Breaking bass barriers

Bassmaster broke down doors for women this weekend when it hosted a first-time, all-female bass fishing workshop.

BassmastHER taught 17 women anglers, beginners and experienced, how to break into the bass-fishing world. The five-hour workshop took place across the street from the all-male Bassmaster Elite Series semifinals Saturday in Palatka.

The BassmastHER workshop, which took place at Quality Inn Riverfront Palatka, 201 N. First St., aimed to provide a support system for women interested in fishing while giving them more confidence when heading out on the water.

Instructor Anastasia Patterson, 26, started fishing for fun during early childhood but began competitive bass fishing in middle school. During some competitions, she said, she saw only a handful of women in the tournaments with her.

“An event like this is definitely important to me and the fishing community because we are seeing more women than ever getting out and going fishing, not just recreationally but competitively,” she said.

Workshop attendees learned from Patterson and James Hall, the editor of Bassmaster Magazine.

Hall taught pupils when to use specific bait options, like spinnerbait, crankbait and jig. He also demonstrated the best way to use spinning and baitcasting rods.

Patterson told attendees what areas of the river to fish during each season and how to practice even when off the water.

In 2022, Patterson was featured on the cover of Bassmaster Magazine with a 10-pound bass she caught in Lake George. Patterson is an ambassador of the sport and helped found Presbyterian College’s competitive bass fishing team in Clinton, South Carolina.

Patterson was pleased with Saturday’s event because all the women who attended seemed eager to learn more about the sport she loves.

“We kind of had all age levels – so that was really, really cool – and all skill levels,” Patterson said. “So, it did my heart some good, for sure.”

Amy Lockhart drove more than two hours from Tampa to attend BassmastHER. Lockhart said she’s been saltwater fishing for about 10 years but grew up bass fishing.

She heard about the workshop from a Bassmaster employee and wanted to learn all she could. Over the past seven years, Lockhart said, she started to do more bass fishing when she retired from the military in 2017.

“I love ladies’ events like this … for the simple fact of it’s a bunch of women getting together learning about fishing,” Lockhart said. “It’s always a great thing. The camaraderie-hood is really what it comes down to.”

The women took their skills outside to a grassy area across from the hotel to practice casting techniques. Instructors led the exercise by having the women practice their accuracy skills by casting their lines into cornhole boards.

Bassmaster Elite Series anglers used some of the demonstrated casting techniques while competing Saturday. While Robert Gee spent his day vying for a spot in the top 10, his mother, Joy Gee, chose to attend the women’s workshop.

Joy Gee said she was raised on bass fishing but thought she could always learn more about the sport for which her son now travels the country.

“I also took this class because I just really know old-school fishing,” she said. “… I just thought I could always broaden my horizons. Not to mention, I could meet other people.”

Her son, who did not make it into the top 10, began fishing while attending the University of Tennessee. During all of his competitions, his mother rarely saw any women compete.

She said she rarely sees women in even nationwide competitions unless they are moms or wives.

“I am very impressed with these ladies,” Joy Gee said. “Some are very talented and had a lot of very insightful information to share with other people, too. Hopefully, this BassmastHER will take off and encourage others to come out.”

Additional BassmastHer workshops are scheduled for June in Alabama and August in New York. People can learn more at bassmaster.com/bassmasther.