How to turn wife into bass junky??

[BigEbass]

So I have taken to bass fishing like crazy in the past 1.5 years and fish when I can with my very cool senior neighbor who got me into this obsession.

However, I am not always able to go fishing with him and on my wife's weekends off (she works every other) it would be so very cool if she was into it too!!  She is reluctant but willing to try at the moment (my hopes are not too high :-/).

If she was a junky too then I would likely fish more overall!!  ;D

So, I got my first little 16 ft bass tracker boat with 30HP merc. last year - I have started going on on it on my own to get a feel for navigating, finding and fishing structure without the help of my neighbor - still much to learn....

How do I increase my odds of ensuring my wife "gets hooked"??  It would be so sweet.  I am thinking about taking her to a couple places in west AL that I know of that are pay ponds that really produce consistently.....perhaps to give her some confidence - put her on say a spinnerbait there and reel em in....maybe some topwater too.  Will wait till spring to give this a shot.

Any ideas to make my dream come true?

[farmpond1]

First, count yourself exceedingly blessed if your wife doesn't give you grief if/when you want to go fishing.  So don't push too hard (not saying you would).

First, make it comfortable for her.  Don't fish all day in the freezing cold or blazing sun.  Look for shade or put an umbrella on your boat.  Don't target one giant bass when a handful of smaller bass will likely pique her interest more (at least in the beginning).  Heck, for that matter, start with easier species and use live bait if you have to.  If she's competitive, throw that element into it.  But don't be a braggard and one-up her (unless she hopes to reciprocate later by outfishing you!).  I'm sure I'm missing a lot but this is a start.

[Matt Fly]

Catching alot seems to hook alot of people.

Target easy species while they are easy.  Crappie, white bass, hybrids, stripers, all easy fish to target year around.

   White bass will or should be in full run up rivers and creeks in NE Tx.   Thats an easy day to catch 100 fish in short work.

[flyboy]

It's great your are thinking about this; that is the first and most important thing you must do.  I just came back to bass fishing after a 20 hiatus offshore.  I bought a boat and took my wife shopping when I was outfitting the boat.  I told her we needed to get equipment for her also.  I let her pick it out--most of it had pink on it--and she soon started demanding manly type tackle.  She now has six Shimano rods with left hand Chronarch reels that are hers.  She is obsessed and can fish with most men; and in only about eight months.  She is a business professional approaching retirement and she has astonished me with her prowess for the sport.  Be sure to let your wife try a left hand bait caster if she progresses from spinning gear.  For some reason it worked for us.  My wife has turned into my best fishing buddie and frankly I prefer to fish with her than most anyone else.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

[BigEbass]

"My wife has turned into my best fishing buddie and frankly I prefer to fish with her than most anyone else."

This would be great for me, I will do my best - thanks for the advice so far guys....

[Grey Wolf]

What makes you think she is really interested ? Get involved with her activities and she may be more receptive to yours.

[stratos 375]

dude, I hate to break the news to you, but it could be the boat. Try gettin a 2010 20' totally pimped out new Bass Cat, w/ dual power poles, a kickin stereo and one of them little fold out mirrors with the lights around it.

There's something in fiberglass & metalflake that just melts a girl's heart.

[roadwarrior]

Stepford wife...Perfect!

;D ;D ;D

[j-bones]

I dont know how to turn one into a bass junkie but i know how to turn one into a snow blower or a dish washer.  Just hand her a snow shovel or dish rag respectively.

Disclaimer:  This was a joke

[bobbyc]

If i told the wife she'd get a $1000 gift card for Macy's with every bass she catches over nine pounds, you'd have never heard of Kevin Van Dam.

[burleytog]

Wise that isn't.  Good is alone time.

[BigEbass]

jbones, you made me laugh so hard with that comment  ;D

[BigEbass]

"There's something in fiberglass & metalflake that just melts a girl's heart. 

"

hahaha - perhaps - but I know she is committed cause she stayed with me even through using canoe and trolling motor

[BigEbass]

Note to everyone too - my wife works 12 hour shifts as a pharmacist (I am a pharmacist too) - she works every other weekend - I work mon-fri 9-5 pretty much, so I have my weekends to fish by myself and with my neighbor, but I would dig it if she enjoyed some of her weekends off fishing with me - and later in retirement she may perhaps want to go on fishing trips....its probably all a pipe dream, but she is fairly out-doors-y - we do some mountain biking on the side and camping - now just need her to take to fishing.

