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(ARA) - When mothers fish with their children, they spend quality time with together. Once mom gets hooked on fishing, she'll want to go again and again. And that's good for the whole family. Dozens of studies have shown that involvement with family members and friends consistently ranks among the top five reasons for people to go fishing. Often this reason ranks first.

I'd like to see more women -- mothers and non-mothers alike -- take up the sport or go out fishing more often with their husband and children, by themselves with their children, or with a friend. To help smooth the way, here are some thoughts to assuage a few common fears of many women new to fishing.

It's difficult or complicated.

No more so than most other activities. It's a diverse sport, however, and if you walk into the fishing tackle section of Wal-Mart or K-Mart, you'll probably feel overwhelmed and will not get much guidance from sales people .

The way to overcome this is to go fishing with an experienced angler to get an introduction to local methods, places, equipment and the like. Hiring a guide is expensive (between $200 and $400 for a day), but it can be money well-spent, especially if you use that day not just to catch fish, but to learn some of the basics and the intricacies of the sport. Guides are not available everywhere, so you may need to go fishing with someone who is not a formal guide.

It's boring.

The traditional view of fishing is that of someone sitting on the bank, dunking a worm, waiting for a fish to bite. Most modern fishing activities are much more pro-active than this.

The most popular species of freshwater fish in the United States is the largemouth bass, and very few people pursue it by dunking some form of bait and waiting for a bass to strike. They move around while casting various lures; the game being one of picking the right lure, fishing it properly, casting accurately, and so forth. Similarly, fly fishing, which is the use of lightweight objects that imitate flies as well as other food, is all about finding fish, casting well, and making the right presentation. None of its practitioners find it boring, even when they don't have much success.

It's messy.

If you fish with some form of bait, handling it can be messy. A wash cloth takes care of that. And handling a fish, which you may have to do to unhook, release, or clean it, may sometimes involve getting some slime (it's actually protective mucous) on your hands. Surely, you don't think that only men can do this? It's mind over matter; if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

It can be unsafe.

Not really an issue. Yes, you're dealing with hooks that can cause harm. So you have to be careful when casting, and when landing and unhooking fish. You also have to be careful every time you handle a knife in the kitchen. What's the big deal? As for wading and boating and the like, there are comfortable life preservers that you can wear if you don't swim or if you fear the water. Like driving a car and wearing a seat belt, use good judgment in a boat and around water.

It can be buggy.

Yes it can, in certain places and at certain times. Often it's not buggy, and there are spray and lotion repellents for bugs. Although the manufacturer refuses to admit it, Avon's Skin-So-Soft is very good (used by men and women) for moderate bug repelling.

It can be cold.

So dress properly. Wear layered clothing, good footwear, a jacket or sweatshirt with a hood, and angling gloves. No one, regardless of gender, likes fishing when they're uncomfortable.

I won't look good.

There are a host of catalog retailers and outdoor specialty stores that make clothing for anglers and other active outdoor people. Stylish, practical and functional is in. There is no reason that mom has to look like a dweeb, and if you give her stuff that she likes and looks good in, she'll probably be more confident about what she's doing.

The bathroom problem.

Men have a clear advantage in this respect, but for many female anglers, this is no big deal. It's no different than if they were hiking, backpacking or biking, except when they're on the water. On most boats up to 20 feet long, including the vast majority of boats used in freshwater, there's no john, or head as it's called in nautical lingo. If you can go ashore, you can usually find some privacy to answer the call of nature. Bring some tissues, just in case.

A gift idea.

Besides getting some good outdoor wear or books for mom, a good gift would be enrolling her in a women-only multi-day outdoor skills workshop. Many states have them. Called "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" in most places, and operated under the auspices of the state natural resources agency, this program is only several years old but has caught on widely. Some three-day workshops cost between $150 and $200. Participants can select from a wide range of  sessions that offer information and hands-on instruction. Fishing is one of the most popular skill sessions, followed by outdoor photography, canoeing, motorboat handling, camping, map and compass use, and nature crafts. These are especially good for beginners and have in part been successful because skills are taught in a non-threatening (non-male dominant) and supportive manner. Contact the state natural resources agency (many have it on their web site) for details, or visit my Web site at www.kenschultz.com.



Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com