The Women Are Worse!

[MrsBassAssasin]

I've seen women here ask about treatment from male fisherman being rough but what about the treatment from non-fisherman females? I never let it get to me because I'll never apologize for doing what I love but I can't be the only one who gets slack from other females ??

[bigbill]

Your saying that non fishing females give you flack about you fishing? That's terrible, I'd ask them what hobbies do they have? If any woman or man hasn't been out fishing in the dark when the sky lights up and goes from twilite to dawn it's not about just fishing. Have they ever witnessed a doe with her two fawns at first light at the waters

edge trying to get a drink while two freshwater otters are splashing them there missing out on nature's finest moments by not fishing. We all have wild America all around us when were fishing. Even camping when there's a low fog in the field in front of us and a herd of deer pops there heads up out from the mist. We were fishing from the mass. Border down thru Connecticut all the way to the ocean on the housatonic river. We fished in every spot we could. My point is so many people miss out on life. Then they say I wish I could of, should of?? I never let anything I could experience slip by when it comes to being outdoors with nature. It's there loss.

Now let's talk about that topwater strike when we toss a spook near the Lilly pads and watch a bass turn and come towards our lure like a submarine on a hunt while we hold our breath as she hits it to knock it silly then turns and takes it. Those seconds feel like minutes. This is why we fish and what we live for.

I get the same flack about hunting. I'm sitting in front of an abandoned Apple orchard that's up in the green mountain national forest as far up in elevation as my jeep could go to an old farm. At around 5pm this red squirrel climbs thru the brush pile to the end of the branch in front of me and stares at me. I figure out he never seen a human before. Then he climbs up the Apple tree where he has an Apple wedged in the fork in the branch. He takes it out and eats some, then he puts it back in the fork in the tree branch and leaves. I had a front row seat to see this unfold. My point is I'd never see this at home. Plus I smoke my annual $5 cigar up there too.

[KyakR]

Bill, you have a gift for drawing the attention to the beauty of this world. Your optimism and joy in things lifts my spirit! And truly it's a good thing not to focus on negativity. 

But MrsBassAssassin, I believe, has an excellent point. Women tend to be competitive with each other when it comes to attracting positive male attention. A confident woman who fishes and does it well is often in the company of admiring guys. Some women find this threatening! Men are fiercely competitive with each other and status conscious also, but in a different way usually I think. It's more about success. Could be that's why men started tournaments. My experience with non-fishing females sometimes is similar to MrsBassAssassin's, unfortunately. But fishing women I run into usually are pleased and even relieved to meet another female angler! 

Some men are hostile to a woman fishing, some are pleased. Some women are hostile, some are pleased. In my experience it's for different reasons. Each gender has prejudice. For women, MrsBassAssasin' brought up an important point. It's hard for us to face. And really, I usually don't talk so much.....  

[KyakR]

I started a previous post in a negative, accusatory way and I wish I hadn't. It tends to elicit responses in the same tone! I hope everybody sees the validity in MrsBassAssassin's topic, not the negativity so we can merrily comment! 

[MrsBassAssasin]

Thanks for the great responses KyakR and BigBill. Y'all definitely hit a few nails right on their heads.

Bill those are the moments I live for and love that my son is learning to love them too.

Kayakr, l have a career, I cook, I clean, I don't *****/nag my husband, and I love fishing & football. So my very happy husband tells his friends, they whine to their wives, and that leads to me feeling the hate or being seen as a threat . Not to mention my own friends who don't understand my love for fishing. I'd be GLAD to take them and show them the ropes but they aren't interested. You are right, other female anglers have ALWAYS welcomed me with open arms, the same as I have with them. Luckily most men around here welcome female anglers on the water, but not yet for most clubs. There's 1 club here for couples, otherwise it's men only .

[roadwarrior]

This was the theme to another recent thread. There are a lot of wives that just don't want

their men hanging around other women regardless of what they are doing. Spending a day

on a boat "together" is something that bothers non-fisherwomen. My wife doesn't care a thing 

about my fishing, but I know she would not approve of a "regular" female partner.

[MrsBassAssasin]

This was the theme to another recent thread. There are a lot of wives that just don't want

their men hanging around other women regardless of what they are doing. Spending a day

on a boat "together" is something that bothers non-fisherwomen. My wife doesn't care a thing 

about my fishing, but I know she would not approve of a "regular" female partner.

 

Oh I definitely respect that. And totally agree. I was referring more to other women just not understanding the sport, or thinking its "strange" or "silly" for a woman to love it so much. I fish on occasion with my husbands buddies sometimes with him there sometimes without him. But its all close friend of ours I wouldn't just fish with some random guy. 90% of the time if i'm fishing my husband is with me.

