Most of the women in Shaffer's 30-student classes have either limited previous instruction or had frustrating experiences. CELEBRATION, Fla. — Mentoring plays a huge role in growing the sport of bass fishing and one Women's Bassmaster Tour angler already is actively teaching and recruiting women into the world of fishing. For nearly 10 years, Emily Shaffer, 43, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., has volunteered for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, conducting two fishing classes a year designed for women — most of whom have never fished before. The courses — which teach casting, knot tying and other basics — empower women to fish with confidence. "We keep things positive and give them the knowledge they need to be good anglers," said Shaffer. "The women get so excited when they catch a fish, it barely matters what kind it is." Fishing is a growing sport among women, according to the U.S. Fish & Wilflife Service. Of the 34.1 million anglers in America, approximately 26 percent are women. "The women interested in fishing BASS is overwhelming," said Bruce Mathis, Women's Bassmaster Tour and ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series tournament director. "The entire tour was designed with those women in mind." Most of the women in Shaffer's 30-student classes have either limited previous instruction or had frustrating experiences while trying to learn from more experienced male anglers. "Fishing is second nature to many men and they sometimes forget to teach the basics such as tying a knot, or how to appropriately use the reel," said Shaffer, who finished 10th in the Women's Bassmaster Tour preview event and will fish in the five women's events in 2006. So, with patience and understanding, Shaffer explains to women that on-the-water competition is between an angler and the fish, not between two anglers. She also believes fishing doesn't have to be a male-dominated sport. "Fishing is often seen as a men's sport, and there's no reason for it," she said. Ironically, it was Shaffer's husband who urged her to fish competitively. She grew up fishing with her parents and brother and turned pro in 1992, at the suggestion of her husband. Since then, she has won several national titles, has seven sponsors including Lowrance, Evinrude Outboard Motors and Stratus Boats, and has high hopes for the Women's Bassmaster Tour. "I love fishing, the camaraderie and the competition," Shaffer said. Shaffer sees the Women's Bassmaster Tour as an important venue in which to encourage more women to fish. "When professional women anglers become household names, young girls will see fishing is a woman's sport and they'll have mentors they can look up to."