Keeping her interested

[Back2fishing]

My wife likes to pick her own bait,when I ask her why that one she says because it's cute  :)so I say ok if you think it will work by all means use it, and most times she gets fish with what she has picked.

Kevin

[DINK WHISPERER]

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

X2

[Mrs. Matstone]

First off I think it is great that you take your girlfriend fishing with you. As for keeping her interested just keep it fun, no pressure. If she wants to use the bobber let her, the more fun it is the more she will want to go and her choices in what she would like to fish with with progress in their own time.

On a side note my hubby says to be careful what you ask for you just might get it.  ;D

[Catt]

My wife Carol loves just being outdoors, she will read a book & once every couple years she'll pick up her rod. Carol has her own rod/reel (baitcasting) & tackle box which is off limits to everyone plus anything in my tackle can be confiscated at any moment.

One other thing don't be upset if she doesn't like

[Sam]

My wife grew up on a diary farm and doesn't even like to eat fish.

When I take her on the boat she wants to anchor in the shade, but not under trees as trees house snakes, so she can read her book.

I got an umbrella for the boat from her for Christmas last year and when she goes out with me I set up the umbrella and she sits under it and reads and complains about the bugs or bathrooms or rocking from wakes or if we are going to sink.

But I still love her very much and once or twice a year having her join me is worth it as after a trip she is no longer interested for a few months.  ;D   ;D   ;D

[Siebert Outdoors]

Well, we are off to a good start.  Saturday she told me not to let her forget to get a fishing license.  I had no part of that one either. 8-)

[Atomic]

I kind of don't want mine to like it. Just for the alone time. I have two boys I'll be taking fishing for the first time this year and I'm going to have my hands full with baiting 4 hooks and taking 4 fish off. Scratch that, probably just 3 because I won't have time to fish. Yes I'm selfish but I know I can eventually get the boys to baiting and taking their own fish off.

How do you get a girl to not think this or that is "eww icky!"? 

[kms399]

I took my wife a few times and every time she says it is fun and when I ask her to go again she says no? oh well my son likes fishing so far and my daughter is too young but maybe next year. my wife says her biggest issue is no bathroom. when we used to go we only had a canoe and sure enough as soon as we get to the spot she has to pee and absolutly will not go in the woods. i have a motor now but she still doesn't want to go.

[Tokyo Tony]

If she's not immediately interested in the idea of going fishing, try first explaining that you're not sitting on a dock with a bobber just waiting. It's putting a puzzle together, making casts, tricking fish with lures. Try to explain, in detail, the satisfaction you get from catching a bass on an artificial.

If that doesn't work, explain that it's really important to you that she at least comes out a few times to give it a shot. If she won't do that for you, then she's selfish, and you should probably find another girl.

Once you get her out, like others have said, make sure you catch some fish. The first time I took my girlfriend out was in the spring, and I tied on some inline spinners, which were guaranteed to catch at least a couple bass, crappie, pickerel, or perch. It worked, and since then she's become more and more addicted. It's a great thing watching her catch the bug, just like I did when I was a kid, and get better and better.

One thing to consider though, is that if she really likes it, she's gonna want to go all the time. Personally, I like fishing alone sometimes, and often with a friend or my brother, so it's tough telling her I'm going fishing with someone else. However, I think that minor predicament is much better than if she hated fishing.

[Fishing Cowgirl]

Remember that her name isn't " Net".. lol ;D

Seriously, let her use live bait like a shiner with a float, and a spinning rod, to start out with. If she wants to try a bait caster, let her try. I learned to pick out my share of back lashes..or "professional Over runs" as he called them. (still do) Then, Hubby showed me how to hook up the flukes and frogs.

After that first top water bite on a Frog, I was hooked !!!

Let her drive the boat too.

You might create a monster, like me..

I ended up buying the boat, then a power pole, learning how to launch it, and load it by myself, practising with the trolling motor down a creek, so I wouldn't interfere with any one.

Now hubby doesn't get to sleep late some weekends, telling his buddies he's created a fishing monster..

Check out a local couples tournament. Just a "for fun, laid back tournament with exemptions. We are in one that starts at safe light, ends at noon, then we all head out for lunch together. Once a month, about $25. fee, pays 2-3 places and big bass. There are 7-10 boats, and lately it's the women who've landed the biggest bass. Last month, you could hear her across the lake when she landed the 9+ lb bass. She ended up with the top weight and big bass pay out.

The other time, one was fishing with his Mom and she caught an 8lber.. that lady was still grinning ear to ear at lunch. Everyone has a great time, with no real pressure.

This weekend hubby has to work, so I am taking the boat out Sunday, pre-fishing W Toho for the couples tournament on the 21st. I'll be in the Red Stratos w/ powerpole.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Thanks FCG.  Very good info. 

Thanks all.  This helps me out alot.  I cant wait until it warms up. 8-)

[urban_angler28]

Be patient, don't get mad if she gets your fav bait hung up cus that will happen. Try watching fishing shows together and let her find a technique or bait she likes and get her own gear. Also let her find a species of fish that she likes, mine started with bass now she likes walleyes too.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Be patient, don't get mad if she gets your fav bait hung up cus that will happen. Try watching fishing shows together and let her find a technique or bait she likes and get her own gear. Also let her find a species of fish that she likes, mine started with bass now she likes walleyes too.