[aceman387]

I've seen women here ask about treatment from male fisherman being rough but what about the treatment from non-fisherman females? I never let it get to me because I'll never apologize for doing what I love but I can't be the only one who gets slack from other females ??

Are these "non-believers" other family members?  If so is there any chance you can covert them over to believers by taking them out with you fishing. I know a lot of people who are locked in a routine rut not even realizing life is passing them by. I bet if these "non-believers got a chance to get out with other women and see how much fun it is they would fall in love with fishing like the rest of us.

[aceman387]

speaking of routine ruts,i have a habit of passing over the women's section and going on to the fishing tackle section. shame on me because I see  I have over looked some interesting topics.

[bigbill]

Some people are competitive when they fish I'm not. I go to fish and relax. I have women friends too. That doesn't bother my misses there her friends too. Why are people so insecure? Life is too short to sweat about the little things.

[tomustang]

Never had that problem. Probably because all my wife's female friends (who dont fish) know going out and fishing is something she enjoys..

Sounds like jealousy is looming.

[aceman387]

I feel the same way Bill. My wife who grew up in chicago (city girl)  took some women of the outdoors classes and  then took up bow hunting a few years ago, she routinely goes out hunting with a couple male friends of mine.I could care less. In the beginning my one friend would always call me and ask my permission before asking her to go along hunting ,he couldn't believe i would let her go solo with some male friends.In my mind i am relieved  she is going out with some experienced  hunter friends of mine .I used to hunt  (pheasant) but gave it up years ago .I am not about to stop my wife from doing anything she  wants to try . I encourage her to live life and try new things.

[bigbill]

My wife and her girlfriend asked me to take them fishing and target shooting. I think it's awesome that there showing interest. They can fish with me anytime. I'm always alone anyway. I'll take them pan fishing. I already purchased them light casting rods with zebco reels.

[bigbill]

My son's ex girlfriend fishes, rides dirtbikes, rides motorcycles and even runs chainsaws. She helped me repair dirtbikes too. We were riding in a local legal place to ride dirtbikes. In her safety gear it was hard to tell she was a girl. The Harley riders came by to take a break with there gals. Sara comes out of the woods and stands her bike up

doing a wheelie and when she stopped and took her helmet off and her long hair dropped

out of her helmet and the Harley babes seen she was a girl they went crazy. One even was elbowing her hubby that it's a girl.

You wouldn't believe how many guy riders she sent home because she beat them thru the Rocky trails. She could ride faster than most of the guys. Some of the neighborhood kids wouldn't ride with us anymore because she rode better than them.

I admire the women who are willing to even try something out of the norm and why not I believe anyone of us can do anything we put our minds to. We just need to stay focused and motivated. I have no clue why some are so negative and hesitant to try something different there is so much more to life that there missing out on. It's too bad there so sheltered and close minded. Plus there jealous and feel threatened towards the other women who are willing to branch out and explore the different things in life. I say start

living life now before it's too late and life passes you by. Why do some people put limits on themselves? There are no rules or limitations on what we can do or not do. Failure is not an option.

Even go hunting and find a nice spot to sit up in the mountains and take in the fresh air and natures view of what our world has to offer to us. You will see in person what some only see on postcards. Only the ones who are willing to get out there will see this and that's a shame because there are so few.

[KyakR]

This was the theme to another recent thread. There are a lot of wives that just don't want

their men hanging around other women regardless of what they are doing. Spending a day

on a boat "together" is something that bothers non-fisherwomen. My wife doesn't care a thing 

about my fishing, but I know she would not approve of a "regular" female partner.

Women ( or men, if their wives are without them and let's say, bowling or hunting ) many times aren't really being insecure, mistrustful or petty. Many are actually wise. Placing oneself in a position to bond with a member of the opposite sex over a shared passion can be tempting fate. It's good to be humble when it comes to the ways of the heart! As far as couples are concerned, each one is different. And it's always good to just accept and honor a spouse's feelings without judgement. Boy I learned that one the hard way!   

[bigbill]

How true and one must know the limitations before it gets out of hand for jealousy can be a home wrecker even though nothing is going on. The ground rules must be set and respected. But it's better to avoid problems before they start to fester. It's only human that our minds do wander and think evil thoughts when we think something is going on.

There is nothing wrong with conversation about our sport and making new friends. What an awesome world we live in if we took the time to go out there and enjoy it.

