No Yelling School of Fishing: Ladies Let’s Go Fishing! Teaches Women How to Fish in Florida

The weekend seminars, held in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, offer a morning of educational sessions and an afternoon of hands-on activities. The final day is an opportunity to put skills to work out on the water with area saltwater fishing guides.

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!: The Basics

Many women can relate to the experience of fishing with their father, husband, boyfriend, or other male companion, and being yelled at for an innocent misstep. Perhaps these women didn’t set the hook properly or threw the anchor off the boat without the line tied to the boat.

Betty Bauman, director of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! (LLGF), founded the organization in 1997 to offer women the opportunity to learn how to fish without the yelling or intimidation of men. In addition to the saltwater fishing seminars, there are three LLGF chapters in Florida: Fort Lauderdale, Naples, and the Palm Beaches. These chapters offer women the opportunity to enhance their fishing skills, network with other women anglers, and fish.

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!: What to Expect

Dozens of women attend the no yelling school of fishing which kicks off on a Friday evening with orientation and a reception. Saturday is the meat of the program with educational sessions in the morning. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission educations participants about the importance of conservation, catch and release fishing, and regulations.

Fishing basics are taught by different fishing captains, some are women, most of them are men. Skills taught include why and how to vent a fish, chumming, what drag is and when to use it, how to hold a rod with a spinning reel, and the difference between inshore and deep sea fishing. The intimate, friendly format allows participants to ask any question, no question is too small.

The hands-on portion of the program follows lunch. Different skill stations allow women anglers to practice various fishing techniques. Outside, participants learn and practice boat handling, fly casting, trailering techniques, and net casting. Inside, ladies learn more skills like how to rig ballyhoo (which is a bait fish and a very messy task), knot tying, and how to de-hook a fish. An evening reception rounds out the day.

Angling skills are put to work on Sunday when Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing! participants join fishing guides for a half-day of angling. And the only yelling out on the water is from excitement. Filleting skills are taught once the catch is returned to shore, if the women choose to keep their fish. The Sunday fishing fee is in addition to the seminar fee.

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!: Who Should Attend?

Any woman interested in saltwater fishing will appreciate and benefit from attending the seminar and it's open to non-Florida residents, too. Attendees range from novice anglers through experienced fisherwomen. Women can attend solo or with friends or family members. Male guests are welcome to attend evening events.

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!: 2009 Schedule

The educational weekend makes an ideal girlfriend getaway. Seminars will be offered in the following Florida destinations in 2009:

Jan 24, 2009 8:43 AM

Guest :

Men yell at women when fishing? I don't think I have ever yelled at my wife about anything. It wouldn't do any good anyway, so why bother? Granted, it took a century or two to teach her to cast with a level wind reel, but now she can cast better than any of my men fishing buddies. Now, they are intiminated. And not one of my men friends can set a hook like her! Have you ever seen a fish with it's eyes crossed? Did you know that bass can fly? "INCOMING" is about the only word that gets yelled on our boat. When you hear that, duck fast. Janet just set the hook & her fish is airborn! And she knows how to net a fish correctly. I don't remember ever losing a fish when she was "manning" the net. We have fished in numerous states for a varity of species. We have also been fishing in the Sea of Cortez, Alaska, Cabo san Lucas, the Bahamas & regularly fish the Gulf of Mexico. And to you guys out there who do yell at your lady---I challenge you to beat my wife at bone fishing with a flyrod! I taught her how to cast a fly in the street in front of our house & now she can outcast me. Give your ladies a chance & have some patience. I bet you started fishing as a boy with your father. Daughters seldom had that opportunity & once they get the hang of it, the ladies can be the best fishing partners you ever had. I see more & more women on the water & they really have a blast beating us at our own game. It takes a man to swallow his ego when beat by a lady & congratulate her on a job well done, but in the long run, you will get a fishing partner for life. Who cares who catches the most or largest fish anyway? It's the sport, not the competition that counts.