Menagerie Photography Studio Celebrating Local Women in Business Featuring Stephanie Ortiz
Welcome to our Celebrating Local Women in Business blog! We are focusing on local Connecticut businesses owned and run by women. The blogs will give you a chance to learn about the women who own these businesses, why they chose the work they do, what drove them to transform that passion into their own business and how their business has a positive impact on others.
Today I’m introducing you to Stephanie Ortiz who owns and operates The Fancy Fluke Fishing Co. in Stratford, Connecticut. Stephanie’s goal is to create a strong, safe community for women to experience the sport of fishing and on a deeper level the lifestyle. Fancy Fluke Fishing Co. creates and sells customized tackle and tackle inspired accessories for girls and women who love to fish! They currently have a Women’s Only Fluke Tournament scheduled for Summer 2017 at Burrs Marina in New London and have another in the works in Milford, CT. If you think that is all Stephanie has planned you haven’t seen her energy, enthusiasm and dedication to her company and the women she hopes to inspire. She also plans to offer teaching clinics for women and children interested in learning the “How-To” of angling in Connecticut and is in the process of creating a program of Girls Only Charters. So read on to hear Stephanie’s story about how she got started and how she wants to share this with others.
Name: Stephanie Ortiz
Owns/Operates: The Fancy Fluke Fishing Co. in Stratford, CT
” I found 6 amazing women who shared my vision and created a team… I am positive that those who see these women and get to know their lives will gain a new respect for the “Why” of fishing. In that way we will inspire other women to try our sport. We have opened up our lives to teach and include them. In that way we are empowering female anglers by giving them the guidance they need to excel and enjoy themselves on the water.”
“The Fancy Fluke literally started as a Fluke. I had made some glamorous fishing rigs for myself for fishing trip off of Block Island. One of the reasons I really got into angling was for the food! I am extremely passionate about Ocean to Table cooking and Fluke are some of the best eating around! Any opportunity I have to catch Fluke I try my best to fish hard and put dinner on the table. That particular trip was a SLAMMER! We limited out in under two hours all BIG FLUKE 20-29” and all on my Fancy Fluke Rigs. I knew if I could hit it out of the park fluking Block I had a great rig in my hands.
I knew my Fluke Rigs were my golden ticket into the world of Sport Fishing in Connecticut. I’m by no means the greatest angler but I fish often.. Some weeks everyday, other times for days at a time. Experience is king and I’ve gained quite a bit. This year alone I’ve caught Bluefin Tuna, White Marlin and Mako. I’ve also beat my personal best Fluke and Bluefish. I may not score on every species, but if you want a lady who can fight a shark from start to finish, I’m your woman. I didn’t stop there…
My Fluke Rigs had a great summer with tons of positive feedback from anglers all over the state. Our Rigs snagged not only Fluke, but Scup, Black Sea Bass, Striper and Blues.
Fancy Fluke Fishing Co. is dedicated to creating and selling customized tackle and tackle inspired accessories for girls and women who love to fish! All of our Fluke Rigs are made with the highest quality materials including Addya 4/0 Wide Gap Hooks, Berkley Big Game Monofilment 30lb and various hardware, bucktails, teasers and squid skirts from Buccaneer, Sea Striker and other fine tackle producers. Our Fluke Rigs are designed for jigging and drifting for Fluke and other bottom fishing. We test our products locally in Long Island Sound and deeper waters around Block Island. Our designs employ a large array of bead-work and specialty knots. Silver, semi-precious stones and genuine crystal are matched with tails and teasers to create a one of a kind piece you can use over and over again. All of our products are handmade in Stratford, Connecticut, USA.
We are currently available in stores at:
Diane’s Bait, Tackle & Charters in New London,CT
Fisherman’s Paradise in Milford, CT
Animal Artisans in Stratford,CT
Once I got my product in shops, I knew my next step was to create a strong, safe community for women to experience this sport and on a deeper level the lifestyle. I found 6 amazing women who shared my vision and created a team, namely Lauren Salvioli, Diane Womack, Kim Granite, Niki Webber, Captain Stephanie Griffith and Jennifer Zuppe. In my opinion these women are extremely inspiring and at the same time the best examples of excellence in angling in Connecticut. I am positive that those who see these women and get to know their lives will gain a new respect for the “Why” of fishing. In that way we will inspire other women to try our sport. We have opened up our lives to teach and include them. In that way we are empowering female angler by giving them the guidance they need to excel and enjoy themselves on the water.
We currently have a Women’s Only Fluke Tournament scheduled for Summer 2017 at Burrs Marina in New London with another in the works in Milford, CT. We plan to offer teaching clinics for women and children interested in learning the “How-To” of angling in Connecticut. I also am in the process of creating a program of Girls Only Charters, this is a great way for boats to link up with potential life-long patrons. We want to offer a charter experience that caters specifically to female anglers of all levels.
The other important piece to the Fancy Fluke puzzle is our site – TheFancyFluke.com. We provide content ranging from recipes, tips and tricks of the trade, photo gallery, shop and what I am most proud of, our Fishing Reports written by female fishermen. My hope is we become well known as a source for interesting and reliable information pertaining to the sport. At the same time, I know that we will inspire many women, men and their families by empowering them to explore with us a passion for this Salty Satisfying way of life.”
Stephanie’s love of fishing and desire to share her knowledge and passion has created an amazing company that not only hires women for her team but strives to spread the word that there is not anything you can’t do if you work hard. She promotes independence and self-sufficiency while honoring families and tradition.
To learn more about this amazing woman and her business:
The Fancy Fluke Fishing Co. Stratford, Connecticut
Supporting Women Anglers Since 2016
Stephanie Ortiz – Artist, Fisherman and Founder
If you would like to be featured in one of our blogs, please go to our Contact Us page at MarilynRiel.com and tell me more about you and your business!
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If you have dreamed of having a photo-shoot that is all about you, call me to set up a complimentary consultation. You can see the studio and we can talk over coffee about how you want to be photographed. To make that happen, just click to book below! Is it a long trip to visit the studio? We’ve photographed women from all over the eastern part of the country including New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Feel free to contact us and set up a special phone consultation! And, as you now know, Gift Certificates are available.
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