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Rabbit Jenson, a local fly fishing guide and instructor from Potter County, held a book signing event at From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro on Saturday morning for the new book she has edited titled, A Woman’s Angle.
“I have been writing since I was nine years old and been involved with journalism since I was ten. I started fly tying in 1972 and started fly fishing about six months later,” Jensen said, “The first time I came up here was 1976. I said, ‘I am going to retire up here,’ so I did. I’ve been fly fishing, guiding, and writing ever since.”

Jensen is a member of the Delaware Valley Women’s Fly Fishing Association (DVWFFA), which is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. “I have been the newsletter editor for ten years, and I thought, why not do something special for the anniversary?” Jensen said.

Jensen started browsing through back issues of the newsletter. As she reviewed the articles, Jensen realized that many of the pieces were great and deserved to be read by more people. According to Jensen, the “lightbulb went off.” A Woman’s Angle is a collection of those articles.

The DVWFFA includes members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. “The group basically got together in the first place because the founding member was losing her opportunity to take an annual fly fishing trip up to Tioga County. Her husband was a little uncomfortable about her going out with ‘the guys.’ So she said, ‘I’ve got to find some women to go fly fishing with,’” Jensen explained.
Jensen’s favorite part of the book? It’s full of “just plain, good fishing stories.” She hopes that when people read the book they will understand that men and woman aren’t all that different when put on the same playing field. “We are all the same out there with our fly rods,” Jensen remarked.

As a guide, she shows people the different places to fly fish, as well as fishing techniques. She even makes fly ties for fellow fishers. In fact, during the book signing event, she hand delivered a set of fly ties to one customer, who in turn bought a copy of the book.

“I am not a rocking chair type of person. I said that when I retired I was going to devote my remaining time to do the things I love which is fly fishing, writing, geocaching, and community service. I can’t really make a living out of those things, so it is basically a labor of love,” noted Jensen.

Alongside the copies of the book where fly tying equipment and some examples of fly ties. A fly tie is supposed to imitate an insect, the fish’s food. According to Jensen, fly ties are traditionally made with items such as rabbit fur, deer hair, or chicken feathers. Farmers, hunters, and fishers all helped each other out by providing the necessary materials to one another. “You would get your fly tying materials from your friends and neighbors,” Jensen said.

Jensen enjoys fly fishing because it involves a lot more than bait fishing. Fly fishers are standing all the time, constantly moving, and deciding where to cast next—overall, a good work out. “When I am fishing for myself, I exclusively fish the Kettle Creek Watershed. I really like the wild trout there. I don’t go out on opening day, that’s not for me. I go for the beauty and the solitude,” Jensen said.
Kasey Coolidge, owner of From My Shelf Books, said of Rabbit, “We have known Rabbit for a long time. She used to be a frequent flier with our monthly writers group. She had taken a couple of seminars with us about self-publishing. And now she doesn’t need us anymore!”

Supporting local authors is “One of the most important things we do,” Coolidge said. “We have always made sure to have a big local and regional section.”
A Woman’s Angle can be purchased at From my Shelf Books, The Brick House Deli in Galeton, Firestone Forge in Germania, and Brydonson Farms in Coudersport.