Tips & Tales
| 15 Oct 2007 |
Nowadays, I feel that I am somewhat of an experienced angler. This sort of thing happens when you cohabitate with a full time fishing guide. I’ve learned from personal experiences that anglers’ of all skill levels experience something new during each and every outing. This is why as enthusiasts; we all have to take on the responsibility of insuring future generations understand why sport fishing, regardless if it’s in Florida’s serene backcountry or wild open oceans, is such a special privilege and why marine resources and fragile habitat need to be protected. Still, who can argue with the fact that teaching female anglers new to the sport requires a combination of art and science, and patience doesn’t hurt, either. Guys, if you’re really interested in teaching your wife, girlfriend, or daughter how to fish, then let me save you some trouble by pointing you in the right direction. All too often egos take over and male anglers portray themselves as having caught the largest of every fish in every sea. Macho guys are sometimes way too full of themselves and don’t take the time to thoroughly answer questions. This sort of it’s-all-about-me attitude will turn a female student off in a real hurry, which is why sometimes it is actually best to allow your loved one to learn the ropes from an expert other than yourself. I can tell you that I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve witnessed husband and wife instructional lessons with not so encouraging results. Gentlemen, pay close attention, because what I am about to tell you may very well change your relationship. First and foremost- never make fun of us. We may get turned off by fishing for the rest of our lives. Be excited that we are there with you and that we’re trying our very best. If you’re ashamed of our performance and embarrassed from our lack of experience, we’ll likely never step foot on your boat again.  As young girls, most of us weren’t given the same opportunities to go fishing with our fathers or grandfathers as you were. But as soon as we were, or are given a chance to see what you see and experience what you experience, most of us quickly realize why sport fishing is so contagious. You may not know it, but a lifelong fishing partner may be standing right next to you. Keep this in mind; when teaching new anglers how to fish, don’t push us to do every single thing for ourselves. If at first we don’t want to wrap our arms around a slimy grouper for a photo or impale a live shrimp on our hook, then do it for us until we reach the stage when we’re ready to do it on our own. Always be positive and supportive. You may be surprised by how a little encouragement can go a very long way. If we don’t know anything about fishing, start out by teaching us the basics. Show us how to cast, how to work a lure and how to fight a fish. When we master something, congratulate us and let us gloat for a little while. Never take our sunshine away. Another suggestion when introducing us to fishing is to allow us to select our own tackle, with your advice, of course. And once you know we’re really hooked, surprise us with our own custom rod or some other sort of great gift idea. For girls just learning the ropes, offshore fishing in any sort of rough seas is usually not where we want to get our start. And don’t even dream of coaxing us into attempting to gaff big fish during our first outing. We would rather handle manageable species until we become more confident and skilled. Finally, don’t overwhelm us with too much information too fast. And feel free to invite friends along after we’ve learned the basics. This can help build our confidence. There are many women who still say they don’t enjoy fishing and boating. That can only be because they have not yet had an opportunity to enjoy the sport to its fullest. Once they see what all the hype is about, they, too, will usually be the first to recommend a fishing trip. Before they know it, they will be the ones not being able to cross a body of water without looking for signs of game fish. Lastly, just because we’re out on the water does not mean we always have to be fishing. Barbeques, island hopping, swimming, snorkeling, it all sounds like fun. We can even partake on eco-tours to shoot wildlife photos. You see, contrary to popular belief, most of us actually enjoy spending quality time with the men in our lives. Do yourself a favor and teach a girl to fish today!
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