[Brian Needham]

This was the theme to another recent thread. There are a lot of wives that just don't want

their men hanging around other women regardless of what they are doing. Spending a day

on a boat "together" is something that bothers non-fisherwomen. My wife doesn't care a thing 

about my fishing, but I know she would not approve of a "regular" female partner.

 

this is very true...... I caught flack after the roadtrip. While telling my girlfriend about the trip, I went into detail about Sunday (I caught bigger fish sunday so I was excited to talk about it.

 

About the point I said...."and I told Kerri to get the net." all hell broke loose.

 

Who's kerri?

SO you can go fish all week with other women, but you can even invite me?

You NEVER take me fishing but can fish with another woman?

 

1. Kerri is glenn's wife

2. it was ONE DAY, determined by blind draw, and nothing happened in the least execpt catching fish.

3. I have taken you fishing before.

 

My answers did not matter............

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Your saying that non fishing females give you flack about you fishing? That's terrible, I'd ask them what hobbies do they have? If any woman or man hasn't been out fishing in the dark when the sky lights up and goes from twilite to dawn it's not about just fishing. Have they ever witnessed a doe with her two fawns at first light at the waters

edge trying to get a drink while two freshwater otters are splashing them there missing out on nature's finest moments by not fishing. We all have wild America all around us when were fishing. Even camping when there's a low fog in the field in front of us and a herd of deer pops there heads up out from the mist. We were fishing from the mass. Border down thru Connecticut all the way to the ocean on the housatonic river. We fished in every spot we could. My point is so many people miss out on life. Then they say I wish I could of, should of?? I never let anything I could experience slip by when it comes to being outdoors with nature. It's there loss.

Now let's talk about that topwater strike when we toss a spook near the Lilly pads and watch a bass turn and come towards our lure like a submarine on a hunt while we hold our breath as she hits it to knock it silly then turns and takes it. Those seconds feel like minutes. This is why we fish and what we live for.

I get the same flack about hunting. I'm sitting in front of an abandoned Apple orchard that's up in the green mountain national forest as far up in elevation as my jeep could go to an old farm. At around 5pm this red squirrel climbs thru the brush pile to the end of the branch in front of me and stares at me. I figure out he never seen a human before. Then he climbs up the Apple tree where he has an Apple wedged in the fork in the branch. He takes it out and eats some, then he puts it back in the fork in the tree branch and leaves. I had a front row seat to see this unfold. My point is I'd never see this at home. Plus I smoke my annual $5 cigar up there too.

 

Man, you hit the nail on the head.  While fishing I've seen countless beavers and bald eagles, a huge otter out of the water rolling around on the grass like a playful dog, turtles the size of trash can lids...freaking majestic stuff.  This is only my second season bass fishing and it's brought me up close and personal with nature.  Heck, the other day driving to the lake, there was a deer in the opposite lane and it actually ran towards me, jumped, ran across the hood of my car, and kept on going.  Bass smashing topwater lures, huge chain pickerel pulling drag like nobody's business...I wouldn't have experienced any of this if I hadn't taken up fishing.

 

As for other women giving me flak about fishing, I don't have to worry about that.  I work six days a week and all I really only have time for is my work and fishing and fortunately for me, my wife loves to fish.  I moved last year and all my friends are about 2 hours away.  I don't make new friends very easily so if I'm not working, I'm fishing with my wife.  She's my world and I'm hers.  If she's working I'll go by myself and she'll tease me about finding some floozy to fish with or if I'm working I'll tell her she'll just have to find some other guy to take her but we both know we're kidding.

[bigbill]

As its been said some people can't see the forest though the trees, there missing the boat, unless there in the boat with no oars, etc you get my point.

When I was logging full time when I had my firewood business I was out cutting in the light snow one day I shut the chainsaw off and sat on a stump.

I could actually hear the snow hitting the ground. I thought to myself

who has a better work place than me. Heaven is right here on earth.

[aceman387]

Nature Rules!  I had a pretty cool story about a damsel fly. I was out fishing in my kayak earlier in the summer when I stopped to pee in some shallow water. I didn't notice that a damsel fly larvae had gotten attached to my water shoe until I climbed back into my kayak. I spent the next three hours in my kayak studying this damsel fly as it emerged and opened its wings  and stood there in the sun on my shoe waiting for its wings to dry out so it could fly. I told my wife that most men would have stomped it and got back to fishing but since the fish weren't biting I figured what the heck, I have never seen this before.  I jokingly told my wife I named the damsel fly Wilson ( the volleyball from the tom hanks movie) because it hung around with me for most of my fishing outing that day...lol.  When I told her that story she told me to go lay down for awhile because she thought I was out in the sun too long...lol.

