Girlfriend And Fishing

[Zach Johnston]

So my girlfriend of 6 years has been wanting to catch a fish, but I have no idea how to help or explain to her how to.  I'd love to combine the loves of my life so we can go in the future.  Any ideas of what to do or how to get her started?

[kylek]

I would get her a spinning rod and a package of senko style of baits to start out.

[roadwarrior]

Start her out right now with white bass. They are on a tear right now. 

A Silver Buddy or G ay Blade is killer.

 

 

[Tuckahoe Joe]

If your bank fishing, find a nice open area with as few snags as possible.  I spend an awful lot of time getting my girlfriends lures out of trees.

[BrettD]

I started my younger sister out on a zebco 33 and one of my old st.croix rods. For bait I gave her a gambler big ez which is a soft plastic swimbait they are completely weedless this is important and all she had to do is chunk it out there and reel it in slow. At first I gave her a senko but after the 3rd gut hooked fish I could tell she couldnt detect the bites there is no missing a bite with a swimbait.

 

Keep in mind you probably wont be doing much fishing yourself keep the mindset that you are guiding her and not there to fish. Staying patient with my sister was the hardest part but it payed off. Watching her catch her first big fish was more rewarding then catching a 10lber myself.

 

This is the 5th bass she ever caught on her 2nd trip with her zebco 33 she uses a bait caster now.

6#10oz

[Sam]

To keep it clean, may I suggest starting out with live bait on a spinning rig?

 

Then move up to plastics and then your moving baits.

 

To stop backlashes, have her use a spinning rig and then graduate to the baitcaster.

 

Have fun and if she catches on and loves bass fishing marry her and get her a new Ranger for a wedding gift and name the boat after her.

[Felix77]

To keep it clean, may I suggest starting out with live bait on a spinning rig?

Then move up to plastics and then your moving baits.

To stop backlashes, have her use a spinning rig and then graduate to the baitcaster.

Have fun and if she catches on and loves bass fishing marry her and get her a new Ranger for a wedding gift and name the boat after her.

x2 - just like you do with kids.

[Tom Bell]

You can't go wrong with spin-cast gear for a beginner. It's cheap and easy to use. I still have my old black plastic Zebco from the '60's - One of these days I'm taking it out to see what it can handle! Remember, patience is a virtue.

[Brian Needham]

crickets and bluegill is a pretty good way to start as well. More action (fish caught) = more excitement, which bring more people back..... then progress up to bass. JMO

[The Rooster]

I was asked to go fishing and I remember going with very little prior experience, and thinking it was going to be dull and boring. I used a borrowed ultra light micro rod and tore up the fish from bluegills to what I consider dink bass now using live night crawlers. But that small rod made it so much fun I couldn't wait for more. Mostly, make it fun, whether fish are caught or not, and leave when she's ready to. Don't force anything, and if she isn't into it after all then some girls are just that way and then if that's the case, you just have to leave her. Oh sorry, did I say that out loud? I meant just accept it (no, seriously, leave her.....oops, there I go again).

[fishingman88]

Sharing fishing with your gf is awesome!  I would suggest doing some fun fishing first like catching panfish which is guaranteed.  Then work your way up

[JellyMan]

I got my ex into fishing and she became proficient with a baitcaster. Plus she looked hot fishing lols. I am a golfer and so was she.

 

It was great having her involved in the things I loved and enjoying it. Have not dated anyone seriously since but the next one will be fishing also! and hopefully golfing as well.

[The Rooster]

I'd make that a requirement and not date anyone who won't.

[whitwolf]

crickets and bluegill is a pretty good way to start as well. More action (fish caught) = more excitement, which bring more people back..... then progress up to bass. JMO

 

 

This Is spot on.

[JellyMan]

This Is spot on.

Agree. 