Good idea.  She does help me make lures sometimes so I will let her make her own with my help.  That way hopefully it will be even more fun for her when she catches a fish. 8-)

[HoldemHook]

Remember this is fun...take plenty of snacks, extra clothes, wet wipes, ect....take her early spring and tie on a rattle trap or lip less crankbait that way alot of casts and less down time....

[K_Mac]

Remember this is fun...take plenty of snacks, extra clothes, wet wipes, ect....take her early spring and tie on a rattle trap or lip less crankbait that way alot of casts and less down time....

My wife has about as much patience with throwing a crankbait as do. She likes to work a soft plastic or jig though, and will fish it all day. Since that is my style as well it works out fine. Making sure she has everything she needs is important and mostly my job. She does enjoy going to Bass Pro about as much as I do. You know the more I think about it the more I think I'll keep her. ;D After 33 years it is a wonder she's kept me, but that is another thread. :

[I.rar]

first time i took my fiance out , she cought a blue crab and was terrified. second time she cought something , it was a 4+ lb turtle. terrified again.

i keep trying to get her to fish with the artificials , but it looks like i need to get her out with some live bait. i always try lol.

[rryager]

As a guide, I've found live bait, senko and topwater fishing to be the best techniques to keep the ladies interested and catching fish.

I get many couples. And she either comes to fish or wants to read or get sun. And often times she ends up catching the biggest fish!

Why??...They are patient and do what you say.

The problem with all the artificial techniques us hardcore types use, is that we are literally trying to force the fish into the boat. We use lures to make it happen....The hardest anglers to take live bait fishing?...The hardcore tournament guys....It is difficult to get them to change gears.

Not all ladies are going to become so affixiated with the lure fishing methods ....Live bait is the opposite...You wait and let it happen versus making it happen....Senkos and topwaters are a close second to live bait...I've had ladies catch nice fish on them simply because you fish them similar to live bait, with a delayed reaction on the hook set.

[Ranger 251]

I fished for bass for 25 years and the wife stayed behind most of the time.  I did bring her and my two daughters fishing over those years, mostly for pan fish, but not often enough.

In 2000, with my girls in high school activities I was not fishing as much and the boat was gathering dust.  So I sold it and did not buy another.  My wife thought I had lost it.

Then four years later we end up at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield looking over all the goodies and out of the blue she told me it was time  for me to buy another boat!  I thought she had lost it and was ready to call 911.  Well long story short, I ended up buying another boat one she picked out, a Ranger.

These days she is my fishing buddy.  We fish together nearly every trip.  It has gotten to the point where I hate to leave her behind.  She has learned to cast a baitcaster and is pretty good at it (as well as learning to pick out professional overruns).

She has her own rods and tackle.  I bought her a GLoomis rod and other top end tackle.  She comes along to all of the tackle stores, which is good and bad.  Used to I only needed to keep a look out for myself on overspending now I need to watch out for her.  But it is all good.   ;D  I let her have her fun in the fishing section at Bass Pro Shop.  Her favorite is the spinner bait and she is deadly with it.

We have even fished a few tournaments together.  Yep, she gets hung up and in the trees and gets aggravated with herself.  But I just tell her, if you are not snaggin you are not baggin.

Needless to say it has been enjoyable to have her as my fishing buddy.

With both of us have pressured jobs, it gives us time together and away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

[babybasslady]

Okay, a little of my history.....getting around to the answer...my father was a HUGE HUGE HUGE bassfisher. He would take me out in the boat with him sometimes but to me growing up it was very very boring, sit there all day and throw lures in the water and "hope" you caught something. After a few times I just stopped going with him. He passed away in 2007. My brother took me mid summer last year. We borrowed a friends boat and went on a larger pond. At first I was like come on I don't want to sit in the boat all day, needless to say we started catching fish pretty much right off...I caught the first one and after that my attention was hooked....lol. Try taking some snacks and drinks along, good conversation with your g/f don't get aggrivated when she asks questions or catches the first and largest fish and just enjoy her being there with you....and make it fun for her!

[TrackerG]

I must say....I don't have a clue how to keep her interested....my wife (who is also my best friend) loves to fish more than I do!! Shes the main reason I bought a boat. And now we almost always go together. She is getting quite proficient at loading the boat!!   mostly cuz she cant back a trailer up worth a darn!!!   hehe

[rondef]

I find one thing that keeps my wife interested in going out fishing with me is picking scenic places.  These places usually give her an opportunity to see turkey, deer, geese, beavers and bald eagles.  That way she enjoys being out on the water even if she is not catching fish.

[NoraJane]

I'll just add to this thread by reiterating what some women have mentioned.  take her shopping!!

My boyfriend's birthday is coming up, and he loves to fish.  I was never really into it, because i don't like to do something I'm not good at.  But once i got to browsing around fishing supply stores, and doing hours of research (because I only wanted to get him the absolute best baits and stuff) I began thinking that I could really get into this.  There are so many options!! I was used to the good ole fashion worm and paperclip routine that I had no idea what the world of fishing was all about!!

Shopping! take her to a basspro store and she will drool.. well.. i did..

[Siebert Outdoors]

Nora,  You have a great point.  I never thought of that.  I need to buy her some stuff that is "hers". 

[roadwarrior]

GMAN,

If you go there, go all the way. Bite the bullet.

Buy her something as nice or nicer than anything

you fish with. You lose the whole point if it's just

"girl stuff".

-Kent

[TrackerG]

My wife has all her own stuff.....the only problem I have is that she tends to borrow lures from my tackle box.....sometimes they are returned..sometimes not...what do ya do?   lol

It gives me a good excuse to go buy some more!!!