Fish with Faith - The Heart Behind the Phrase

“Fish with faith.” You’ve probably seen the phrase on our shirts, heard it at Cast and Coffee, or read it in one of our captions. But what does it really mean? Is it just a catchy motto or is it something deeper?

There is always a deeper meaning to everything that we do at Strictly Irons. We press onward to glorify God in every product we create and every event we host. Strictly Irons is not just a fishing brand but a community of people who are willing and ready to serve others, express love and bring peace, not only to the fishing community but to the world.

Fish with faith is a way for people to comprehend what faith looks like in the real world. Fishing requires planned action, just as faith does. It is a reminder that what we do on the water mirrors what our faith looks like. It’s about fishing with confidence, with purpose, with a goal in mind and unwavering faith, trusting that God will make a way.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” - James 2:17

Every Cast Is an Act of Faith

Let's go deeper and explain where Fish with Faith came from. One thing to note is this, every cast we make should be intentional. Think about your actions, why are you casting there? And why at that time? Why that lure? Why that retrieve speed?

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Every cast that we make is with confidence. Why? Because we are hoping for a fish. As we retrieve our lure, we have an assurance that we do not see, but have all the faith that we will get bit, especially if we can discern all the right conditions. This is where miracles take place.

We are hoping in our hearts, in our minds and with our mouths, “Please Lord, let me catch this fish!” as we see them jumping out of the water! Sometimes you make the perfect cast, at the perfect time and as your lure hits the water all you can say is “I’m bit”. That moment is more than a feeling, it’s a glimpse of how faith works. It’s not just hope anymore. It's an assurance. You sense that something’s about to happen because your faith and action are working together in perfect harmony!

How about your emotions? Are you acting like a little kid? Smiling and yelling with your friends on the bow as you make a cast and fish your lure? I know I am! I personally get all worked up, excited and screams of joy are coming out of my mouth! How can you not? This is the type of true and pure faith God is seeking.

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18:3

Child-like faith is the answer, always trusting and believing without needing all the answers. Having a mind like a child is like living in a fantasy world, always expecting miracles to happen! Jesus is calling us to live and enjoy peace in His Kingdom, heaven is happening now on earth, through the power of the Holy Spirit! Isn’t that beautiful?

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 14:17

Here’s a recap: When you make a cast, you’re hoping a fish eats it, but there’s no guarantee. You’re casting that jig out with faith trusting in the process, the technique, and the unseen. Just like in life, we’re called to move with faith. We may not see the outcome, but we still show up, cast out, and trust that something good will come. That’s the essence of fishing with faith.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” - 1 Peter 5:7

The Way We Fish Reflects the Way We Live

To fish with faith is to fish with character, whether someone’s watching or not. It means being patient when others are catching and you’re not. It means celebrating someone else’s catch. It means leading with love, giving freely, and remembering that the way we fish reflects the way we live. We believe faith isn’t just for Sunday, it’s for every single moment. To fish with faith means we:

• We trust that God is with us and He will provide for us, even in the storm.
• Recognize that our identity isn’t found in what we catch and who the industry says we are, but in who we are in Christ.
• See each trip, each cast, and each connection as an opportunity to reflect God’s love and price to industry (fish for men, spread the gospel, and the Great Commission)

When you're out on the water, you have a lot of time to think and maybe socialize with friends. For many of us, that's a sacred space where people come to take a break from life, “mental health” day, as we experience peace when we are alone in his creation. Fishing has become more than a sport to us, it is starting to become a reflection of our faith. You can begin to see every opportunity as a God given opportunity, you can even spread the gospel on boats with friends. We are called to be the light, therefore go and be it! Even on the water.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14-16

Iron Sharpens Iron: The Heart of Our Fishing Community

We strive to bring people together through the passion of fishing the iron and teach them how to cast and fish a jig but my heart's desire is to fish for people and build them up to live a life of purpose, to chase their dreams and leave a lasting impact, a legacy.

Strictly Irons isn’t just a community, it’s a brotherhood of anglers who sharpen each other just like the book of Proverbs reminds us:

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17

This is at the core, the heart of Strictly Irons, this is who we are, we are a people made of iron who sharpen each other to make each other better and grow together. Whether you're out on the water or going through something tough at home, always remember that you can count on us and that you're part of something bigger! God and His people are at the center of Strictly Irons.

Want to Fish with Faith? Join the Iron Brotherhood

Whether you're just learning how to throw a jig or you’ve been doing this for decades, we invite you to join a faith-based fishing movement rooted in Christ and a passion for fishing and helping others. Join us at our next Cast & Coffee event! If you are in need of a community and want to grow from a fisherman to a fisher of men, join our online men's group called Iron Brotherhood, we meet up every Thursday at 7:30pm to learn more about Jesus, His Kingdom and how he is shaping us to be great leaders to do “greater works” than Him. If you are interested, please reach out via e-mail or Instagram Direct Messages.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” - John 14:12