Reel Women: The World Of Women Who Fish [Hardcover]

Lyla Foggia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995

For the 15 million women who fish each year, here is the first book ever to chronicle women's extraordinary legacy in the sport. Modern sportfishing began in 1496 with the definitive "Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angle, " attributed to English noblewoman and nun Dame Juliana Berners. During the five centuries since, women have made--and continue to make--fishing history.
Reel Women tells the captivating stories of the daring and the ingenious who have made a lasting impact on sportfishing. More than a hundred profiles include such figures as tiny Mrs. Keith Spalding, who landed a 426-pound swordfish in 1921, plus the living legends of flyfishing, big-game saltwater fishing, and bass fishing: from Helen Robinson, who developed a groundbreaking technique for teasing billfish into striking an artificial fly, to Sugar Ferris, founder of the first bass-fishing circuit for women.
Featuring a comprehensive women's angling resource directory and a bibliography of books by or for women anglers, Reel Women is a great catch for readers on the distaff side of the rod-and-reel world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A couple of centuries before Izaak Walton took his rod and reel to the bank of the Thames and then returned to pen his classic, The Compleat Angler, an English noble woman named Juliana Berners reeled in the concept of fishing writer with a comprehensive how-to tract called Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth an Angel. One of fishing's best-kept secrets is that women have been avid, expert, and innovative anglers ever since. Reel Women exposes that secret with gusto, casting out entertaining portraits of the many women who've dared the rod and taken the lure of flies, big game, and bass. An appendix offers an encyclopedic resource guide of clubs, organizations, businesses, services, and schools for women who might prefer testing a good line to hearing one. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The first document on fishing is attributed to an English nun in the 15th century; while modern women constitute a third of all anglers. These and other facts and stories are gathered by an author/female angler to present a running history of women's active involvement in fishing, presenting role models and engrossing insights. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 294 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books/Beyond Words; Original edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885223188
• ISBN-13: 978-1885223180
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #841,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars women fish, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reel Women: The World Of Women Who Fish (Hardcover)

REEL WOMEN gives a history of women in the world of fishing. The book begins with Dame Juliana Berners and continues through modern day practitioners. I found this book to be very informative. It does seem to focus on women from North America and ignore other areas, but attention is given to fishing of all kinds, including fly fishing, big game angling, bass fishing, etc. The book makes for a fascinating read, and I enjoyed learning just how influential women have been. The resource directory for women at the end of the book is a wealth of information.

5.0 out of 5 stars An astounding gem of a book, May 16, 2008

By 

J. Taylor "Lokapala" (Oregone) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reel Women: The World of Women Who Fish (Paperback)

Guys, if you've ever wondered what to buy your SO that will let her know, beyond doubt or question, that you are attempting to understand and meet her needs, purchase a copy of this book, wrap it beautifully, and hand it to her with confidence that, for once, you've found the perfect gift. If you like to fish, or need to on a regular basis for reasons unexplainable in words, this book will say more to her in one reading than you could speak aloud in one year.

And to those readers of the gentle gender who like to fish but have never been able to adequately explain the urge to anyone, Foggia is a kindred soul who can articulate reasons and expound on the philosophy of fishing, which is really a wordless meditation that restores the soul. It is the quintessence of patient waiting, without investment in outcome. You're just fishing. If you enjoyed A River Runs Through It, you'll love Reel Women.

I'm buying a copy for my girlfriend, my mom, my adult daughter, and for a special friend, a young mother who is learning to write. And one copy for me. Every good book should tell the reader something new, at least one bright concept; but this book is a full creel.