“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.
Both Bauman and her seminar series — often dubbed “The No-Yelling School of Fishing” — are renowned nationally in the sportfishing, boating and marine industries. The organization has earned rave reviews from the “Inside Edition,” CBS’ “The Early Show,” NBC’s “Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” “Good Morning America,” “Outdoor Life Network,” USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Southern Living and more. Bauman has received several national awards: Woman of the Year by the American Sportfishing Association; one of the Top 21 Most Influential Marine Industry Leaders for the 21st Century by Boating Industry magazine; Bass Pro Shops Pass It On Award and one of the Top Women in American Boating by BoatU.S. Magazine.
The national organization conducts numerous weekend seminars each year that teach women fishing techniques at the beginner and advanced levels. The seminars offer a range of experiences presented in a non-intimidating environment, including classes on inshore, offshore, bottom and fly fishing. Venues vary by location, facility and styles of local fishing. Some freshwater seminars are in the works. There’s a wide variety of exercises depending on the venue, with a hands-on approach to everything from casting to filleting, backing a truck and trailer, lure usage, boat handling, stand-up fish fighting and gaffing (with grapefruits!). Networking time or events is typically included. The crowning touch is the charter boat fishing offered on the final day for participants to test their skills on the water.
The series is dependent on sponsors and outside funding to be able to offer these programs.
LLGF has also planned organized fishing and travel trips to Cuba, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and Alaska. The group has a pilot program for local chapters which plan monthly meetings and fishing trips, to be expanded based on sponsorships.
