New Berlin, Wisconsin - Diana Rudolph has done
something some fly fishermen spend their whole lives pursuing – and now
she may have done it twice. Rudolph, co-host of the national TV show
“Breaking the Surface” airing exclusively on Sportsman Channel, reeled
in a huge Permit while sight-fishing on the flats off the coast of
Abaco Island in Bahamas. The crew filmed every bit of the
potential-record Permit – no small task, given that subduing the fish
on the 12-pound tippet she was using required a long chase into nearby
shark-infested waters.
Catching Permit on the flats is considered to be one of the most
difficult feats in fly fishing, and Rudolph currently holds the IGFA
women’s record for the species on 12-pound test line, a 25-pounder she
caught off the Florida Keys in 2006. Though her latest conquest
appeared to match and possibly exceed the size of the current record,
Rudolph did not have a certified scale on board so the beast swam away
unmeasured. “I knew it was very close to my current record, but I let
the fish go to live another day,” said Rudolph. “The fact I got to
catch this fish while filming for the (Breaking the Surface) show, is
simply amazing.”
Rudolph said she also completed another major feat in the
fishing world while filming in the Bahamas – getting a Grand Slam. A
“slam” is landing a Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit. It was not Rudolph’s
first Grand Slam on a fly rod, but definitely the only one while being
filmed.
“Having a camera there filming your every move adds a level of
excitement to how we fish,” said Rudolph, also referring to her co-host
on the show, veteran gear angler Kim Bain-Moore. “I hope people can
learn from how we fish and see the highs and lows of what we do to help
make them more successful when they are on the water.”
“Breaking the Surface” showcases the angling exploits of two of the
finest female anglers on the planet, each of them highly skilled in
quite different fishing disciplines. Gear fishing techniques rest in
the very capable hands of Kim Bain-Moore—the first woman to ever
compete in the Bassmaster Classic—while long-rod expert Diana Rudolph
handles the tools of the fly-fishing trade. “Breaking the Surface” is
an original production created and produced by Sportsman Channel parent
company InterMedia Outdoors. The show anchors the network’s Set &
Strike Saturday night fishing block at 9:30 p.m. EST. The Bahamas
episode will air the week of December 21st.
Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital
company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the
United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming
focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities.
Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel is
now a part of the nation's largest multimedia company targeted
exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of
outdoors enthusiasts. For more information, visit
www.thesportsmanchannel.com.
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