Keeping her interested

[Siebert Outdoors]

Question for you young ladies. 

My girl friend said she likes to fish but all she has ever done is the bobber deal off the bank,  maybe a couple boat trips here and there.   

How do I keep her interested and not go crazy on a slow bass bite?  I do not want the first few trips for her to ruin it right off the bat.

[roadwarrior]

I'll be interested about what the ladies have to say,

But this is how I kept my daughter interested:

CATCH A BUNCH OF FISH!

My partner, Speedy, and I set up on white bass

and let her reel them in. After a hundred or so,

she decided to sunbathe, then came back for more!

Most importantly, a few hours were plenty and

I had her back in time for a date with her boyfriend.

Bottom line:

Cast & crank; catch some fish; make it short.

p.s.

Some girls will like to fish, most won't.

Get over it.

8-)

[b.Lee]

Definitely do not force it, there are somethings in life, that you will have to accept that you cannot do together. Like my Ex-GF she shared my passion for cars, but not so much for fishing. So I let it be and she was good with it.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I definitely do not want to force it.  I want her to have a good time and come back for more.   I really don't care if she lays out in the sun on the back either.

[SmallieGirl]

You have to make it fun! Since she's use to bobber fishing you can't get mad every time she gets hung in a brush pile, tree, etc...ha  Don't be too intense, let her develop her own style. And most importantly, Be a true gentleman & give her 1st shot at that perfect spot. Lastly, be aware, you are creating a monster. LOL

                                          "Never Give IN" ;D

[VolFan]

My wife always points to fishing buzzbaits and other topwaters like jitterbugs with her brother when she was younger that really turned her on to fishing.  So maybe try short outings to good spots during prime buzzbait times (evenings).  Then take her to dinner.  Nothing beats the buzzbait strike.  My wife'll still fish a buzzbait for hours on end if there's any slight hope of a strike.

[Keri]

I have to agree with both SmallieGirl and Volfan on this one. Just have fun.

[ladeeAngler]

It is all about having fun. Why not take her shopping for her own lures and rod? Maybe that will get her excited again. Try not to be too pushy out there. I know my husband tries to tell me one way and I'll do my own thing anyway. Just let her fish her way and if she does ask for assistance, show her in a way that doesn't make her feel intimidated.  All in all, she has to enjoy the sport to want to keep coming back

[MGoodFishin]

One, good for you for getting her started. Two, good for asking a great question.

Most beginner anglers need some active catching to get excited about fishing. I'd recommend fishing for whatever you can get to bite. Maybe the bite is better for crappie, perch, white bass, or stripers. Get her hooked on fishing and then go for bass. Unless, the bass is what is actively biting. And, hey, let her use live bait. Most important is getting the fish to bite her line. You can always move her to other types of baits later. Also, a spinning reel is a lot easier for beginners. And, not frustrating for you or her if she used a baitcaster and got a backlash.

After you get her hooked, you might want to look into a couples type tournament. My husband and I fish the local ABA Couples Circuit and have for the last two years. You don't have to be married... it's men/women teams.

Happy Catching!

[Glenn]

Good advice MGoodFishin, and welcome!

[fourbizz]

My girl reads and sunbathes, then picks up a rod once i get on fish ;D

[Back2fishing]

My best friend my (wife) and I go fishing as much as we can.Donna loves fishing as much as I do,I got her into fishing 3 or 4 years ago.We go for sm/bass ,walleye,pike or what ever is biting at the time.If the fishing is slow we will go for a ride around the lake and just look at things,birds any kind of wild life, look at the cabins what ever there is to look at.We love to be together so it don't matter if the fish are biting or not ,I guess I'm just lucky that my wife is my best friend .I do try to get her onto fish but some times the fish just don't cooperate .

Kevin

[tjmaniac]

the first few times out i didn't even get a bite. i don't think i caught my first bass till i'd fished maybe 5 times. but.. after every time out i put the pole down and jumped in the water and went swimming. it made my day and like others have said take the fishing slow and have a good time.

[zero]

my girlfriend never fishes and she told me she dont want to and i took her to a fishing trip and i was using senko and i caught 3 lbs bass then she want to try it so i gave her a rod and watermelon senko and she caught a fish as well on first cast now she loves going to fishing

if u want keep her intersted give her a senko

[zero limit]

My wife has gone fishing with me twice(w/out the kids) and both times she caught the biggest fish of the day.

Now my daughters are another story they love fishing and are not happy with gills anymore, its got to be bass or crappie

[Siebert Outdoors]

Thanks for the great insight gals and guys.   This helps a ton.  I do not want to force it on her but I want her to have alot of fun.  Now if it will just warm up!!!!!!!!!  I dont think jerking a rogue in 40 deg water would be a good break in. ;D

[bwell]

I have gotten my wife on the lake with me a couple times, and she always tells me she gets bored using spinners or a buzzbait (these baits work very well on the pond behind our house), so she wants to use a bobber???  I dont get how that is any more exciting...  Oh well, I am going to try again when it get nicer outside.  This time I am going to go out first and try the pond before sending her out to see if they are biting or not.

[K_Mac]

GMAN there is wisdom in the advise to give her first shot at the sweet spot. I was night fishing with my wife at Bull Shoals Lake in Mo. a number of years ago. We had caught a bunch of fish, but as luck would have it I was catching the bigger ones. As we approached a dock in a spot where we "knew" we would get bit, she missed by a foot or so, and got hung up on a cable. I pitched in to the spot she was aiming for and caught one just shy of 6 lbs. That was 15 years or more ago, and I still get accused of catching her fish. :-?

[Bassn Blvd]

Forget the fishing, I'm stuck just trying to get my wife out on the boat. 

[midnighthrasher]

My girlfriend loves fishing. We are going to lake erie for 2 days in may and we are doing some local tournaments together this summer. We did one together last year and she caught 2 lmb and i caught none!!! My buddies made fun of me but i know at the end of the day i am the winner. She also loves the baitmonkey and the boatmonkey!!! She picked my ranger with me and always watches wfn with me. She loves it when i pick up tackle and new gear. My tip for everyone is do what you gotta do to get her interested because once she is hooked its awesome.

[Radical Conservative]

This could be one of the best threads on the site. Great topic. Also, great to hear from other ladies.

This season will be year number 2 of 'training' the girlfriend on a baitcaster. She loves to fish from the bank, but like Bassn Blvd said, gettin' her on the boat is the tough part. It takes a lot of reassuring. 'Honey, I swear I wont go fast.'

[Bassnajr]

I took my wife out twice. First time a freak thunderstorm came through so fast, I was about 300 yds. from shore and couldn't get back in to shore before it exploded...VERY BAD!!!!

Second time, there were about 18" (yup INCH!!) "waves" and I was running about 25 mph. She made me take her back to shore!!! I was going to fast in those rough waters!!

I fish alone now....... :-/

[Siebert Outdoors]

Kmac, that is one thing I really dont care about. As long as she has fun and catches fish I could really care less if I catch them. When she gets better thats when I will worry more about me catching fish. 8-)

Thank you Ladies and gentlemen for the help.  Any more great ideas or info please share.

[Pitchinkid]

Took my wife fishing 8 tears ago. She hasnt been back since. Whatever it is i did that day, dont do it. Ill let you know what it was i did, as soon as i find out.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Jimzee's wife went on the Guntersville Roadtrip.

She had a nicer setup than anything I own.... :-[ ;D

My wife is a big fan of the lighter colored Trick Sticks.  They are weedless, very visible and flat out catch fish.