Real Women Go Fishing
Statistically, fishing is more popular in the United States than golf. Nearly 50 million Americans fish, and more women are getting in the action. Early Show Contributor Barbara Alvarez reported in April on a women-only fishing school she attended in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Though she didn't catch anything, she had a chance to participate with 160 other women in an empowering fishing weekend adventure.
You've heard the saying: A bad day of fishing beats a good day at work.
Fishing is the largest participatory sport in America, and it's still dominated by men.
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No longer content to merely cook the catch, more women are taking up rod and reel and getting hooked on fishing.
"The adreneline is really going," observes fishing student Debbie Matisson. "That is totally better than a workout," she added.
Betty Bauman, champion of women anglers everywhere, could be said to have founded the No Yelling School of Fishing. When asked why more women don't fish, she said it's because "they get yelled at by their husbands and boyfriends when they're trying to learn."
But as Shiloh Shoup explained, "There's no yelling going on today, except for cheering and dancing."
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Bauman gathers women come from all walks of life for weekend fishing experiences in a fun, supportive environment. Bauman teaches the women to think like a fish. "Because if they can think like a fish, they can find what the fish are eating and catch more fish more quickly," she said.
First on the agenda is tackling the basics, from tying a hook to baiting, and from casting to reeling in the catch.
Armed with new skills, the women headed out to sea after a stop at the live bait shop.
The fish were biting like crazy. And the women began reeling them in by the boatful.
After an hour tug of war, Vicki, of Lakewood, Fla., pulled in the biggest catch of the day: a 250-pound bullshark. She did the conservationally correct thing and let him go.
Tired and exhilerated, they headed back in to show off their trophies of the day and exchange their tales.
The program, Ladies Let's Go Fishing, is conducted in conjunction with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.