Here is an article in yesterday's Globe about Connie Codner. She instructs the finer points of surfcasting to women...

<a href="http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/214/metro/Taking_the_bait+.shtml" target="_blank"><!--auto-->http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/214/metro/Taking_the_bait+.shtml</a><!--auto-->

Hey John, great article, maybe I should give this a try!!!!! glad to hear that more woman are getting involved, I think it will be a great thing for the sport as well as there male couterparts, maybe the divorce rate will go down a little bit. Cudos to her. How is the fishing, did you make it to the hull area the other day? Have you been to the fingers at all? We took the boat out on Sunday and all we had to show for it was 1 schoolie at 23". Time for some serious shore fishing, need the Vineyard bad. Hope all is well with you and the wife.

fisherwoman

As a woman I would like to say that article was very refreshing! I certainly love to fish and introduced my husband to the elusive striped bass!!! However I have to admit I am very shy when I go into the bait shop or try to talk about fishing in front of men! Many times I have felt completely ignored, and I am sure many times that was the case! I am by no means a "great" angler catching lots of fish, but I enjoy the expirience just the same.
On my last fishing trip we met a man who we talked to for quite some time. I was wondering why he had not brought his wife and children to the beach with him? Maybe his wife truly didn't want to be there, however I thought long after he left...did he ever ask her??!? or the kids??!? Hmmm......
I know one thing is for sure, if my father or husband ever left ME behind without asking there would be one sad girl waiting when they got back! So guys don't ever be afraid to ask...you might be surprised. And as for those long dark nights spent alone on the beach with my hubby...VERY romantic(see that you don't even have to try)! I wouldn't give up great "together" time like that for anything!
I have said my peace. Now please think aboutit!

Thanks for the mild guilt-prod Jenn <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7--> - Good points though. And don't be too shy at those tackle shops, just act like you've got a secret fishing spot giving up lovely linesiders by the dozen <img src="/Images/Tounge_Wink_Face.gif"><!--e5-->...

My wife does not like going out at two in the morning but honestly, as the years have progressed I have not asked her as much as the year before (and certainly less than I should). She likes fishing when it is a very relaxed atmosphere, sandy beach, nice daylight conditions or fishing from a pier but alot of the places we've been to have been harder for her to fish. Now, with a baby due in November, she is not that interested. But that may change slightly at the Vineyard for vacation <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7-->...

I think it is great that more women are getting involved in fishing. Hey there are some good looking fishing guys out there, namely, me! <img src="/Images/Happy_Face.gif"><!--e1-->. HA HA!
But really, what can be better than a couple sharing the great outdoors? And don't women always want walks on the beach? So you have fishing rods and a bag full of eels? Big Deal! That could lead to some pretty crazy stories. (Little Jonny, you were made when your mom and I went fishing down at the beach. And then your mom rolled over on the bunker!)

Actually, it is a proven fact that women usually score bigger when it comes to jigging. It was explained because women have that feminine touch and gracefully bounce bucktails. When they start out fishing the guys(who are extremely competitive supposibly) the guys start jigging harder and harder. Well that is the exact opposite of what the woman is doing.

So as long as they can bait their own hook and unhook their own fish and they don't do that nagging "let him go or I am cutting you #^&#^&#^&#^& sigh, that's cool. <img src="/Images/Tounge_Face.gif"><!--e4-->
Patrick

Fisherwoman - I beleive that was you I meet at the baitshop on Sat. evening while I was waiting for John. If it was, good to meet ya! Unfortunately, my wife isn't the fishing type. She has thrown a lure a few times when we go to Vermont, but that's about it. She has been crabbing once or twice, but when I'm in Hatteras and come back with a bunch of blue claws, she will leave the room until they are cooked. She hates to see them go into the pot live! In fact, when I catch fish, she usually doen't even want to see them until they are cleaned, or else she has a problem eating them!! Its funny, though, she loves to eat them!

Steve, not the same person. Although that is where Fisherwoman and the other half (the guy with the synthetic smile on the front page) often go to meet their guide service clients. The woman you met is known for Flyfishing in and around the Quincy area but is not "OUR" Fisherwoman <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7-->...Yo Juls, whassupp???

