Photo Credit: Ben Sherman of Lux Montage
Fishing is fun, but its not for all of us. Or, at least some of us need a little convincing. Tracy Moore, local blogger and newly converted angler, shares these tips:
Top ten ways to get your girl hooked on fly fishing:
10. Start off small. Go somewhere close & start with a couple hours. None of this 6am to 9pm sh*t. She will be ruined. You want enough time to be able to teach her a few things, but do not give her time to be frustrated, get bored, or want to quit. Short and sweet here fellas.
9. Make sure the sun is shining. Check the weather, kids. Most girls are not big fans of being cold. We get grumpy, we don’t want to move, and all we can think about is cuddling up with you on a couch by the fire watching our favorite girly movie while you sit there, rub our feet, and pretend you like it. This will change with time, don’t worry. The more she loves fishing, the more okay she will be with fishing in colder weather. Because who cares how cold you are when you have a 26 inch rainbow trout in your hands?
8. Floating is better for the first time. If you have a boat, or can get one, do it. We are girls, we like to be pampered. Row for us, show us your muscles. Know what I’m saying? Don’t make her work too hard the very first time or she might just hate it forever. I know. Girls. Relax… she’ll learn to appreciate hiking and wade fishing later. Hopefully.
7. Buy her cute stuff. Seriously. Go shopping with her. Show her how excited you are to fish with her. Help her pick out a new hat, or a cute new jacket to wear. Don’t buy her ugly polarized glasses, let her pick out cute ones herself… then she will actually wear them. The cuter she feels, the happier she will be. Plus, we just get happier when you let us buy stuff… or better yet, when you buy it for us.
6. Tell her that her ass looks amazing in those waders. Because we all know they don’t. Waders suck for girls. We don’t feel cute. I hated them so much for so long, and I still don’t really love them, but my guy tells me that my butt looks amazing in waders, and I pretend he is telling the truth. Then I shake my butt and do a little happy dance and I’m all good.
5. Bring extra stuff, and double check. Another great trait that lots of us ladies share? We forgeteverything. We don’t know what we need when we fish. Her cute new jacket? She left it in the garage while she was yelling at you for waking her up so early. Her glasses she just spent hours picking out? On the coffee table. Round it up for her. Double check that she has everything. Then bring more.
4. Encourage her. A lot. It gets me motivated when my man tells me I am casting like a champ. “Good Job!!” and “Yeah, girl!!” goes a long way. Make her feel like she’s not the big dummy she feels like. When she gets her fly caught in that tree for the 27th time… don’t make fun of her. Then move her away from that tree, you idiot. Don’t ever quit with the encouragement. We need it.
3. Don’t force them to fish the whole time. Let her bring a book, even if it’s that 50 shades of grey garbage. Bring her snacks, we love snacks. Let her watch you and be ever so impressed by your smooth casting skills. If she wants to take a break, let her.
2. Be patient. I don’t really have to explain this one. Just don’t be a dick.
1. Never give up. Never. Like I said, it took me years to appreciate fly fishing, then a few more years to really like it, then another year to LOVE it. She has to want it for herself. Just make it a fun experience for her. Teach her things in a kind way, make her feel good, make it a fun adventure, and keep at it.
After all this, when she finally likes it… save up for a trip. Take her somewhere awesome to fish. My man took me to Alaska, and it changed everything. Seriously, it was amazing. I wasn’t even that excited to go, then I teared up coming home because I didn’t want to leave. Alaska, BC, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Mexico… there are so many options! Either surprise her and have it all paid for so she can’t say no, or plan it all out together because some girls hate surprises.
Hope this helps you boys get your girls out there with you.
For more of Tracy’s adventures fly fishing in Montana click here.
