WOMEN NOW QUITE A CATCH IN FISHING.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

POMONA - Yvonne Graham was no longer content to stay home. She was eager to join her husband, Gary, on his fishing trips.

More than a decade ago, when Yvonne Graham started fishing seriously with light tackle, she was one of the few women to be found on the waters. Now, according to the National Sporting Goods Association, more than 11.9 million American women fish, and 26.8 percent of all anglers are female.

After setting numerous light-tackle records, Graham moved into fly fishing. Now, according to sporting-goods manufacturers and fishing organizations, the largest increase in participation in fishing is among women fly anglers.

``I think there is a different attitude now,'' says Graham, who was president of the International Women Fly Fishers for three years before recently turning it over to Nancy Zakon. ``Women are getting out of the house more. They no longer just want to be homekeepers. More and more, they want to be outdoor people and in the wilderness, too. Plus, this is a great way to share together. You can see changes coming.''

Officials at the Federation of Fly Fishers say membership in the national organization, which promotes fly fishing and conservation, is less than 20 percent. But the numbers are up substantially from just a few years ago, when the female membership was less than 10 percent.

Gary and Yvonne Graham began offering Baja, Mexico and Central American guiding services a dozen years ago. At first, Gary says, it was almost exclusively men. But no longer.

The couple, who live in Escondido and Buena Vista, on the East Cape, said 20 percent of their business now involves women.

``Our guides love working with them; a lot of times more than the men,'' Gary said.

Yvonne credits temperament as a factor.

``Women are not as competitive as men,'' she said. ``All the guys want to do is catch a lot of fish. They fish that way. Sure, we want to catch a lot of fish. But it's like it is not quite as important.

``There's no pressure to outfish another person. They just all get together and feel like one.''

Graham co-wrote and edited a book, ``A Woman's No-Nonsense Guide to Fly Fishing Favorite Waters,'' in which women write about their favorite angling spots.

She says it's easier to teach a woman to fly fish than a man.

``There's no mystery,'' she said of casting, which is generally considered the key to the sport. ``It really is about finesse. Men try to muscle it, and you can't do that. I think women just pick it up faster. Because they are taught to listen differently, I think they pick up direction better and that's why they get it faster.''

The IWWF, founded in 1996, now has more than 350 members. Each year, the club holds women's-only conventions. Last year's was in San Diego.

Keith Lair, [phone]

keith.lair(at)sgvn.com