Hi Steve in MA, yes it was me you met that night you were waiting for John, I was the one that said I would check to see if I had his phone # at home. Yes John I was there that night as this nice fellow was waiting for you and I think I recall you were going to fish the Hull area? Steve as for the wife thing, you need to try taking her out fishing in the spring down on the cape when the fish are very active and you catch about a 100 a day, this may peak her interest a little bit. If she is out there and not catching anything she may think she isn't doing something right and may be afraid to ask or bother you while your fishing, aslo she may not like taking the fish home, well even though you may like to take one home now and then she could always practice catch and release. Maybe you should hook her up with me next spring and see if I can help her out a bit. Or she may just not be into it, but Baitcaster and I love fishing together, it is our favorite past time. Jenn has it pegged right on that it can be also very romantic. Romance is all in what you make it and a really nice striper pulling hard the other way with all her grace, under the stars, with the waves crashing the shore and the sun just starting to come up over the horizon can really get your heart going. John have you been to our spring spot lately?

Fisherwoman

Whassup??? Fisherwoman, I have not been there in a few weeks. At least since The Monster got his "rash" from there. I did see some people fishing the other day at low tide beyond the "rock"...

Well I must have missed you in front of the shop that night... How did you guys do???

Hey Buddy, was just there that night to get some bait for the boat, haven't been to that spot in a while ourselves, but have family coming next week so will have to give it a shot, we took the boat out yesterday, got about 60 fish up to 28" and alot of double hook ups so was a good day. Need MV bad!!!!! Hope all is well with you.

fisherwoman

Things are OK. Not getting fishing enough, quality wise and number of times.... Do you remember the full dates for the Vineyard Derby? Beginning to end? Mike da Lawyer was wondering but I don't have anything concrete to give him....


Thanks,

John

OK,OK, I will back down now!!! I guess I really meant for that to be more inspirational than a guilt trip! Although I will stand my ground as far as those who have NOT asked and just assume (we all know what assume means) that their wives wouldn't want to go! The more I have thought about it I did think to many women I know, and yes there are quite a few I couldn't see "man-handling" their own bait and catch!!HA!HA! Personally I was never into that whole feminine thing! I am that one you see with that "lucky" flannel shirt, boots, and Pliers/flashlight in the back pocket! Oh, well....

I fished Balstons Beach last night in Truro after leaving a dead Chatham. There was a group of 4 surfcasters, three men and one woman out plying the surf with eels. The woman was the high hook in number and size as far as I could see. She landed one bass that must have been in the mid to high twenty pound range... Nice fish, nice group of people. The fellow he was with was just as proud as she was...

Jenn, no guilt trip here, just kidding about the prod <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7-->. You're right though, definitely worth sharing with the better half that passion that hooks us on surfcasting (although she says I'm obsessed <img src="/Images/Tounge_Wink_Face.gif"><!--e5-->), not to mention spending some quality time. And like you say, she may actually enjoy it (she does). We need more Surfcastresses out there!!

Was that you that I ran into last night?

John

I wish it was! I live about four hours away from there and do not get there nearly as much as I would like...however that is the area I like to fish! It is to bad that I HAVE to work. Why can't I get rich fishing??HA!HA! I keep trying to convince the hubby to go next weekend, I do not think it has worked yet though! Any suggestions!?!! As for your wife thinking you are obsessed...aren't you??
Any luck yourself? Or was this woman catching them all??HA!LA!
Take care, Jenn

Jenn,
Tell him that large bass are known to be lurking through those waters <img src="/Images/Tounge_Wink_Face.gif"><!--e5--> and that your woman's intuition senses that one may end up on the end of his line, IF he elects to make a trip this weekend <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7-->... As far as being obsessed? I don't think so. Just because my wife says I try to manouvre the subject of fishing into most conversations and and the fact that I sleep with my fishing rods while wearing Pro-Line wader pattern pajamas with a grunden top on, I don't think that makes me obsessed, do you?

The woman was high hook in fish, I think four with that fish in the high twenties being the largest. I got a couple small keepers 30-34" range but missed on what felt like a very nice bass. I was not paying proper attention (my stupid fault) and had a nice fish fake me out by running in towards me. I made a poor hookset and when she turned away and started RIPPING line from reel, thirty seconds later there was nothing...

Hey thanks for the advice! Now if it will actually work! He can be very stubborn at times..unless it is HIS idea of course!!! As for the obsession thing, I would have to say that no, you are not obsessed at all!!! Now if you were actually sleeping in the waders themselves.....