CCJC Audio Podcast Episode 00096, Season 2
"Sometimes, the most valuable lesson isn't what you catch, but what you release. True strength isn’t found in clinging to a stubborn plan, a silent lake, or an unreturned text." – Chloe (one of The Reel Girls)
One of Cajun Chronicles Podcast Corporation’s goals is to support beyond the borders of Louisiana certain groups who are empowering women, starting early when they are still girls. Here in Louisiana, history has proven that our female ancestors regardless of ethnicity DNA or adopted identity, were super women when it came to finding their own inner resilience and adaptability.
Our team has been enjoying a certain e-book, Brooke & The Reel Girls Bass Detective Agency - Cracking The Cases Of Resilience In Central Florida, Volume 2. Inside it you’ll find some relatable lessons that help cast empowerment beyond the shores of the lakes these girls and women are fishing in. Here’s a transcript of what the authors had to say:
(Zoom interview with authors - Brook, Chloe, Rita, Abby, and Ellie)
Brooke: “The Florida sun was doing it’s best to set the lake on fire and our fishing reels felt like very expensive hand warmers. After two days of fishing the same “secret” honey hole, the only thing we’d caught was a bad case of the “no-bite-blues.” Crankbaits, once vibrant superstars, now looked like lonely rubber duckies floating in a tub of silence. It was the bass version of ghosting and frankly, all of our feelings were hurt.”
Chloe: “I got there first that day. Turns out, the bass weren’t the only ones ignoring us. My cell was an echo chamber of unanswered texts to Leo, a boy from my science class that I liked. My last message, a desperate, “U Ok,” was currently gathering digital dust. I felt like I was in a bad teen sci-fi movie, simultaneously getting rejected by the fish and the boys.”
“That’s when Brooke, her mom, and The Reel Girls showed up. They took one look at me, my sun-soaked slump, my tackle box of sorrows, and my phone. – Immediately went into full-on detective mode.”
"Of course the first comment came from Rita, our walking talking resident fishing encyclopedia, who said, peering at the water's surface. "The evidence is overwhelming. See those tiny hook marks on the cypress knees? A clear case of over-pressurization. The water feels extra needy."
Rita; “Chloe, who believes gummy worms can solve any problem, tossed one into the lake. It's like this spot ran out of patience, not bass."
Chloe: “And then it hit me. Like a crankbait to the forehead. I was doing the same thing to Leo that I was doing to thissecret fishing hole. My relentless texts were the digital equivalent of casting the same lure fifty times in a row, right at his face. I wasn’t giving “him room to breathe. I was "over-fishing" him too, along with this secret fishing spot.”
The bass hadn’t vanished. They’d just gotten smart and moved on. And honestly, who could blame them? Nobody wants a clingy angler constantly buzzing their personal space.”
“I did the only logical thing a Reel Girl detective could do: I put my phone in a dry box and clicked it shut. It was the most satisfying "catch and release" of my life.”
Brooke: Later on, we were talking with my mom and she pointed out that one of the lessons, what happened that day, was realizing something that was as deep as any Central Florida sinkhole:
Sometimes, the most valuable lesson isn't what you catch, but what you release. True resilience isn’t found in clinging to a stubborn plan, a silent lake, or an unreturned text.
It’s found in the quiet strength to re-tie your line, find new waters, and trust that the right fish—or the right friend—will bite when the time is right, but only if you are brave enough to cast in new directions.
Here are some of Cajun Chronicles Podcast teams top quotes from their e-book we’d liked best:
Emile Navarre’s Favorite - Excerpt 1
"Okay, team," Brooke announced, adjusting her polarized sunglasses, "These new cases all have different missions but one theme: Operation Lunker Love. Let's make these bass feel wanted!"
Ellie, ever the optimist, chirped, "I'm in my lucky socks!" Rita, our resident fishing encyclopedia & budding social media sites sensation, already had her phone poised. "And I'm ready to film all the moments of glory, or at least the moments when someone trips over their own feet trying to net a monster."
