It can be intimidating out there. I'm getting better at holding my own, but darn, the guys are just so GOOD at this. I wonder if, despite my declaration that I'm holding my own, this is why I fish alone so often. Don't get me wrong, I love to fish with the guys, but if I'm alone, I can work through that bird's nest in the reel without ever having to admit how it got there. I can work on my cast and when the results are no better today than they were a month ago, nobody has to know. What I'm saying is, I can figure out how to do things that I'd learned earlier, to practice them. I can fumble with the fish taking his hook out and getting him back into the water, and if anything crazy happens (and it has, trust me!) there's nobody there to witness my clumsy handling.

Now having the boys around has its advantages! Women on the water really do need to be open to learning something new every time we go out there, and because the boys are so darn GOOD at this, we can learn much. Even if they're not "our" boys - sometimes there are just guys out there, not the ones we normally fish with, just guys. Whoever we meet out there, we can watch, listen to, and learn from. I listen to them talk - who caught what where and with what kind of bait. I watch, what's he doing differently that gets his cast out so far, while mine falls so short? Don't think they're not out there trading advice, and doing the same watching and listening.

Now, the boys we do go fishing with, that's always interesting, isn't it? What a fabulous way to spend time with our Dads and our brothers, our husbands and our kids and our friends. My favorite people to fish with are my brother, my brother-in-law (my sister refuses to fish) and ......... these days it's the UKF guys holding the #1 spot for favorite fishing buddies.

I've never had a woman fishing buddy. I've only rarely met women on the water. I see women in boats, once in a while they appear to be fishing, but shore fishing, rare. A guy just commented recently that same thought - I went after work (alone) and this guy showed up about 1/2 hour after me, and he said "wow, it's really nice to see a woman out here, not enough women fish". He checked out my Tsumami and my Abu reel, and complimented my choice of bait (I was using my ghost that my brother gave me). The timing was kinda cool, since Nils and I had talked earlier the same day about setting up this forum. It made me feel welcome, instead of intruding on "guy time".

Guys, take your girls out fishing. Your daughters, sisters, mothers, wives, and friends might want to go but just don't want to ask.... sometimes we get the feeling that it really is "guy time" and we'd be either in the way, or that you're out there to get away.

Some of my best memories of my family are fishing with my brothers, as children and as adults. My dad never fished, but he supported us by burying those bucketfuls of sunfish in the garden to feed the earth, so that our fishing was a useful venture.

Ask us to come with you. It is an honor to be at your side, to learn from you, to watch you in your finest moments hauling in that fish.

Nice post Brenda

You are welcome on my boat.

Very nice post Brenda....and don't think we "Guys" know it all...we were all once infants in the world of fishing and have made all the same discoveries that you are now making. I fish alone myself...for it gives me the time that I need to realign and center myself in my busy world. I also fish with others...some of my fondest memories and closes friends in life have come this way, for it is a special person who knows the fish. Tight lines my friend and remember what Winston Churchill said..."Never Give Up".

Hey you keep on plugging. I took my daughter fishing before she could walk my wife fishes and heck I even take my girl springers fishing. They don't stay in the yak though! The male will? Scotty.

My daughter Allison caught her first fish while still in diapers it was a "fisht" to her. My largest striper is 34" Allison's is 35".

Took my daughter out today. She's getting good at it.

Memories Mark...Smiling...

Yes, wonderful memories, with many more to come. That is a beautiful photo.