Staff Spotlight: The Fisherwoman

When your idea of a perfect hobby includes early mornings and a side of adrenaline-pumping moments, that’s where fishing comes in. Meet Shelby, Mortgage Operations Manager at BHFCU.

Growing up on a dairy farm, some of Shelby’s earliest childhood memories are of fishing at the small lakes and dams in the area with her family. The beauty of fishing as a kid is the joy of catching anything that would bite. Fast forward to adulthood, Shelby and her husband’s reminiscing about their shared joy of fishing in childhood led them to a little stinger and their family’s favorite new hobby.
 

“In 2020, we welcomed a little stinger we fondly named Sharkbait into the family and proceeded to spend every weekend on the water that summer,” shared Shelby. “A boat upgrade named Kraken later, our family was hooked.” (Pun intended!)

While it was a great excuse to get outdoors, to begin with, fishing has turned into so much more for Shelby. Fishing and camping are what her family looks forward to all year long. Core memories loading! Somewhere in the process, the itch to compete snuck in, and Shelby’s family was hooked once more.

“Fishing is the fairest sport out there, in my opinion,” Shelby explained. “A fish doesn’t know who is at the end of the line. They don’t care if you’re an 85-year-old man or a 5-year-old girl.”

It’s with that attitude and her ‘make your own luck’ hat that Shelby approaches competition and life. As a part of a local bass fishing group, she competes in eight tournaments a year. Last year, she even reeled in a 5.22-pounder, winning the tournament and making it her biggest catch to date. But all competitions don’t always go so well. At one tournament, after catching a 3-pound bass, her little helper (enter 7-year-old son, Blake) forgot himself and threw the fish back into the water with a big splash!

If you’re not much of a fisher, Shelby wants you to know just one thing. Fishing is for everyone. Any gender, age, or skill level. And although she won’t disclose her favorite spots (because an angler never tells) if you find yourself out on the glassy waters of early morning in the Black Hills, you may just spot her.
 

“It’s in those moment, that I find peace and relaxation. All my stress and worries melt away, and life slows down,” Shelby smiled. “The sun on my face, dog at my side, birds chirping in the distance, fishing rod in hand, and then, ever so slightly, I feel the tug on my line.”