Women and Fishing -- Not Just A Mans Sport
More and more women are learning to enjoy fishing each and every day. And, why not? Fishing is a sport that doesn't require exceptional strength, stamina or height - quite the contrary, fishing is a sport of agility, finesse and patience, skills many women already possess. So why don't more women fish?
Successful fishing requires knowledge of various types of fishing gear, tackle, and an understanding of the quarry. Fish have a variety of feeding habits, behavioral patterns, etc. and these characteristics influence how to go about fishing for them.
Traditionally, men learned how to fish when they were boys from fathers and grandfathers. Even if this training was lacking, it's no big deal for a guy to hang out with other guys who enjoy fishing and learn the ropes from them.
For a woman, though, the process is apt to be somewhat more difficult. In my family of all girls, we learned the thrill of fishing as children from our father. Fortunately for us, our dad was an "equal-opportunity" fisherman...and he was a very patient man.
We learned to bait our own hooks, remove fish from the line, and clean the fish as well. We were rewarded with many an enjoyable Sunday on the lake competing for top family fishing honors of who caught the most and the biggest fish.
For women who weren't brought up fishing as I was, all is certainly not lost. Although learning from a boyfriend or spouse is not out of the question, a significant other may not be the best place to get your first fishing pointers.
Your honey may not have the patience that you will need to learn proper fishing technique and he may be a bit condescending as well?not exactly conducive to an enjoyable learning experience.
Try instead local women's fishing clubs. Check online for groups in your area that are specifically organized by and for women. Many groups are primarily centered on fly-fishing but not all are.
Also see if your community college or local university offers any fishing courses. Often fishing classes are offered in the adult education, physical education or recreation departments.
Of course, you can also start at your local library, checking out books on fishing and learning a few basic techniques that way.
Your local fishing outfitter or marina may have more information as well and would also be a good place for information and to network with other fishing women.
Another option is to go online and search for websites catering to women and the outdoors or, more specifically, women and fishing. One such website is www.ladiesletsgofishing.com.
Founded by Betty Bauman of Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1997, LLGF "promotes networking among women anglers and emphasizes mentorship between novice and experienced members."
Other groups, both national and state, promote fishing for women. There are seminars, fishing adventures and special fishing events scheduled year-round in many areas of the country which are organized especially for women anglers.
Yet another reason fishing is a great hobby for women is because beginning your fishing experiences need not be prohibitively expensive. Especially when compared to other hobbies, start-up costs for spin or bait-casting fishing equipment are not tremendously high. Generally speaking, $200 or less can buy more than enough basic quality fishing gear for a beginner to get started. To start up a fly-fishing hobby will cost a bit more as the gear tends to be more expensive.
This, of course, doesn't include a boat! But, many fishing locations can be reached without a boat. Again, do your research to find areas accessible by car.
More women should consider fishing for an enjoyable and challenging hobby. Learning the basics of fishing is easy but perfecting those angling skills can take many hours of sometimes peaceful and sometimes extremely exciting time at the other end of a line.
E. A. Edwards is a free-lance writer with a variety of professional and personal interests. You will find more information about fishing and fishing gear on http://www.fishing-rod-guide.info.
Latest News
GAO: Dolphins, whales lack protection from fishing The Associated Press - ... by law to more than a dozen marine mammals potentially at risk of death or injury due to commercial fishing, congressional investigators said Wednesday. ... |
 Cape May County Herald | Illegal fishing charged; tons of rockfish seized Baltimore Sun, United States - It was the second time in less than a week that officers had charged Jack C. Colbourne, owner of Colbourne Seafood Inc. in Secretary, with illegal fishing. ... Police board fishing vessel; three men cited Md. Authorities Nab Local Boat for Illegal Rockfishing Maryland Today |
DNR: Ice-fishing conditions continue to improve MLive.com, MI - Detroit River: Boat anglers are launching at Metro Park and heading up to Gibraltar and fishing for perch in the canals. Most of the fish are not big, ... Anglers enjoy a fine ice fishing weekend Wegman to host ice fishing seminar Anglers encouraged to stay safe on the ice |
Teenage girl, a rarity aboard fishing boats, lands giant yellowfin ... Los Angeles Times, CA - That's because women are a rarity and girls are essentially nonexistent aboard San Diego long-range fishing boats, which spend up to 18 days at sea. ... |
 MLive.com | Fishing away through the holidays MLive.com, MI - "We were fishing for steelhead earlier today in the Paw Paw River, but they weren't biting," said Smith, a 31-year-old angler from Parchment. ... |
Ice fishing traditions passed on Fort Mills Times, SC - "This is his first time ice fishing," Brian said between drilling holes through the lake's ice. The younger Teskey is starting ice fishing at about the same ... |
Ultimate Fishing Show Returns WXYZ, MI - (WXYZ) - The Ultimate Fishing Show returns to the Detroit area Thursday, January 8 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. ... Michigan's Ultimate Fishing Show starts Thursday |
 AlaskaReport | Search suspended for lost fishing boat crewman Fort Mills Times, SC - JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing crew member of a fishing boat. The search was suspended Wednesday for 43-year-old ... Coast Guard crew seeks missing fisherman Coast Guard searching for lost crab fisherman Crab fisherman missing in Bering Strait |
 WELT ONLINE | Bush to Protect Three Areas in Pacific Washington Post, United States - The protected areas "will allow for research, free passage, and recreation -- including the possibility of recreational fishing one day," Bush said while ... Mr. Bush’s Monument Bush to create three marine monuments Bush to create oceanic national monuments |
Fishing Report for Jan. 7 Modesto Bee, CA - Striped bass fishing took a rebound for a few days around the New Year in the deep water near Martinez. Jim Smith of the Happy Hooker boated 15 bass to ... Fish Finder -- Published Jan. 7, 2009 Anglers Speed To Gag Limit Off Hudson |
Resources
-
largemouth bass Fishing tips Extreme, guide, lures, expert bass Fishing
techniques
largemouth bass Fishing tips, guide, lures, expert bass Fishing advice for the avid bass angler and the novice angler alike.
-
► Trout Fishing Secrets
Trout Fishing Secrets Revealed - How to Catch A Trout Everytime: When Spinner Fishing Your Favorite Stream Or River!
-
used boat sales and listings on BoatLister.com - Fishing power and sail
Buy and sell boats, kayaks, canoes, PWC, marine engines and parts, small boat motors, boat parts, used sails and other marine items. List your used Fishing, power, sail boats for sale on BoatLister.com.
-
Ice Fishing Secrets - Ice Fishing Equipment Recommendations and Ice Fishing House Suggestions
Affiliates Make 40% selling this great Ice Fishing Book! Earn 40% people download it and pay.
-
Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing Tips, Fly Fishing Techniques and How To Fly Fish
Fly Fishing information from original fly Fishing masters.
-
Fishing Bait Formulas Revealed - Catch More Fish
Secret Fishing Bait Formulas Revealed - Catch More Trout, Catfish, & Carp - Guaranteed
-
Bass Fishing Secrets.
Catch more and bigger bass immediately. We Guarantee it!
-
Make Fishing Lures
Learn how to make every type of fresh and salt water Fishing lure including: spinners, plugs, spin bugs, salt water plugs, spoons, jigs, metal squids, eel and eelskins lures, sinkers.
-
Trout Fishing Basics
eBook for beginners.
-
index
Instructional ebook on how to make your own wooden top water bass Fishing lures.