When will a lady angler haver her own fishing show?

[Linewinder]

Jerry McKinnis doesn't have a show any longer, where he would have kids on, so I watch Bill Dance and others, including the ESPN BASS shows, but they are always hosted by men. I want my kids (boy and girl) to know that girls like to fish too, but if the image is that only men fish I believe it sends the wrong message to my daughter.

On another note, because of watching the current shows, my kids now believe that the only way to catch fish is with plastic worms and not real worms or minnows. :-/ We need a show like Jerry's again, with live bait, and add a woman too.

[Grey Wolf]

You should really voice your concerns directly to the people who have the power to do this. B.A.S.S. , FLW , and the networks that put on these shows.

It probably won't do you any good but at least you tried.

[Lauren]

There is a show about fishing were a woman angler is the host. Also there was this one person looking for a female co-host. I was going to do it, but I live in IL and he wanted someone local. He also wanted someone that knows more then bass fishing too.

[Glenn]

I hear ya, Linewinder.  I have yet to see a fishing ad with a woman featured in it, let alone a fishing show.  TV commercials and magazine ads have all males in them - no women. Have you seen a woman driving a boat or truck in any ads?  Nope. Haven't seen very many articles in magazines that feature a woman (such as "A Day On the Lake"), or any tv shows that portray women the same as men (like "The Bass Pros"). No female fishing hosts either.

There's heavy media portrayment of men in fishing, very few of women, if at all.  And people say women are equal in this sport?  :-/

[Fishes in trees]

I think there have been a few.  I can distinctly remember one, I was snowed in at a motel and wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.  It was on motel cable - Fishing with Courtney & (some other woman, I don't remember the name.)  I remember one where they were salmon fishing on the Kenai in Alaska and another where they had hiked in British Columbia to fish for brook trout.

One of their sponsors was Oklahoma Joe BBQ grills and smokers and they ended each show by firing up their smoker and cooking some fish.

Surely there have been some other fishing shows starring women through the years.  Fact of TV life, if they can't pimp and move product they won't be on the air for long.  Production costs for TV shows ain't cheap.

[preach4bass]

I remember seeing Kim Bain on a few shows, and she did a great job.  She was entertaining and informational enough to have her own show.

[bass syco]

I hear ya, Linewinder. I have yet to see a fishing ad with a woman featured in it, let alone a fishing show. TV commercials and magazine ads have all males in them - no women. Have you seen a woman driving a boat or truck in any ads? Nope. Haven't seen very many articles in magazines that feature a woman (such as "A Day On the Lake"), or any tv shows that portray women the same as men (like "The Bass Pros"). No female fishing hosts either.

There's heavy media portrayment of men in fishing, very few of women, if at all. And people say women are equal in this sport? :-/

I disagree. Women are perfectly represented to the extent that they have earned it. Consider the standard metrics of fishing greatness: Classics won, AOY awards, Elite series tournies won, and most importantly, sales ka-ching $$ driven by sponsorship and endorsements.

Glenn, you seem to imply that the major fishing/boating companies (Pure Fishing, Daiwa, Shiman, Ranger, etc) are engaging in male chauvinsim or discrimination by not featuring more women.

I, however, disagree and believe that in the business of fishing, there are limited dollars to dole out for sponsorships or shows. Companies are obligate to dole out the money to the anglers most likely to provide a return on their investment. This is why they choose 'great' anglers. There are no great women anglers (yet), and that is the problem, not discrimination.

For the record, I greatly enjoy women anglers. You go gals. I will not however, sugar coat their relative lack of success (so far), nor imply fishing/boating companies that make sensible fiscal choices (for their shareholdes and employees) are sexist or discriminatory.

[Glenn]

I think you're missing the point.  Fact is, there's a good-sized segment of the bass fishing population that are women.  However, that's not being represented in the media.

It has nothing to do with tournament wins, or who earned what. It's about honest representation of the demographic makeup. 

For that matter, there's a lot of blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc. that are avid anglers too, yet you don't see see them represented in the fishing media at all.  It's rather embarrassing.

[finesseman2]

You know what there is a show coming on this month on the vs network it is hosted by two women.They travel around and hit all the hotspots.Like anything there will always people afraid of change but if you truly love the sport as i do you should embrace it.I think we can all agree there is more than enough room on the water for us all.We should want the sport that we love to grow and share it with whoever we can men,women or children in the end that is all that truly matters.I think we can agree that pam martin held her own at the classic and the women have a much tougher road to travel than us as men do.Sponsors..Tournaments..are not as easy to come by.There will be a woman who comes along and will set the sport on fire who knows she could be reading this forum  right now good luck gals keep your head up and FISH Hard and prove some of us wrong.

[eric ba]

Kim Baine-moore does have a fishing show. Its called breaking the surface. Her and another female fly fisherwoman. They travel around and fish foe differant species.

[Linewinder]

OK, so the ladies are out there to a limited extent (read: not enough for my daughter), but then kids must be non-existent?  Jerry, come back!

[Grey Wolf]

It looks to me like you are going to have to get your kids interested yourself. You be their (Jerry.) It works for many fathers who want their kids to know the joy of the out doors/fishing.