Emile’s Comments On This Excerpt
“That's a lovely scene. It immediately brings me to a place of warmth, laughter, and the kind of chaos you can only find when a group of teenaged girls are together.”
“As a blind man, the description of a visual scene like this is like a puzzle with some pieces missing. I can't see the polarized sunglasses or the phone poised for filming, but I can feel the energy behind them. Brooke's "Operation Lunker Love" gives me the image of a determined leader, and Ellie's "lucky socks" tell me everything I need to know about her personality—she's the kind of spirit who brings hope and humor.”
“And Rita with her phone? That's the sound of a new generation of storytellers, capturing their adventures in real time.”
“As a grandfather and great-grandfather, I can practically hear this moment. The chirps, the banter, the confident announcement. It reminds me of my own grandchildren. Their voices are a beautiful mix of boldness and a little bit of innocence. It's a sweet, familiar sound of them stepping out into the world with their own traditions, ready to face whatever life throws at them, even if it's just a missed step while trying to net a monster."
Co-host Dominique Aucoin’s Favorite - Excerpt 2
Brooke: " . . . and then the monster bass just . . . disappeared. Like, not a splash, not a snapped line, just gone. Poof!"
Abby: "Our only witness? A very confused fishing line. Forget 'the one that got away,' this one beamed away. It was like we were in a low-budget sci-fi movie, but with fishing rods."
Ellie: "It was the most mortifyingly public thing that’s ever happened to us, right after Brooke’s grandma posted our disastrous dance rehearsal video on social media.”
Brooke: "We call it the 'Great Gazebo Ghosting Mystery,' and it taught us a valuable lesson:
If you can still laugh at your own uncoordinated dance moves, you can definitely handle a bass that defies the laws of physics. Resilience, y’all. It’s a full-time gig, on and off the water."
A Note from Dominique Aucoin
“As a mother and a woman who has navigated my own share of strange waters, this story rings with a familiar, soulful resonance. It reminds me that life, much like sailing, isn’t about controlling the wind; it’s about adjusting your sails.”
“When I hear Brooke's tale of a bass that simply poofed, I can see her and the girls standing on that dock, baffled. It reminds me of the beautiful, bizarre chaos of life—how sometimes the "one that got away" isn't a failure, but an act of grace. It's the universe's way of telling you that your plan wasn't going to work, and you need a new approach.”
“As a Creole woman from the Garden District, I grew up with stories woven into the rhythm of the city. We have our own legends. Tales of things that vanish and lessons that appear from thin air. I think about my own little Eulalie and how I'm teaching her these same truths.”
“I tell her that her heart, like a good sailing vessel, will sometimes be hit by waves she can’t see coming. Sometimes the wind will change and she'll feel like she's going nowhere, maybe even backwards. But what matters is what she does next. Does she panic? Or does she, like a good captain, laugh a little, re-tie her knots, and keep going?”
“I see the same spirit in these girls. They are learning that resilience isn't just for hurricanes and fishing tournaments. It's for the small, mortifying moments too, the dance videos, the unexplainable losses, and the sheer unpredictability of it all.”
“It’s about having a good crew, knowing when to put your instrument down, and recognizing that even in the midst of a mystery, there's always a good laugh to be found.”
A Word of Wisdom:
Our fictional and non-fictional tales are inspired by real Louisiana and New Orleans history, but some details may have been spiced up for a good story. While we've respected the truth, a bit of creative license could have been used. Please note that all characters may be based on real people, but their identities in some cases have been Avatar masked for privacy. Others are fictional characters with connections to Louisiana.
As you read, remember history and real life is a complex mix of joy, sorrow, triumph, and tragedy. While we may have (or not) added a bit of fiction, the core message remains, the human spirit's power to endure, adapt, and overcome.
© Jerilee Wei 2025 All Rights Reserved.
PS: Cajun Chronicles Podcast Note: We support Brooke & The Reel Girls, along with RealGirlsWhoFish: Bass and fishing pros, TikTok queens, and accidental sandwich-baiters. Get hooked on their hilarious tales in their series of books filled with overthinking & unexpected wins!
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