We will see how it works out this year starting in the spring...but if she does not "take the bait" I still have my weekends off

[Fishing Rhino]

After nearly 45 years of marriage, I'll offer this bit from experience.  Things which might seem ideal on the surface can become the source of stress in a relationship.

If you can get your wife interested in fishing, great.  But if not, don't force the issue.  Be thankful she doesn't mind you going fishing.

My wife is not interested in fishing because she does not like the thought of hurting the fish.  Maybe that stems from her nursing background.

She doesn't remember the time she went striper fishing with me in '73 and caught a 17 pounder.  She thought it was great at the time, but it apparently had no life altering affect on her.

It's good to do things together, but it's also good to have personal time as well.  "Familiarity breeds contempt" and all that stuff.

I'll play golf with my wife, and go fishing by myself or with a buddy. 

My wife can go to T J Maxx without me.  In fact, I prefer it that way.

[BigEbass]

Definately will not force it and certainly am glad I have my weekends to myself no matter what! 

In all likelihood I am forcasting that she will not take to it which will be just fine really - but I hated fishing until a very distinct time in summer 2008 - so perhaps if she has some bit of positive experience with bass fishing she will take to it....we will see.

[zero]

just give her ugly stik pink combo and a senko

thats how i got my girlfriend hooked on fishing and also when i teach her how to fish i target white perch,panfish easier for her to catch then move to bass fishing

[D4u2s0t]

here's what "works" for me, and I say "works" very, very loosely... but it gets her on the boat more than she would otherwise come. I bought her a bag of pink senkos, and a bag of pink flukes. (She picked out the flukes) She likes the pink baits, so that definitely helps. Let her pick out her own fishing pole, my girl happened to like a 5" ul pole... ideal for bass fishing? Nope, but it's the one she likes, so she doesn't mind using it as much. If I gave her a 7' mh rod, she would use it about 2 casts. Next, I always make sure I take a pass by the swim docks when it's warm out, so we can take a dip in the lake. I also always ask her where she wants to go on the lake, so she doesn't feel like she's just sitting there in the boat. I find myself trolling alot too, so it's more like a "boat ride" around the lake vs. sitting somewhere and working cover for a long time.

These things def. help, and while she's not waking me up on a saturday to go fishing, she certainly doesn't mind going out as much.

[A-Jay]

I have been fishing with my wife for two years now. It's the best. We plan days and trips around what will bring us the best fishing. Rather than pass on to you what "I Think" helped my wife get into fishing with me, I'll just let her tell you ~

Hi BigEBass, I am excited to answer your post. My husband and I moved to northern MI three years ago. Before we moved, we lived on the east coast and he was an avid striped bass fisherman. Once we found out we were moving to the Midwest, he began switching his tackle to freshwater bass. This is where I came in. He included me in the articles he read online and in the online shopping. This was before I ever even considered that he wanted me to go fishing too. But he was luring me in with the "bait monkey". We had moved in the fall, so we experienced our first, 6 month long, 17 feet of snow winter. April, still under snow, was my birthday. A-Jay bought me my first rod & reel. Now this was important. He spent a good deal of time ensuring it was the perfect size and weight for me. I am also an out-doorsy girl, so he made sure it was not one of those Barbie pink rods. Next step, we bought both of our fishing licenses. We had a couple weeks until the season opened so we took this opportunity to drive around together to look at the local lakes, check the ramps and their facilities. If you take your wife along to see the lakes with you in advance, it builds up the anticipation for her too.

