my own lines, I look for what’s biting, I look for conditions like the current’s direction if the wind is blowing and how that affects the fishing,” Lopez said. Blanca also mentioned an important role for her growth as an angler is asking questions and knowing which questions to ask.
Recently, Blanca has found an obsession with inshore fishing for spotted bay bass and sand bass and calicos. Throwing plastics and underspins and searching for the good spots for saltwater bass fishing have helped Blanca develop her skills and knowledge. When it comes to offshore fishing, yellowtail on the yo-yo iron is her go-to style of fishing.
Finding her passion for fishing and developing that knowledge of the sport has led to memories and experiences that Lopez will treasure forever. Fishing her local SoCal Islands and freshwater lakes for several years now, Blanca traveled up and down the West Coast in search of that next bite going from big lingcod in Sitka, Alaska, prehistoric sturgeon in the California Delta of San Francisco, to long-range trips at Guadalupe Island and Alijios Rocks. With an upcoming trip to Guatemala, Lopez plans on taking advantage of the top-notch fishery that is available there and hopes to continue checking fish off her bucket list.
While developing from novice to avid angler, Blanca has come to represent fishing brands such as Grundens and Phenix Rods. She resides in Long Beach, California where she works full time as a Vessel Manager for a shipping company. The maritime industry keeps her busy, but when she finds the time, she heads out to the water to continue the evolution of her fishing passion.
We thank Blanca for her time and continued support and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!
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