We need more women anglers because the ones that I have fished with are pretty darn good. There are quite a few lady anglers on the water and some are very good. There are also the ladies who really would like to learn the sport of fishing. I have fished with several female anglers over the past four years and they are very eager to listen. The biggest difference between men and women is that women want to listen and learn. I am not saying that men don’t listen; they just don’t listen as well.
Usually with us men we feel like we know a lot more than we do. We were brought up fishing with our dads. How many times did mom take us fishing? How many times did our sister tag along? I have been fishing since I was probably four years old and I remember a few trips when mom and my sister would tag along. Fishing is a constant learning experience and we all have room for improvement. Men have a pride issue when it comes to fishing and we all know that is true. I included. Every time I hit the water I learn something. We will never figure out fish totally because they are fish.
There are some important things we can do to encourage more women to fish. Make sure you treat the lady with respect. Women will ask questions and want to learn as much as they can. There are no dumb questions when it comes to fishing. Teach her as much as you can and be patient. I coached high school girls for 13 years and I learned a lot about patients and trust. I enjoy teaching anyone about fishing.
Remember it is not all about the fishing. Take time to appreciate the surroundings. There are so many things we miss when we are on the water. Sometimes we men think about nothing but how many fish we can catch. We are missing the boat. Sure I want to load the boat, but I try to take in the beauty of the area. There are so many types of creatures we encounter on the water. I enjoy watching birds dive and dolphin smash bait. When I have lady anglers on the boat I try to stop when I see something happening. Take some photos.
Take some clean towels and make sure you plan for a few breaks. The Mosquito Lagoon for example has many spoil islands you can access. Pack a nice lunch and blanket so you can enjoy some extra down time. I always keep toilet paper on the boat. When I am on a charter I usually let the lady angler know that we can stop anytime they need. Men do have an advantage when we need to go. That’s all I got to say about that.
When the water gets a little chop and the ride becomes bumpy take it easy. Besides being a safety issue most women don’t want you driving like Dale Jr. in a 2 foot chop. Make the ride safe and comfortable.
Teach the ladies to cast. Spinning gear is all I use on my charters because it is user friendly. Showing someone how to load the rod is very important. Be patient while giving instruction. We all had to learn somewhere. I would say that I give casting instruction on 70 percent of my charters. Most of my charters are men. One important factor to remember, it is much easier to teach a beginner who will listen than a person who has been fishing for years and casting the wrong way and won’t listen. My wife has learned to cast pretty darn good.
The one area that I will not let slide is the early rise when it comes to fishing, especially in the summer. My wife is not a morning person, but I make her get up early in the summer. My life has been threatened. I was once told if we did not have a fish in the boat by the time the sun broke the horizon I was toast. Luckily for me she caught two trout on top water plugs right away. That was also the same day she caught her largest redfish the weighed 29 pounds. She was pretty happy that day and I was relieved.
Trout fishing is a great way to get started with the lady angler. It gives them an opportunity to practice casting and catch a ton of fish. Rig a 1/8 ounce Rip Tide Pro Jig head with a Rip Tide 3 inch mullet and you can’t go wrong. They will have a blast.
Last but not least, keep sunscreen on the boat. Most ladies pack sunscreen, but it is a good idea to have extra.
Take a lady fishing!
Tight Lines and Good Fishing!
