Not all men are as lucky as I am, to have a wife and daughter who love to fish, and to have a mother who would rival 90% of the flyfishers in the country. So what do you do when your wife or girlfriend don't like the fishing aspect of it? Sure, you can leave her behind, but if you are like me, that is very far from an ideal situation or solution.

For one thing, you can find out what she doesn't like about it. If she doesn't like the outdoors at all, and some don't, that is understandable. But if she doesn't like handling bait or the fish, that is something you can do for her. Be patient, and under no circumstances should you ever make fun of her. Handling a creepy crawly for the first time can be a bit unsettling. Investing in plastic gloves may help. As she gains confidence, she will start getting into fishing more and more.

Highlight the things that the woman would enjoy; looking around, collecting rocks, swimming, or whatever it might be. If she is going there for you, you can certainly take the time to do something for her. Approach the whole situation the same way you would for anyone who has never done it before, with understanding and patience.

My wife was not always a fisherman. In fact, she'd never been fishing when we met. And at first, she didn't like touching live bait, didn't like touching live fish, and was very uncertain about the whole process. Through patience and understanding, though, I can proudly say that she will bait her own hook, make at least legitimate attempts to remove fish from a hook, and can out fish a great number of men.

Fishing is not just a sport of men. Women can enjoy it and can excel at it. Like anyone, they simply need to be encouraged.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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