Sondra Rankin's Blogspot
Hello FISHING FANS!
Sondra Rankin
Hello, FISHING FANS! How about a big "howdy" from the great state of KY! I am absolutely delighted, to say the least, to introduce myself and welcome each and every one of you to my website!
Let me start by telling you a little about myself. I fish professionally as a co-angler on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Yes, quite bizarre for some that a lady competes on a national level with the elite of the ELITE anglers in the world. I'm honored to represent the finest of all fishing tours and have an awesome opportunity to promote women in the field! I am 28 years young and have been fishing competitively on the FLW scene for three years. I've added several very reputable sponsors to my roster in my short term competing. To name a few; Berkley, Abu Garcia, Ranger Boats, Fenwick Rods, Evinrude Outboards, Solar Bat Sunglasses, Sirrius Satellite Radio, MinnKota, Lowrance Electronics, Hot Shot Lures. Also, my biggest career jump yet, I've signed on to fish this season for FLW Outdoors official Chevy Pro Team. Let me explain this to ya' in KY terminology.... BIG, VERY BIG! To give you an example, here are a few of the anglers on my pro team, you might recognize a couple of names. The Chevy team consists of Jimmy Houston, Dion Hibdon, Luke Clausen, David Fritts, Larry Nixon and Kim Stricker, oh, and yours truly, MUAH! I'm beside myself, and with all respect, will do my extreme best this year to stand beside them in honor!
Ok, a little more for ya'. I'll be fishing the entire tour this year and the last two Eastern FLW Series events. I will possibly enter in a Stren or BFL's, the tournaments hosted nearby my hometown. You can keep watch of my stats if you'd like at www.flwoutdoors.com or my personal website, www.sondrarankin.com . Feel free to drop me a line or a comment at ANY time. I love hearing from my fans and I especially love hearing from you ladies looking to increase your potential in the field.
I will also be hosting the very first charitable "Fishin'Chix" freshwater "Pink Rubber Boots" tournament this year on my home lake, KY Lake. This is VERY exciting for me as I have ALWAYS wanted to contribute to the fishing industry in a productive way as this. You can view my new partnership with "Fishin'Chix" at www.fishinchix.com . This is a saltwater based, very successfully organization entirely ran by women, for women, and have recently paired with me to cross over into the HUGE group of ladies fishing freshwater. Keep your eyes out for that also! A percentage of our proceeds are donated to Children's Hospice...we are truly giving back to the community!
I am heading out for Austin, TX next week to begin practice for our FLW Tour Lake Travis event, starting February 15-19. I am SO pumped and have been itching all winter to get back in that boat again. I've had a severe dose of the cabin fever lately. There's just something about the thrill, the challenge, the chase, the passion that drives me. It's these things that keep me coming back time and time again, with the same enthusiasm, with the same desire. "To sack 'em up and put 'em in the boat, baby!" I love the roller coaster, ups and downs, and highs and lows. The fishing industry has made me so strong emotionally, physically, spiritually, in ALL aspects of my life! A true sport.
I love nature. I grew up hunting, fishing, and camping with my family. My father was and still is a MAJOR influence in my life. As a child, I thrived on being a "daddy's girl" and doing all I could to win his attention. (Believe me, that wasn't hard) I've always fished. Probably since I could walk, I was casting a line. I have such an appreciation for the great outdoors that is most likely unimaginable to many. I have several friends that just cannot understand these crazy dreams and goals in my head. I seriously believe that unless children at a young age are introduced early to the wonders of nature, that it's hard as an adult for them to relate to it. I volunteer my time whenever necessary to take a child fishing. I gladly assist any youth hunting or fishing clinics I can. To see the joy on a child's face catching their first fish is more exciting for me than catching them on my own! If I can change a child's life in anyway, especially a young girl, and give them a feel for nature, it's as if my job is complete! So many children in today's society spend so little time outside and far too MUCH time indoors with their video games, DVD's, and IPods. Such a pity. BUT....I will continue this another time. I could go on for miles!
Other hobbies of mine include bow hunting...(don't get me started here either. umm... *grinning..."anybody know of any good whitetail hunts I could invite myself to?"), writing, singing, my guitar, horses, and working out. Fitness and a healthy diet is very important to me! As it should be for ALL of you reading this! Life is short. Fish hard, Fish well, and eat your veggies!
I hope to meet each and every one of you reading this! I will be posting blogs continuously through the season and fill you in with all the details, techniques, and the "ups and downs" that will follow me this year. I may be on top of the totem pole one tourney and draggin' the tail end on another. But I will guarantee ONE thing to all of you. I will fish diligently, fish patiently, fish consistently, and above all, keep God and my child my number one and first priority always. Without the two of them I wouldn't be in the position I am today. I will make the championship this year!
Folks, keep your reels near and your line wet! Set hard and fight harder! Make wise decisions and put 'em in the boat!
Thanks so much for your time!
Look for me on the top this year. I proclaim it. I believe it. I shall have it!
God Bless you always,
Sondra Rankin
Fish on!