 

But I threw my girl right smack dab in the middle of bass fishing. Got her an Abu bait caster reel from Walmart, decent rod, good line, and taught her the ropes right out of the gate. She was soon becoming a beast. Dont know what she's up to these days with it but she took the rod and reel I bought her when we split. Obviously I got her into it. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

About 4 yrs ago I did this very thing with my now wife.    She did the bluegill thing years ago but had never bass fished.  I took the roll of teaching her the basics of casting a bait caster and spinning rod.  I helped guide her along but let her do most of the work.  She now likes baitcasters 100 times more then spinning rods and fishes with me all day.  The best advice I can give is coach and help but to not boss.  Show excitement and support.

[00 mod]

About 4 yrs ago I did this very thing with my now wife.    She did the bluegill thing years ago but had never bass fished.  I took the roll of teaching her the basics of casting a bait caster and spinning rod.  I helped guide her along but let her do most of the work.  She now likes baitcasters 100 times more then spinning rods and fishes with me all day.  The best advice I can give is coach and help but to not boss.  Show excitement and support.

 

 

And what is her biggest jig fish?

[Bluebasser86]

I started my then girlfriend now wife out on bluegills. It's better for them to be catching fish or they'll lose interest quickly and never want to go again. One day my wife wanted to fish for bass like I did so I gave her a swimming grub and let her fish it on a jighead with a stead retrieve. She mastered that and caught tons of bass and other species on it and has since mastered several other baits. Concentrate on catching fish now, worry about teaching her other aspects of the game later. 

[Siebert Outdoors]

And what is her biggest jig fish?

 

You just had to go there didnt you.

 

[Fishing Cowgirl]

All of the previously menioned and a couple more.

 

Check out a management lake where it is catch and release only, start out wth shiners or have them on hand when it looks like she may be getting bored or frustrated. (works for the kids too).

 

If and when she she starts getting into it, show her how to tie some knots, and set up some cans for pitching practice. She made need a shorter length rod than you use.

 

If she wants a "pretty color", let her use it. I'm pretty sure the bass don't see it that much, and may want some thing "different". During a couples tournament, I had a sexy shad plastic swimbait that had a watermelon red bleed on it in the heat we have down here. Hubby said" you aren't fishing with THAT are you??" I look at him, grin, cast it out while he's shaking his head...

 

>> doink.. fish on... 3lber.

 

cast out again..

>> doink.. fish on.. 2. lber..

 

He say's I'll just shut up now and be netboy. We won that tournament.

 

Check out and ask around for a local couples tournament for fun. Or start one. We have one 1x a month, go to different lakes so the same couple doesn't travel a great distance every time. It is from safelight until noon, we weigh in and all go meet for lunch, and tell stories. We get limit excemptions (10" minimum), the ladies catch 3 and the guys catch 3. You can only cull your own 3 fish. If the lake has a restriction or start time like 8 am, we all meet for breakfast, convoy to the lake, and eat after the weigh in and tell stories.   We usually pay 3 places and big fish. last place gets a $1.00.

 

When she sees other ladies out having fun with BF, husbands, fathers or sons (we have a grandmom that flat kicks our butt on big fish catches), she'll get hooked on it.

 

most of all, don't get into a competition with her if she hooks into a big one, or try to reel it in for her.. Just encourage her, be Netboy, and get excited.

[roadwarrior]

Whether it's girlfriend, wife or kids, bring snacks and drinks. Most importantly

remember it's ALL ABOUT THEM, not you. Also, when your "guests" get tired

or bored, QUIT FISHING!

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Live worm and a bobber can't go wrong

[PABASS]

Cane pole, spinning gear required.  Just a pole some line and a bobber,live bait and work up from there, focus on easy catch-able fish and loads of then, bluegill..  Once she has this down, more to spinning gear and different fish..

[Bankbeater]

Just be patient.  I can't tell you the number of wives/girlfriends I see on the lake getting yelled at by their husbands/boyfriends because they do something wrong.

[loudcherokee]

I got lucky in this department. my girlfriend grew up fishing, but hasn't gone since she was a kid. I got her back into it this year and she is now asking me when we can go fishing again. She knows how to cast, baits her own hook, takes the fish off, etc. I even had her using my baitcaster last weekend, and she now wants one of her own, but with a left handed retrieve!

LC