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Char, Char galore: She fishes like a girl |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 31 May 2006 |
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Page 1 of 3  Char Bloom fishes like a girl and she’s proud of it. Not only has she reeled herself into a male dominant sport, she’s done it in her own clothing line.
“When you pull out that rainbow trout and she’s prettier than you, it’s time to do something,” Bloom said.
 Because she didn’t want to look like the guy standing next to her, she designed fishing vests just for women in colors like cotton candy pink and soft lavender.
Mother of two-time Olympian and Philadelphia Eagle, Jeremy Bloom, Char is a member of the Hyde Boats Pro Staff. After spending 25 years in Loveland raising her family, Char moved to Keystone where she spends the majority of her time as a fly-fishing guide.
But Char has not always been an angler. She worked as a flight attendant as well as a ski and snowboarding instructor for years. Though she no longer gives demonstrations at the front of the plane, she does still give lessons on the slopes.
She has been fly fishing professionally for about five years.
“I was at the age where I decided if I was going to try something knew I was going to do it right,” Char said.
She flew to New York where she completed The Instructors Fly Casting Course taught by Joan Wulff. Then it was off to Idaho for a week at Reel-Women’s Guide School.
Now she teaches her own clinics where she shares her love for fishing with other women.
“I don’t know any other woman so passionate about fishing,” said her oldest son, Jordan Bloom. “In my opinion, she is a pioneer in her field. We’re all very proud of her and support her.”
But not everyone has taken the bait of seeing her on the river.
“There have actually been men who leave when I get in the river,” Char said. “They’re getting better now, after they see I follow the rules and know what I’m doing. Now they will come over to ask for tips and see what I’m using.”
Although there may be some division in attitudes, when it comes to competition, the waters are open to all.
This weekend Char will help judge the Fly Fishing Team U.S.A. tryouts in Georgetown. She was going to compete, but decided she just wouldn’t have the time. Her summer is already filling up with clinics all over the U.S.
“Once you get the equipment, everywhere you go there’s a river or a lake. Everywhere,” she said.
VITAL STATS
Name: Char Bloom
Company: Char Bloom LLC
Title: President of Char Bloom LLC
How long have you worked there? Five years
IN HER WORDS
What is it about this job that makes it challenging?
As far as the guiding part and rowing the drift boat, the most challenging part is the river and the weather is always changing. This boat is made to go forward on a river. I take this thing through rapids where there’s rocks and at the same time you’ve got to get your client into the fish.
As far as the clothing line, getting it from the head to the hanger. It’s major brain damage. The designing is easy, selling it is easy but the production side of it has been major brain damage.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
When I guide, 100 percent of the money goes to the Denver Rescue Mission. So, even on a day when I might think it’s a long day out there, maybe I’m tired, I think about the fact that all I have to do is give my time doing something I love. It benefits the women and children who are trying really hard to make better lives for themselves. I don’t charge a fee, I give a donation form at the end of the day and a stamped envelope and people send in whatever their heart tells them to.
Things that impress you?
Kindness, generosity, love and confidence.
Things that don’t.
People who don’t respect each other and don’t set high standards in their lives. I will be on the most pristine area on a river bank where I will find someone who was camping left McDonald’s bags, old trash and beer bottles or something. That does not impress me. I think we all need to step up, every one of us and do a little bit better than we’ve done. It affects the whole world.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
Years ago I don’t think I would have envisioned myself as a fly fishing guide because I hadn’t given the sport much thought. But I’m not at all surprised that I spend my life outdoors and working with people. What would be a real challenge for me would be having to stay indoors all day.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I can’t say exactly what I would be doing, but it would be something that has a certain amount of challenge and excitement to it. Life without excitement, I can’t imagine that. I would hope it would be something that would be helping other people, particularly women. That just really appeals to me.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
I don’t know if I would call it the stupidest, but last year I took three clients to this area where you have to rappel down a hill. A lightening storm moved in. You can’t sit on the ground because you want the least amount of your body touching the ground, so we were hunched on the ground for one hour. Lightening was just dancing all over the place. That’s something I wouldn’t want to do again.
Smartest?
Believing in myself and not being satisfied with choices in fly fishing. I don’t know too many women who want to wear the identical clothes men wear. For years that was the only choice. I just had this belief we women wanted something designed for us. When I drive by a river now and see a woman wearing one of my pink vests, I just get a huge amount of satisfaction from that.
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
I wish I had time to travel the world, fishing all different rivers and catching all different fish. I wish I had the time to take more people. There’s so many women who don’t seem to have a passion in life. I really wish I could take everybody who is looking to fill some part of their lives out for a day. It may not become their passion, but I just would like to offer them the experience that I get every day. I’d have to have a lot bigger boat.
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
It’s what I do. I don’t get paid. Basically what I do is sell my product but give away my time. I can’t imagine anything in life would make me change that.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Having been an outdoors person. When I was little, my neighbors would call me over to plant their trees or identify a snake. From early childhood I’ve just been very competent in the outdoors.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
The fact I’m doing something I really love and it’s benefiting the Champa House. It’s getting me out to the most amazing places imaginable. Every time I go out, I make new friends. Sometimes they become lifelong friends. The people I meet are definitely a payoff.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
I’m always at work. I mean every waking hour I’m either working on the clothing business or going fishing. It’s my play and my work. And the few times I’m not, the thing I love doing more than anything is spending time with my kids.
Pets?
Two Cairn Terriers: Doodlebug and Ranger. (Both are outfitted with their own fishing vests and business cards)
Family?
Three kids: Molly, 28; Jordan, 25 and Jeremy, 24.
Favorite TV shows.
I like really inspirational shows. If I’m home during the day, I like to watch Oprah. She is turning into such an amazing woman, helping other women, helping minorities and doing a lot of good in the world.
Movies.
I don’t like anything with violence. I like the real drippy dramas or real life dramas.
Books.
I like nonfiction, so biographies, true life stories and inspirational books.
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
Business, business, business, fabrics and fly shops. Of course my favorite is mine.
Where do you play?
Mostly outside. I’m a mogul skier. I’m way too competitive to play most inside games.
Go out to eat?
If I’m in town, I really like to frequent restaurants that are owned by friends. I love to meet a couple friends for breakfast. That’s probably my favorite meal to eat out.
Favorite spot?
Home. I love traveling the world, but I love my home.
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