Fishing Information


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.


MORE RESOURCES:

DailyTech

Feds open more fishing in Gulf off Fla. Panhandle
BusinessWeek
More federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle are open to commercial and recreational fishing. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric ...
U.S. Reopens 3114 More Square Miles of Gulf to FishingWall Street Journal
More than 5000 square miles of Gulf waters reopened to fishingLos Angeles Times (blog)
Federal waters in Gulf reopened to fishingGulf Coast Newspapers
The Associated Press -al.com -NASDAQ
all 151 news articles »


California free fishing day on Monday
Los Angeles Times (blog)
Monday will be the second of two annual free fishing days in California, when the Department of Fish and Game will waive sportfishing license requirements ...
No fishing license required on MondaySan Diego Union Tribune
Fishing Report: No license required to fish on Monday; fall striper bite could ...Napa Valley Register
Labor Day anglers can fish for freeColusa County Sun Herald

all 7 news articles »


Seattle Post Intelligencer

In the face of Earl, life continues as normal in NS fishing village
Globe and Mail
Darrel Nickerson secures a line to his fishing boat Chelsie Rose in Clark's Harbour, Nova Scotia, September 3, 2010. Fishing fleets along coastal ...
Thanks to Earl, Surf's Up. Way Up.New York Times (blog)

all 1,056 news articles »


Tampabay.com

Snook fishing ban extended another year
MiamiHerald.com
PENSACOLA -- (AP) -- State wildlife regulators Thursday extended a ban on snook fishing along the state's Gulf coast for another year, hoping that will give ...
Southwest Florida snook fishing restrictions extendedThe News-Press
August rain put a damper on the fishingTbo.com
FWC opens snook for East Coast anglers Sept. 17, but will remain catch and ...TCPalm
Tampabay.com -Sun-Sentinel -Pine Island Eagle
all 107 news articles »


Olympia lake closed to fishing by snail invasion
Seattle Times
The state Fish and Wildlife Department has closed all fishing at Capitol Lake in Olympia to prevent the spread of New Zealand mudsnails, an invasive species ...
Olympia's Capitol Lake closed to fishingTheNewsTribune.com (blog)
OLYMPIA: Mudsnails dry up fishing at Capitol LakeTheNewsTribune.com

all 5 news articles »


Ban on lead fishing tackle should be opposed
Hilton Head Island Packet
23, the Environmental Protection Agency was petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and four other organizations to ban all lead in fishing tackle ...
Cabela's e-mail criticizes EPA ban on lead fishing tackleTrade Only Today
EPA Denies Petition Calling For Lead Ammunition BanArizona Reporter
THE SPORTSMAN'S CORNER: EPA says it has no authority to regulate lead in ...Willits News
Journal Record (subscription)
all 5 news articles »


Bulletin shares outdoor/fishing calendar Updated September 3
Bixby Bulletin
All things outdoors will be available in a hands-on educational format ranging from shooting sports and fishing to mountain biking, kayaking and more. ...
fishing reportVisalia Times-Delta
fishing reportNewsOK.com
Fishing report for Sept. 3Memphis Commercial Appeal
The Southern -St. Louis Post-Dispatch -News-Leader.com
all 16 news articles »


Delaware Beaches Closed To Surf Fishing
CBS 3
(AP) ― People who have surf fishing permits that allow them to drive on to the beaches at Delaware state parks are being told they can't because of ...

and more »


Shep on Fishing: Earl keeping things quiet, but probably not for long
Press of Atlantic City
Longtime fishing columnist Mike Shepherd tells you what's biting, where to find them and how to catch them. Look for Shep's Hot Spot twice a week. ...
Daily Shep on Fishing report: White perch contest in Egg Harbor CityPress of Atlantic City

all 2 news articles »


Labor Day weekend bass fishing report
Baltimore Sun (blog)
Bass fishing has improved however, especially in the Edwards Ferry and White Ferry areas, where wacky-rigged Case Magic Stiks and topwater lures have ...


Google News

home | site map
© 2007