Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-19
HOW WOMEN GO AFrsHING.
Some Consent 60 Put on Live Bait
Though Most Of Them Prefer the Fly.
Prom the New Yors Sun

Prom the New York Sun
Certainly there lots Of women who gee
anshing," said one of the oldest members Of the
south Side club, who is equally expert as q salt
water and fresh water fisherman IF the ma
lority OF women knew Of the fun and the
penent to their health that going ahshing
would bring there would be something like O
iashionabie epidemic for angling. II would
seem that most women IL asked what they
think OF fishing as an enjoyable pursuit would
IN reply assume about the same attitude that
most women do toward exercising the elective
franchise. In the first place they don't know
anything about it experimentAlly, and in the
next place men have assumed fishing "A among
their manly prerogatives, and most women
would on that account consider the practice of
the gentle art unfeminine. Liable q pursuit
'unfeminine,' and 1t is q boycott on it 70 the
feminine mind.
"Bu, il is just because IL Is a gentle art. said
the old angler, lighting a fresh cigar, that
women ought TO enjoy it. Women ride after
the hounds at fox hunt. and they are more
and more entering into the enjoyment OF meme
sports and competing with them in business.
Let the dear creatures fish. IL fills their lungs
with fresh air. deepens their narrow chests,
cures weak nerves. aids digestion and gives
them plenty of exercise. This is true, both in
fresh and salt water fishing. With the in
creasing attention paid by women 10 physical
and muscular development there ought to be
room made by men for TIE women 10 JOIN them
IN their active sports so that their rudy cheeks
and strong limbs may be preserved. III ana
zonian requirements are not be used, why ac-
quire them in gymnasums?
Yes, there are objections that arise az once
to fishing becoming general among women"
continued the angler lone objection is that
women will not handle live bait or have any,
thing TO do with il. The reply 10 that objec-
ton Is that women who fish usually fish with
the hy, or if they fish in salt water a fisherman
friend puts on the live bait and when big fish
is hooked he pulls il in. Another objection 20
womans fishing is that the sun will burn her
skin and spoil her complexion. TO say nothing
OF the smart II causes her. In answer 60 that
objection can point you TO my wife's expert
enee. Ii Is her custom TO begin the season by
remaining on the water for half an hour at first
and increasing the length of time until the
sk N is toughened by exposure. Before the end
OF May she can remain on the water all dAy.
She prefers when fishing in the Great South
Day with live bait TO put on the bait herself,
wearing strong pair of gloves TO prevent
soiling har hands. As regards salt water FISH
ing, however, women will probably not care
much for II as fresh water fishing, and will 90
bobblng on the waves of Princes bay or
Jamaica bay mainly TO accompany their fisher
men friends and partake in their pursuits for
social reasons.
In fresh water fishing women are often
adopts the old stager continued Il do not
men by that to refer to women who fish as Mrs
Frances Folsom Cleveland fishes. As soon as
Mrs Cleveland gets bite Mr.. Cleveland plays
the fish and pulls him. There are many women
who can cast cast fly as deity as a man and
good deal more gracefully. Ii isn't necessary
10 say that women cannot wade brooks or 60
on long tramps up and down a trout brook.
They fish from row boats on a river or lake,
and L have seen women who were reared in
luxury in this town play trout in the Adiron-
dacks with all the skill and enjoyment of a pro-
fessional- 1t is simply delightful 10 see in what
charming and unconscious attitudes Of grace q
supple young woman can throw herself as she
holds delicate r ID, now on this side and now
aloft as she follows the path taken by the finny
prey.
1t would not have been possible for most
women, until recently, 10 hook fish of any
size and bring him to the landing net owing
TO the heavy tackle that used TO be manufac-
tured for men, Tackle for men is made lighter
and lighter, and now tackle is made for
women.
Il saw a rod the other day made by famous
rod maker for woman of this town who is now
in the Adirondacks. 1t is of split bamboo, nine
feet long and weighs exactly hve ounces. The
grip Is OF cork, which is easier 70 grasp than
the smooth cane or wood or rubber, and easier
10 hold tightly in one hand. Ii is fitted with
Oryis patent reel seat. which consists Of n
heavy-seated spring under fixed rings. and by
an ingenious arrangement may be made to re-
celye a reel with either short or long seat
With weapon like this, bv turn of a lady's
slender wrist two-pound trout could quickly
be made TO feel that he had met a mistress.
''since Mrs. Cleveland's fishing trip in the
Adirondack" Gdded the fisherman. Il have
observed that many more women have gone
atishing than ever before, probably owing to the
example set by that charming lady"