Common or not

[BassSteve]

We have come a long way in terms of fishing and fishing tech since the 50s 60s 70s etc. My question is, during those time periods was it common or considered acceptable for women to fish? This is in no way a political question or meant to be offensive. Just a curious question from a younger fisherman. How many women do you know that like to fish? I am interested to hear ?

[E-rude dude]

Actually I think it was more common back then. My Grandma, 2 Aunts, and mother all enjoyed/enjoy fishing. 
The women in my family now, not so much

[Deleted account]

I think the percentage of women to men anglers hasn't changed much, and the level of participation will probably vary regionally and culturally quite a bit.

What does tech have to do with women fishing?

[WRB]

Watch Glenn’s video’s.

In the 50’s my dad worked and mom was the teacher on how to fish. We learned to crappie, not Bluegill or bass because crappie was easier to clean and better tasting  dinner. 

Mon like to trout fish, looking back she could get away from her kids, peace and quite when grouting fishing, we didn’t go  with her.

I have known a few pro women bass anglers, excellent highly skilled bass anglers. Just the last outing a woman was out alone in her bass boat and catching bass, it’s not common. 

Tom

PS, Crappie lure was a piece chamois cut tranglular about 1/4” wide x 1 1/4” long dyed in mercurochrome.  Size 10 bait holder hook and split shot would last all day, no bait.

[jimmyjoe]

   There are things that may (possibly) merit remarks today that were not even issues when I was younger. It was acceptable for women to do whatever the heck they wanted to do.      jj

[schplurg]

I've seen a woman fishing by herself once in person, and I'm not sure if she was actually alone or not.

 

I mention "by herself" because I have seen women fishing with men, but I have never seen one crawling the banks or fishing out of a boat of any kind, ever, by themselves.

 

I know women who will fish and have fished, but again, not alone. Not like me. It's a bummer really. I also don't live in a big outdoorsy area. I'm in the Bay Area where the kids never ever play outside anymore.

[Scott F]

I’ve been in a few fishing clubs and all of them have had women who fished. Never a lot of women. Some with a fly rods, some with baitcasters, some with spinning gear and most were not married. All of them knew what they were doing. They weren’t just there to meet men either. 

[BassSteve]

2 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

I think the percentage of women to men anglers hasn't changed much, and the level of participation will probably vary regionally and culturally quite a bit.

What does tech have to do with women fishing?

lol fishing tech doesn't have anything to do with it, I was just thinking of how tech improved over the decades so I just mentioned it, my bad

1 hour ago, schplurg said:

I've seen a woman fishing by herself once in person, and I'm not sure if she was actually alone or not.

 

I mention "by herself" because I have seen women fishing with men, but I have never seen one crawling the banks or fishing out of a boat of any kind, ever, by themselves.

 

I know women who will fish and have fished, but again, not alone. Not like me. It's a bummer really. I also don't live in a big outdoorsy area. I'm in the Bay Area where the kids never ever play outside anymore.

That is a very interesting observation. I myself in my young life so far only know 2 or 3 girls who like to fish, but whether they use a boat or go by themselves I have no idea. If you had to guess, why do you think the women you have seen don't fish alone? Do you think it is a safety issue thing, or a "just how it is" kind of thing??

[BassSteve]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

I’ve been in a few fishing clubs and all of them have had women who fished. Never a lot of women. Some with a fly rods, some with baitcasters, some with spinning gear and most were not married. All of them knew what they were doing. They weren’t just there to meet men either. 

lol no not for the men, but if they happened to meet someone it would be an added bonus.

[DitchPanda]

In my experience I've never known any girls that love to fish the way I do. I'm not saying they don't exist I've just never seen it.That said two of my best friends have wives that fish with them fairly often...all my other buddies ladies aren't into it. My girlfriend likes to fish with me a few times a year but for several years after we started dating she loved going and would tag along all the time with me. On occasion she would go by herself when I was working...she would text me and ask me what she should throw and what spots she should try.

[BassSteve]

9 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

In my experience I've never known any girls that love to fish the way I do. I'm not saying they don't exist I've just never seen it.That said two of my best friends have wives that fish with them fairly often...all my other buddies ladies aren't into it. My girlfriend likes to fish with me a few times a year but for several years after we started dating she loved going and would tag along all the time with me. On occasion she would go by herself when I was working...she would text me and ask me what she should throw and what spots she should try.

nice story

[schplurg]

36 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

 

That is a very interesting observation. I myself in my young life so far only know 2 or 3 girls who like to fish, but whether they use a boat or go by themselves I have no idea. If you had to guess, why do you think the women you have seen don't fish alone? Do you think it is a safety issue thing, or a "just how it is" kind of thing??

 

 

I could only offer a guess as to the reason. Men just may like fishing a lot more than women do, like I doubt most men do "scrapbooking". I didn't know exactly what this was until I saw my Mom and sister doing it once, and I was like "You do this for fun?" 

 

My cousin's wife will fish with us and enjoys it. My friends girlfriend will fish, and one of my female friends has fished with her friends. I'm positive that none of them have ever gone alone though.