Fishing day is finally here. We pack our truck, lunch and off we go. Something to take into consideration before you set out on the water is the "outhouse" situation. Is there an outhouse? Does your wife mind "going" behind a tree? Is there enough privacy for that? All needs to be considered before the boat is in the water. Don't wait until she has to go. When she does, don't make a big deal about it and bust her chops. Just say OK and take her to the nearest oak tree or outhouse. (Always be sure to have toilet paper in your boat) Now that that is taken care of... I am/was a newbie to fishing. A-Jay bought me a spinning rod and reel. He very patiently taught me how to cast correctly and perhaps more importantly how to fight a fish correctly. He talked me through fighting the fish until it was securely in the net. He kept his voice calm the entire time, no matter how big the bass was. When we set out on the lake, he had usually already fished it, knew where to go and where the structure was. So when we went, he always put me on THE spots and let me cast first. Always. He acts more as a guide. Believe me, he is not missing out on fishing. He still has the "Family Angler of the Year" title and "Big Bass of the Year", both species, both years running. We have little tournaments every time we go. It's fun. I have even won a couple times. Something else that is very important is, your time on the water is fishing time. It is not time to chat about home, work, problems, money, etc. Your time fishing is a time to relax, get into the moment and escape. Enjoy your time with each other and don't worry about the stress of the world on your shoulders. All that stuff will be there when you get back to shore. Personally, I have my chemo on Wednesdays. Usually miserable days. As are Thursday & Friday. But A-Jay looks me in the eyes and convinces me to get up and go fishing. You know what? Every time, I am thankful I did! I am on the water with my husband fishing and it is AWESOME!

A-Jay and I also read BR together. Keeps us sane through these long days of winter as we look out the window and see nothing but piles of snow.

My husband showed me that bass fishing can be fun, but I have actually become a "husband junky".

A-Jay's wife - Lynn

[SMfisher]

got my wife into bass fishing before we got married, the first trip i took her we was wade fishing all day, first time she had wade fished she loved it, gets a tan while she is fishing. now every time she gets a day off she wants to go fishing. be careful it seems like she catches the biggest fish of the day and not shy about rubbing it in.

also got her into deer hunting, the thing i like about her she would rather be fishing and hunting than shopping but she does like the bait monkey.

[A-Jay]

BigEbass wrote (on another thread)

"I have my first child on the way - we will see how that alters my best list"

My wife and I had not read the above information prior to adding to this thread. That particular detail is REALLY going to change things quite a bit.

I'm sure you realize that your priorities are about to change. You are going to be two very busy people for a while.

Congratulations and best of luck to you both.

A-Jay

[BigEbass]

heh heh,

To A-jay's wife - thank you so much for your wonderful thoughts and perspective - I will take it to heart.

Regarding the children - I did not include this detail as to not confuse the matter, but you are right - we pretty much will be doing little fishing as the child is growing up - we will have a nanny though and I plan on fishing at a minimum still one saturday per month  ;D - but fishing will not be a priority for a while now. But I also hope that when my child perhaps takes to fishing, my wife will be involved too - a whole family ordeal sometimes perhaps  ;D

[rancocasrich]

This is a very interesting topic. I am retired and willingly do a lot with my wife. When we travel, it is my wife who suggests I stop at Cabelas or Bass Pro. I suggest to her we stop at certain antique stores. She does not really fish but I have made my 14' Lund "woman-friendly" for her with a comfortable beach-type chair. She usually just reads while I fish (our boat is the "book 'n hook") but will take up a rod if they are biting or if I have one on, she may take the rod and bring it in. I think it best not to push the issue but make the opportunity for her an easy and enjoyable shared experience.

[IwillChooseFreeWill]

I am of the belief that there are certain things that we do where it is better to go with a friend or by yourself, than to bring a spouse along all the time.

In my case I go fishing to get away from the wife and kids, even if we all go, or if we are camping at the lake, I still go fishing to get away and to relax. Sometimes my wife will fish too but she prefers to just sit back and relax, usually without a pole.

Now that I have my canoe I can get farther away 

[BigEbass]

I am of the belief that there are certain things that we do where it is better to go with a friend or by yourself, than to bring a spouse along all the time.

In my case I go fishing to get away from the wife and kids, even if we all go, or if we are camping at the lake, I still go fishing to get away and to relax. Sometimes my wife will fish too but she prefers to just sit back and relax, usually without a pole.

Now that I have my canoe I can get farther away

As I said before - I have my fishing weekends to my self every other weekend.  My wife works every other weekend and I tend to go fishing on those weekends and that all works out just fine.  However, she has interest to get out on my modest little bass boat with me and I will test the waters - either way it goes, I will still have my me time (again sort of disreagard the whole kids thing for now, that will put a big asterix on these statements, but a happy asterix).