Getting your better half to fish

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
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Got the idea from the “More women” thread: [url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/013939.html:1fc6d]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/013939.html[/url:1fc6d]

Do you WISH your better half would fly fish with you? Does he (she)? why not ? …

Sure we would (usually) want our significant other to share our passion with us, …but how to go about it.

First off, if you don’t want it to end in disaster, you have to look at your real capacity as a teacher. (and their capacity to listen to you). teaching a wife or husband to flyfish is more difficult than for children. I think it’s because we just assume they are supposed to be able to do it.

Don’t just rig 'em up and say “Do what I do”. Ever see a really good casting instructor, a real Pro. They may not be the BEST caster in the world, but they can communicate, demonstrate and diagnose casting basics.

Remeber, … the first few times out, you want them to put a fly out there (anywhere) without losing an eye or getting frustrated. That’s all.

Look seriously at casting lessons from a Pro. Places to learn to cast are not that easy to find on your favourite river. Often a pond in a city park is better suited to the task.

A group I that I guided a few years ago wanted just that. Peter and his son-in-law could cast and fish, … they just wanted some pointers. They DID want Isabelle to have fun and learn some. I sent the two boys off to a pool wich was a bit more diifficult to fish, but loaded with trout.

I kept Isabelle with me to learn some casting basics and line control.

Hubby and Dad were pretty suprised when they came back to the camp and Isabelle had her first ever trout in her hands.

They’ve been coming back ever since.

A few seasons later, she’s out there hauling with the best of them.

Isabelle P drifting a wooly over a pod of bruisers - #48 August 2004

Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:1fc6d]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:1fc6d]

[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 12 June 2005).]

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A few years back when VEE expressed an interest in learning to fly fish I bought her the best rod, reel and line we could afford and surprised her with it. Then I paid for a casting lesson at the same fly shop. Best money I ever spent. She is now a successful fly fisher and accomplished tier, and best of all, she’s my anytime, anywhere, any conditions fishing partner.

REE

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REE,

Great way to go about it.

When I met my girlfriend, I sometimes wondered if she loved me and wanted to go fly fishing OR if she knew I fly fished at that’s why she loved me ??

Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:b4597]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:b4597]

[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 12 June 2005).]

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Wait one sec.ya gotta have a better half first…“S”, Ya’ll left out that step…

Spelling and Grammar not subject to judgement… :wink:

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Grubb, … LoL

I got this “sick” image of ya in my mind, … cruising around in a singles bar all decked out in your best Sunday waders, floppy hat.

“Come on, I only use dries baby”.

Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:ce7a8]http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/[/url:ce7a8]

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Some times all it takes is to be asked.

Trouts don’t live in ugly places

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Betty,
Are you talking to go fishing …or what?

Respect Your Elders!
Ducksterman

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From my own experience…

Get casting lessons from someone who not only knows how to cast; but, also knows how to teach.

Let her pick her own equipment. Offer suggestions/advice if asked; but, do not intervene unless her choice is inappropriate for the fishing she will be doing.

Take her somewhere she can catch fish easily.

Plan ahead. Think about what will make her experience more pleasant and comfortable. (Girls can’t just pee over the gunnels!)

Don’t assume that she knows, or understands, what is required. Yesterday, I saw a young woman sun-burned because boyfriend didn’t think about water reflection on an overcast day and she didn’t know! She wanted to fish and they stayed on the pier all day. What kind of first trip will she remember?

Provide encouragement and support; but, don’t push.

If she has a good time she’ll want to do it again and you’ll have a fishing partner for life.

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Good advice all over.

Betty- yeah, just asking will do! But he and I took up flyfishing at about the same time and muddled through together and separately, consulted friends, books and videos. I think being beginners together enriched the experience. After about 9 or 10 years we both had our first real casting lessons last fall. Now we have an idea what you call what we’d been doing.

Grubb- I hear you! I fished with my husband’s cousin today and he’s working on me to find him a nice lady who fishes. A tall order, considering how much we flyanglers love our solitude. I mean, a river isn’t a singles bar. I was joking with him that I’m one of the three women in the state who fish. Not true, of course, since I think we read that 30% of the fishing licenses here are purchased by women. Pardon the verbosity, but the honey reminded me that we initially met through our mutual interest in martial arts, and then kept running into each other all over town = out doing other things we liked. About the only other fellas I’ve met through flyfishing and tying are older retired fellas. So you may want to look for Ms. Right outside the solitary sport, eh?