[wvbassmistress]

I joined my husband's bass club about 5 years ago. I was nose deep into showing horses but that was getting to be a drag and physically/mentally draining.  He had moved away from his fishing partners and was fishing more and more on his own. Essentially, I started going along just to keep him company. I'd read, work on my tan, nap...whatever. Then he convinced me to at least throw something out there. I'd hook something, land it and just spin around for him to take it off the hook.  Well, just took a few times of me catching a few bigger than his before I realized this was pretty darn fun.

I won a few of the club tournaments and 1 year even had the big fish for the entire year. But they know a sucker and now I am stuck being secretary/treasurer. 

3 years ago, I had a chance to fish our regional State Championship qualifier, but he kinda dissed that with the "what if you have to pee" argument.  I let him talk me out of going.  He even gave up his boater position since I was crapping out as a non-boater. ( this is a draw partner kinda thing and I would be paired with strangers for 2 days).  Last year...I had done my research and just decided I would deal with it if I had to go (which I didn't - but THEY did and I politely turned my head) My buddy the second day was at first glance, a bit of a jerk.  But since then, I have spent some time with him and he has become a real supporter of female fisherwomen in the Federation. - well, there are only 3 in the whole state.  This year, I fished the qualifier again and had more great boat partners. I didn't need the bathroom break, but I did slip down in the floor and change into shorts each day. They kindly turned their backs.  No biggie.  My husband had teased each of them that if I don't catch anything I cry.  I told them just just make sure they put me on some fish!  End result this year???  I qualified for the State Championship placing 14 out of 64 . And a buddy of mine fished another division and placed 8 out of about 80!!!!!!!  She and I will be going head to head!  Everyone has been so supportive of us.  I think we don't approach it as women primarily.  We are fisher(men) that just have more estrogen in us than they do. We have even dubbed ourselves "Team Estrogen".  I met some other great guys in the parking lot when their truck battery died and I helped them jump it.  We met up later and they called me "Triple A" which made my husband question how I knew more people there than he did and he has been doing the tournament thing for 30 years.  He doesn't get jealous unless I out-fish him!!!!  If I want to pick up a new man...it won't be at a fishing tournament.  They only have one thing on their mind!!!!!!!!

 

I understand, and have heard comments, that some of the wives might not be 100% cool with their husbands being on a boat with a woman they don't know for 9 hours.  This may sound harsh, but if they are that insecure, they are the type that would worry if he asked a woman where the trash bags are at the grocery store.  I try to be nice, professional, and myself.  If their they or their wives have a problem with me, that is their loss ...'cause I am a pretty cool person!~!!!!!

[aceman387]

Nice post!

[wvbassmistress]

OK...total Newbie here...how do I delete my duplicate post?

 

 

**We do it for you.

 

-Kent  a.k.a. roadwarrior

Global Moderator

[KyakR]

 "I think we don't approach it as women primarily."  

 This is so key.  I enjoyed your post and especially your attitude! I watch Stacy Z's videos and she seems to have the same one. It seems it's in your nature not to get caught up in the petty stuff.....you turned your back on the prejudice you encountered. And you're getting back what you're putting out good-naturedly from both women AND men, I think. Yes, we're women, and that influences how we see our world. But it ain't the end-game! Congrats on your win! Keep going.....bass fishing needs women like you. Welcome here You'll find the best advice and support you could want. I have. Wish I could fish with you!  

[coryn h. fishowl]

Bill, you have a gift for drawing the attention to the beauty of this world. Your optimism and joy in things lifts my spirit! And truly it's a good thing not to focus on negativity. 

But MrsBassAssassin, I believe, has an excellent point. Women tend to be competitive with each other when it comes to attracting positive male attention. A confident woman who fishes and does it well is often in the company of admiring guys. Some women find this threatening! Men are fiercely competitive with each other and status conscious also, but in a different way usually I think. It's more about success. Could be that's why men started tournaments. My experience with non-fishing females sometimes is similar to MrsBassAssassin's, unfortunately. But fishing women I run into usually are pleased and even relieved to meet another female angler! 

Some men are hostile to a woman fishing, some are pleased. Some women are hostile, some are pleased. In my experience it's for different reasons. Each gender has prejudice. For women, MrsBassAssasin' brought up an important point. It's hard for us to face. And really, I usually don't talk so much.....  

True, we love a women that can fish.  

Though I may not be a women, I am, for the the time being at least, stuck smack dab in the middle of suburbia, in high school.  I am quite familiar with the disgusted looks and the questions about which mental health facility I escaped from that I would actually venture within 20 feet of non chlorinated water.