Journal of a Minnesota Angler

Fellow anglers in the blogosphere have been commenting today and yesterday about the decision by BASS to eliminate the WBT. I completely agree with BassFishingDem in his feelings on the matter.

I’m not a big fan of pro fishing tournaments because of the stress and pressure it puts on the fish in a lake. But I understand why it exists. It promotes our passion and helps develop technology to make us all better anglers.

But it should also show that fishing isn’t just for men. Ladies like Pam Martin-Wells, the FlyFisherGirls, and the Fisherbabe show that women can have just as big of a passion for fishing, and be just as good as (if not better than) us guys.

If BassFishingDem’s experience with the crowds at the WBT is the same in other locations, BASS really needs to re-evaluate what they see as a “decline in participation levels.” They need some forward thinkers in BASS. Instead of killing the WBT, find ways to boost it. Did the powers at BASS ever ask the WBT anglers what they could do to improve “participation levels?” I would bet money that they didn’t. Increased exposure of the WBT, or women anglers in general, can only help our sport.

All of us amateur and recreational fishermen would do our daughters justice by instilling the joy of fishing in them. And we should teach our sons that women should have equal opportunity, not just in fishing, but in every day life.

I’ll be doing both.