"Women rush for cosmetics, and I — for fishing rods." A nurse from Vitebsk has been fishing for over 15 years
Morning, fog over the water, birdsong, the lapping of waves, and a bite — these are the moments during fishing when you forget about workdays and become part of the landscape, especially cherished by Inna Fyodorova, the senior nurse of the second cardiology department of the Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital. For 15 years, the woman has been going out for trophies on the waters of Belarus and Russia, both in summer and winter. She told BelTA why her love for this hobby arose, how professional qualities help her achieve a good catch, and what her favorite fish dish is.
Inna's love for fishing awakened not by chance: one could say it was passed down through her genes. The woman was born in the village of Rovnoye, Shumilino district. Her parental home stood on the shore of a lake, which lured with its abundance. Her grandfather, father, and two brothers were constantly fishing. However, she became passionate about it much later.
"One summer, my husband and I went to relax with my cousin and her husband. We just rode on their boat, but the natural beauty stuck in my memory. After that trip, I had a huge desire to buy a boat, fishing rods, and go to such places more often," Inna Fyodorova shared.
Her husband, with whom she has been together for almost 35 years, also supported the initiative.
"I'm lucky: Alexander always supports my ideas. And the desire to go fishing especially pleased him. Some husbands have to ask permission to go to the reservoir, but here his wife eagerly rushes there," Inna says with irony.
Since then, almost every weekend the family goes to the reservoir.
"This hobby helps to distract from problems that arise at work, to immerse oneself in a completely different world," Inna shared.
She has been working as a medic for more than three decades. She followed in her mother's footsteps, who also dedicated herself to medicine. This field is complex and stressful, as every day it is necessary to bear responsibility for people's lives. Good relaxation is essential, and for the nurse, fishing became that. Even household chores are not an obstacle:
"We live in a private house, there's a garden. In summer, there are always enough chores. But after work, we do everything that needs to be done, and on Friday, we pack up for fishing."
The family has traveled to many lakes in Belarus and Russia. Braslav, Chudskoye (Lake Peipus), and the reservoirs of Karelia particularly captivated them.
"The first trips were with a tent. Then we bought a house on wheels, which has a sleeping place and a small kitchen. This, of course, adds comfort to the rest, which is important for every woman," Inna noted.
Over a decade and a half, she has mastered various fishing methods.
"I like to fish with two rods at once. You definitely won't be bored on the shore, it's real adrenaline. Feeder fishing is exciting: the main thing is to cast the rod where you've chummed the fish. Night fishing with a bottom rod is a special art. You sit under a flashlight, waiting for a bite and the bell to ring, then you pull the elastic, take off the catch, and carefully let the bottom rod back," the fisherwoman explained.
Observation, the ability to notice details, and patience to wait for a bite are important in fishing. Inna possesses these qualities fully, as they are also essential in her professional activity.
"Medicine doesn't tolerate haste and fuss; you need to approach a person's treatment with a cool head," the nurse summarized.
In her arsenal are about 20 winter fishing rods and four summer ones.
"It's hard to walk past a fishing store. Women rush for cosmetics, and I — for fishing rods. I might buy an extra winter one. It's very convenient in the cold to change not the lures, but the rods with pre-prepared baits," Inna clarified.
Her biggest catch is a pike weighing about 5 kg. Her husband always helps her land a trophy.
When fishing, the woman relies only on luck.
"Of course, you always want to catch fish. Sometimes we come home empty-handed, but we don't worry. Because the main thing is relaxation in nature, where there is extraordinary beauty all around. It's pleasant to watch picturesque sunsets, the reflection of clouds in the water, the first ray of sun breaking through the trees," Inna emphasized.
For the woman, there's no such thing as too much fish. For example, once the Fyodorovs brought about 20 kilograms from Lake Peipus. As a skillful hostess, Inna found a way to preserve it.
"I love fried pike, and I like smoked bream. We smoke fish in our own smokehouse, which we built near the house. We also have an autoclave. With its help, we make fish preserves that turn out better than store-bought ones — all the bones soften completely. Of course, we dry fish. We have many preparations," she said.
And at family feasts, the main dish is fish. Often, Inna's grandchildren, eight-year-old Alexander and six-year-old Kostya, visit her. They have also become constant companions on short fishing trips.
"They enjoy going with us. They have their own fishing rods, life vests. We even bought a large boat where everyone has enough space. And grandma had to pass an exam for the right to operate a small vessel," Inna added.
The woman considers herself an absolutely happy person.
"For this, I have everything: a passion for my soul, a full house, and, of course, my beloved hobby," she said.
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