Wife's First Fly Fishing Trip

[DaddyO]

I spent the day with my wife today on the river. This was her first attempt at fly fishing. I have to admit, I didn't think she would want to stay out very long. Thankfully, I was wrong. She had a blast, even though she didn't catch a lot of fish. She caught enough to become addicted. On the way back, she was talking about practicing her cast and practicing tying knots so that she could remember them on the river.

Here is a pic of her first rainbow. Check out the pink fly rod. Hey, she picked it.

[JCWolfe]

That's great having your spouse as your fishing partner. My son in law got interested in it which in turn got my daughter interested in it. My wife has never wanted to try it. So was the hair and copper the ticket? I haven't fished this year yet and my last visit was the last sunday of 2012.

[DaddyO]

#16 Pheasant Tail and #16 - #18 Zebra Midges in Black/Silver and Black/Copper and #18 Prince Nymph. Nothing consistent. Had to keep changing it up.

[JCWolfe]

Warm day probably helped keep her on the water I bet. Cold has a way of making you want to quit, especially if it is a slow day. I've got a couple of "new" ties I need to try out if I ever get back.

[TheTugistheDrug]

Congrats to you and to her!!!

[On The Fly 6]

My wife has a pink rod too. However, if its not at least 70 degrees outside, she's not going! I fished today too. Went below watts. Did well on midges this go around. I was with a group of guys and we were all pretty successful on small midges or nymphs in red, cream, light purple, and brown. Sizes 16-20.

[Tbcmusiconline]

Congrats. I would love to get my wife into fly fishing. I think she would enjoy it.

[DaddyO]

Congrats. I would love to get my wife into fly fishing. I think she would enjoy it.

My wife resisted it for a long time. However, she used to play golf with me and we had a blast, until she broke her wrist in a hiking accident. She has a lady friend that fly fishes and so she sprung it on me that she thinks she would like to try it. So, I gave her a little advice on rod weight, waders, boots, layers of clothing, etc.. and then let her pick everything out. I went on these shopping trips with her and it gave us some opportunities to spend more time together talking about the sport. I tried, very hard, to only answer questions, so as not to go overkill on the fishing conversation.

We spent some time in the yard learning to cast. We spent time around the kitchen table learning to tie 3 knots. Perfection Loop, Double Surgeons Knot and the Davy Knot. I felt like that would be enough information to allow her to become independent on the river. I tied up some flies, that I knew would catch fish on the Lower Illinois and began filling her own fly box.

We put all of her new skills to test on Saturday. The cast started out a little rough but got better as the day progressed. The Knot tying skills were mostly forgotten. Setting the hook and landing the fish was a new experience, for her, and a source of unlimited amusement, for me. I think she yanked the teeth out of a few fish with her "Quick Set" method of setting the hook.

Walking around in the water and on land in waders and casting was a little tiring for her. She decided to take a little break and just watch, however, I was able to hookup and land a decent fish and she decided that she'd rested enough.

She, finally, landed a nice fish and as the saying goes, "The Tug is the Drug". She is now an addict. She has already asked me when we can go again. Yes, I am a lucky man!

[On The Fly 6]

That's awesome DaddyO! My wife also picked out all of her own stuff. The times I've taken her fishing have come with mixed results. She doesn't much care for the cold water! She also made up this rule, which has been enforced a time or two, that if I catch 10 fish before she gets one then we have to go home! It's not like I'd set her up for failure, I want her to enjoy fly fishing and I want her to be successful! I've gone as far as tying on the fly and casting the fly into the same exact spot I had caught fish out of! One of my fondest memories was watching her actually catch a fish all on her own. She was like a kid on Christmas! "I caught a fish, I caught a fish" I believe were her exact words. I acted as the net man on the bruiser of a rainbow that came in at about 10 inches long! Once it warms up and the baby comes out, I'm hoping we'll get to take more trips!

[Njardar]

My wife and I are still in the negotiating stage and she is ever so lightly leaning towards giving it a try. So I may just make a reservation at Montauk for this spring. If she doesn't come I'm sure my buddy will.