 

I also know there are a few women on this board and that there are women's bass fishing teams and clubs.

 

Maybe dudes just won't leave them alone so they don't bother going?

 

Final guess: women don't like fishing nearly as much as men do.

 

Edit to add:

Seems that a girl subscribed to my YouTube fishing channel recently. Seems legit. I have about 170 subscribers. Shrug. I doubt it was for my looks (I'm the dry one in my avatar photo)

[BassSteve]

3 minutes ago, schplurg said:

Final guess: women don't like fishing nearly as much as men do.

I would say that is a safe bet

[Columbia Craw]

One third of the teams in my/our bass club are husband and wife.  

[schplurg]

Has a woman ever competed in a major BASS event or one like it with the men? I remember the first female drag racer and some others. I think women could compete with men and possibly kick butt.

 

For some reason I think women would make better natural anglers but I have nothing concrete to base it on. I'd like to see women go for it, I think it would be interesting.

[BassSteve]

it is what it is I guess

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, schplurg said:

Has a woman ever competed in a major BASS event or one like it with the men? I remember the first female drag racer and some others. I think women could compete with men and possibly kick butt.

Oh, there's been a few

 

From a 2013 article.

 

February 22, 2009

Kim Bain-Moore becomes the first woman to compete in the Bassmaster Classic. She qualifies by virtue of winning the 2008 Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year title. In the Classic, she finishes 47th out of 51 anglers.

 

February 21, 2010

Pam Martin-Wells becomes the second woman to fish the Classic. Like Bain-Moore, she qualified after winning the 2009 WBT AOY award. She finishes 22nd among 51 anglers in the Classic.

 

https://www.bassmaster.com/news/ladies-firsts

[schplurg]

From the above link:  

 

Quote

MAY 1, 1991 Vojai Reed, wife of 1986 Bassmaster Classic champion Charlie Reed, breaks the gender barrier with B.A.S.S. She competes in the Missouri Invitational on Truman Lake, finishing 58th out of 244 anglers.

 

 

Not too shabby. Cool, questions answered!

[papajoe222]

This is by no means a degrading comment about women.

Many male anglers fish as an escape from the pressures life throws their way.  Many females will garden, bake, go shopping, etc for the same reason.  With more options comes a smaller percentage of the pie for any one outlet for them.  Fishing, although an outlet for them also, is a much smaller piece of their pie.

[BassSteve]

13 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

This is by no means a degrading comment about women.

Many male anglers fish as an escape from the pressures life throws their way.  Many females will garden, bake, go shopping, etc for the same reason.  With more options comes a smaller percentage of the pie for any one outlet for them.  Fishing, although an outlet for them also, is a much smaller piece of their pie.

I agree, not a degrading comment at all. Well said

[Catt]

Some of the best anglers I know are women.

 

Ann Thomasson-Wilson owner of Ann's Tackle Shop, is the center of attention of Lake Sam Rayburn during bass tournaments. She has been a professional angler for 25 years. Ms. Thomasson-Wilson is a two time World Champion, holding titles such as Bass N' Gal World Champion in 1989 and 1988 Lady Bass World Champion.  Ann made The National Registry Of Who's Who-(1999 Edition).

 

Diane (Reel Woman) Johnson, Oak Ridge, New Jersey. Reel Time Designs, Reel Woman Productions, & Harmonix Rods. Diana fished bass tournaments for 20+ years, worked with many young anglers in the New Jersey area. I met Diane through Bass Fishing Home Page @ MSN.com. back in the late 90s. She convinced to start writing articles & especially articles about Toledo Bend.

 

Serena Phall my deceased ex-mother-in-law taught me patience when fishing a Texas Rig on deepwater structure. She taught me how to tie a Palomar knot.

 

Lots of Cajun Ladies bass fish & chase Specks-n-Reds.

 

I'm raising my own!?

 

 

[Mbirdsley]

In the State of Michigan untill the 1950’s/60’s. A married women didn’t need to purchase a fishing license as long as her husband had one.  In Michigan at least I’d say it was common for women to fish. 

[Ski]

My wife as a Child was never taken fishing, but has become a great fisherman, Blue water Captain, and Deckmate.

[gim]

My Mother is an avid walleye angler. She actually fishes on an amateur MN state tour in about 8-10 events each season including the championship on Lake of the Woods.

 

She grew up in an outdoor family that hunted, fished, and trapped. She never participated in the hunting or trapping portion, but she fished regularly so it simply carried on in life. She got into tournament fishing with her Father and Brother about 15 years ago and has continued to do it since. It has almost become an obsession because she really has no other hobbies lol. I rarely see her from May - September. Her and my Father just got a new 2021 Warrior 2090 hydraulic tiller.

 

My wife will fish with me a few times every season but other than that I don’t know any ladies that fish regularly or as frequently as some guys. (I’m not against it, I just don’t know any.) So to answer the OP, in my experience it is not common. It’s not super rare but based on what I see it’s infrequent.

[Deleted account]

11 hours ago, schplurg said:

For some reason I think women would make better natural anglers but I have nothing concrete to base it on.

Women do indeed make better natural anglers, and II have lots of experience to base this on.