Is the Elite Series ready for a woman?

[Jrob78]

It looks like Janet Parker of Little Elm, TX is well on her way to qualifying to fish the Elite Series next season. She says that her goal is to do so. I for one, think that it will be good for fishing. I wish her the best and would much rather see her fish next season than Nate Wellman, that is obviously neither here nor there though. So what do you guys think of a woman competing at the top level of professional bass fishing?

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/parke...ite-series-pro

[WatterBoy]

I think that would be great if she qualifies. I don't think the bass have any idea who is on the other end!

[CamG]

I for one really hope she qualifies. I want to see a woman fish in the series the old fashioned way, not just because she qualifies through the Women's BASS circuit (now defunct).

Go Janet!

[keithdog]

It's long overdue and I can tell you right now, Bamas wife Lisa could EASILY hold her own! Just ask John. lol

[carolina-rig-01]

I think that it doesn't matter if she is a woman as long as she can catch fish and compete at that level then more power to her.

[bamabassman]

GO FOR IT GIRL!!! the fish don't know who is thrwoing the bait. i hope she gets in.

[bcklash]

I hope she does and I will pull for her.

[nofearengineer]

I think it's a great thing.

I've often wondered why there would be different divisions based on gender in things like billiards, darts, and fishing, but there are.

It's not like bass fishing is an upper body strength sport, right? It's not really heavy lifting.

Plus, it would be fun watching the guys scramble to not "get beat by a girl."

[Marty]

I've often wondered why there would be different divisions based on gender in things like billiards, darts, and fishing, but there are.

I've wondered the same things. I used to watch a lot of billiards on ESPN and never understood why the matches weren't mixed.

A couple of years ago a woman qualified for the PBA tour and within the last year she actually won one of the majors.

[Jrob78]

I remember a few years ago when Kim Baine-Moore made the Classic, the bathroom thing came up. There is a rule in BASS about anglers leaving their boats during competition. Obviously, elimination on the water isn't a problem for a man but is a little different for a woman and privacy becomes an issue. I don't really know how they dealt with it in the Women's Circuit.

I think it was stated in the article that if she does better than 50th place, roughly, in the last Open, she will make it. I will be routing for her!

[CamG]

Originally Posted by Jrob78

I remember a few years ago when Kim Baine-Moore made the Classic, the bathroom thing came up. There is a rule in BASS about anglers leaving their boats during competition. Obviously, elimination on the water isn't a problem for a man but is a little different for a woman and privacy becomes an issue. I don't really know how they dealt with it in the Women's Circuit.

I think it was stated in the article that if she does better than 50th place, roughly, in the last Open, she will make it. I will be routing for her!

I believe the rules state one cannot leave the boat while landing a fish. You can leave the boat during competition to use the facilities. It's actually "illegal" to eliminate in a body of water even though we all do it.