BassmastHER at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic

I am passionate about fishing and want to help more women get involved in the sport but I also recognize that I have so much more to learn. Whether it is mastering new techniques, understanding fish behavior or just time on the water, and I am pretty sure there are tons of other women who are in the same boat (no pun intended).

For the longest time fishing has been a male dominated sport. From tackle shop talk, social media blogs and videos, to big money tournaments, the industry has traditionally catered to men, with fewer opportunities and less representation for women. However, I believe this is changing. More women are stepping into and being recognized in the sport, proving their skills on the water, and breaking stereotypes. While hurdles still exist, whether in gear designed for men or the perception that fishing isn’t “for women,” there is a growing movement to make the sport more inclusive.

Bassmaster acknowledged they could be doing a better job of welcoming women into the sport and has introduced the BassmastHER program. They provide workshops at Elite events. The one-day seminars teach fundamentals for beginners and more advanced techniques for those who have already had tons of time on the water. The nice part is these workshops are presented by women, which brings more comfort when asking questions, sharing, participating and overcoming fears.

I received an email from Bassmaster inviting me to one such workshop during the Bassmaster Classic. I signed up immediately, excited to meet and learn from the women that Bassmaster has selected to encourage, teach and guide the rest of us female anglers.

There were about 70 participants consisting of varying age groups -- from youth to middle-aged women and some men supporting their women. Kristine Fischer, Anastasia Patterson and Maggie Jo Carsello, with the support of others (Rhonda Pitts and Kylee Short) were the presented.

Kristine Fischer, Anastasia Patterson and Maggie Jo Carsello introduced themselves. Then we said a prayer for legendary female angler Pam Martin-Wells, who shared the stage with legends such as Kevin VanDam, Mike Iaconelli and Skeet Reese and set a path for all the rest of us women anglers, and then we split into groups.

We covered the basics of bass fishing, learning about the species (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass), their habits, and the best ways to target them. We learned how to tie essential knots, understanding how different hooks affect presentations, and explored the differences between soft and hard plastic lures. But, as Anastasia said, it’s really about time on the water.

The groups switched and we took our skills to the next level by practicing pitching to a target using both spinning and baitcasting equipment. Learning the distinction of each setup, we worked on accuracy, control, and technique, depending on our skill level. With each cast, you could see the new anglers’ confidence grow, proving that with practice, anyone can master the art of precision casting. This was made crystal clear when we watched Anatasia teach her Mom how use a spinning rod – in just a couple of minutes she improved substantially.

After practicing our pitching skills, we all gathered back together, and we had time for one question: The presenters were asked about their favorite lure. We also learned about upcoming workshops and opportunities to keep improving our skills.

As a special surprise, we were each given a Kistler rod, provided by Skeeter, a generous gift that made the experience even more memorable. Since I couldn’t take mine home due to flying, I passed it on to a young girl at the Expo, adding to her growing rod collection. Seeing her excitement was a reminder that the future of women in fishing is bright, and every small act can help grow the next generation of anglers.