[ProCrafter]

Karen Savik has been with NAFC doing Berkley... I believe related demos and discussion on destinations....it would be a very good time for an advertiser to select a lead for such a position as the following...young girls to teens to future tour anglers is there just needing icons....which the WBT had started to develop....the talent is there just needs a sponsor/investment group to get the backing...Savik, Martin-Wells,Wong, Glasgow, Richardson and others DESERVE and have EARNED an edition of "The Bass Pros" where the Ladies Pro Perspective would be discussed and the following will have a continued direction....Bass Pro can entwine them with the current crew....maybe a story with Van Dam on Crankbaits...followed by Judy Wong on flipping weed mats......it all is dependent on the advertisors and the reps who sell the anglers and ideas.....unfortunately grass root movements just point out ideas with advertisors but we all need to continue the dialogue and network where and when we can so the advances will not be forgotten.

[Dan:]

I'd be interested to see the actual demographic breakdown of bass fisherman. I'd be willing to bet that ~85% are white males, if not more.

I think the channels are only choosing the smartest business decision. The vast majority of the target audience is men, so if they want to attract that audience they might as well pick hosts that men want to watch. For whatever reason, most bass fishing men don't seem to want to watch women fishing on tv.

Another problem is that there is a smaller sample population of worthy hosts. There are some lady anglers with accomplishments deserving a show but how many of those anglers are actually able OR willing to be hosts? Not everyone is capable of hosting a TV show.

Also, there are a lot of "stars" of the sport that are men while relatively few that are women. I can probably name two dozen professional bass anglers that are men. I can only name one that is a woman.

[basswitch]

Got a video camera this year. Can't wait to start workin on my own fishing show:p

[Linewinder]

It looks to me like you are going to have to get your kids interested yourself. You be their (Jerry.) It works for many fathers who want their kids to know the joy of the out doors/fishing.

I already tried that, and unknowingly messed up by watching the fishing shows during the cold off-season.  Now they just want to use plastic worms and spinner baits -- and girls don't go fishing.

[detroit1]

It is a little embarrassing (?) that there isn't a national show hosted by a woman or women. I like ms. Savic on NAFC, but really haven't seen any others.  I'd watch it. (the bass don't know who's on the other end of the line...)

[Nine Miler]

I hear ya, Linewinder. I have yet to see a fishing ad with a woman featured in it, let alone a fishing show. TV commercials and magazine ads have all males in them - no women. Have you seen a woman driving a boat or truck in any ads? Nope. Haven't seen very many articles in magazines that feature a woman (such as "A Day On the Lake"), or any tv shows that portray women the same as men (like "The Bass Pros"). No female fishing hosts either.

There's heavy media portrayment of men in fishing, very few of women, if at all. And people say women are equal in this sport? :-/

[whoopbazz]

I think there have been a few. I can distinctly remember one, I was snowed in at a motel and wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. It was on motel cable - Fishing with Courtney & (some other woman, I don't remember the name.)  I remember one where they were salmon fishing on the Kenai in Alaska and another where they had hiked in British Columbia to fish for brook trout.

One of their sponsors was Oklahoma Joe BBQ grills and smokers and they ended each show by firing up their smoker and cooking some fish.

Surely there have been some other fishing shows starring women through the years. Fact of TV life, if they can't pimp and move product they won't be on the air for long. Production costs for TV shows ain't cheap.

Fishing with shelley and courtney.

Anyone remember that show Fish On? With the bikini clad models?

[b.Lee]

I guess sex doesn't sell when it come to Bass Fishing. It is funny because it works for everything else.

I wonder if a trend like fixing up cars could ever apply to Bass Boats with crazy custom colors and decked out decks with TV's and Sound system, and half naked ladies on them. 

Not that I am saying this is where it should go... But I do totally agree that having a Lady host a show would be a good in many aspects, also more ladies in advertisements will go a long way for youth.

[bear7625]

I'm all for a women's TV show, but until you find a kick @ss, down to earth women that can convince men that they are serious, it ain't gonna happen! If you look at the commercials that have women in them, you'll know what I mean! : If you want your man to take you fish'en, stop saying euwww!!!, pop a worm in your mouth, and say ...let's gett'er done! If this was the shopping channel, we would see alot more posts from women. ;D ;D ;D

I am going to ketch hell, but women who fish, are the real 10's!!!

[fishingkidPA]

im not saying that girls shouldnt fish or hunt, i think its really cool when they do but i think they use guys because guys were doing it before girls, and by majority more guys hunt than girls.

[grimlin]

Hunting and providing for the family has always been a "male" role.....This has got to be the reason why we rarely ever see a woman on a hunting show as well.

Males as always taken this role since the dawn of time.Apparently we still do.  :-/

I'm not saying it's right and i have to agree with Glenn it is quite embarrassing. We'll evolve soon enough.Not enough women have tapped into these activities to make any changes just yet. Fishing for sport still seems to view greater from the white male audience.   

I can get my wife out there once a year....if I'm lucky.She wants nothing to do with fishing,hunting or outdoors. She does however supports my addiction so i just let it go. ;D

[Glenn]

I think you touched upon something there grimlin - "minorities" really need to get more involved in the outdoor sports.  I would really love to see more blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc. represented on those TV shows. Seems it's really lopsided right now.

Geez...how many times can I say "really"?  lol!

[Dan:]

I think you touched upon something there grimlin - "minorities" really need to get more involved in the outdoor sports. I would really love to see more blacks, Hispanics, Asians, etc. represented on those TV shows. Seems it's really lopsided right now.

Geez...how many times can I say "really"? lol!

But what proportion of bass anglers are members of those groups? My guess is that the number of minority fishing personalities is probably proportional to the numbers of minorities involved in the sport in general. I would venture to guess that the vast majority of bass fisherman are white males.