Forestville, WI: Aspiring anglers came from as far away as California, Arizona and Virginia to learn from the pros at the award winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!®” Keys University, October 19-21 at the Elks Lodge, Tavernier, FL. The Future Angler Foundation is an annual sponsor.
The University kicked off on Friday with a meet-and-greet social featuring networking, fundraisers and an incredible Master Chef Appetizer Contest.
Saturday’s events began with classroom presentations on offshore, bottom and inshore fishing, followed by lunch and hands-on fishing skills until 4 pm. Speakers were Stu Apte, Jeanne Towne, Captain Gary Ellis, Capt. Melinda Buckley, Twig Tolle and Captain Lee Lavery. Skills such as releasing, conservation, knot tying, bait rigging, spin, fly and net casting, gaffing grapefruits, trailer backing and more were available for hands-on practice.
A silent auction ended Saturday’s events, followed by a networking party with food and fun hosted by Seaside Glassworks, Islamorada, FL.
On Sunday, participants embarked on a fishing adventure out of Whale Harbor Marina, Islamorada, FL followed by a fish fillet demonstration. Fish caught or released included sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, yellowtail snapper, king mackerel, mutton snapper, snook, tarpon, black drum, mangrove snapper, sharks and more. On Friday was a Bonus Fishing Day.
Featured on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Take Me Fishing, Vamos a Pescar, Mercury, Magic Tilt trailers, Scout Boats, Seven Seas Yacht Sales, Power-Pole and Fish Florida. Largest Annual Sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, Treasure Cay Beach, Marina & Golf Resort, Sunrise Resort & Marina and Future Angler Foundation. Local sponsors were Breezy Palms, Seaside Glass Works, Dog House Sport Fishing Charters, Calusa Cast Nets and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!”, or LLGF for short, is a national organization dedicated to attracting more women to sportfishing and to promoting conservation and responsible angling. LLGF especially promotes networking among women anglers and emphasizes mentorship between novice and experienced members. Founded in 1997 by Betty Bauman, of Ft. Lauderdale , Florida, LLGF has over 8,000 graduates and is the largest organization in the world whose objective is to introduce women to fishing. The Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, a nonprofit 501c3, serves to empower women and families to learn and pursue the sport of fishing through educational programs.
Contact Betty Bauman: phone: (954) 475-9068; info@ladiesletsgofishing.com; www.ladiesletsgofishing.com and www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing.
