Fishing and Dating

[1Yogi]

Recently there was a post regarding people divorcing over hunting and fishing issues. Being recently divorced I am wondering, Do you think an evening of Fishing is a good first date?

[bigdog]

Possibly, if the weather is nice and you don't focus on the fishing too much. I know a canoe trip isn't a good idea. Knew a guy who tried that, dumped the canoe in the rapids and the rest was history.

[Questor]

Depends on the fishing and the date. I liken it to fishing with kids. Fish for things that are easy to catch, maybe bluegills or some other cute fish. Call it fishing to your date, but don't think of it as fishing. Think of it as spending quality time with somebody you like. When I've got my fishing mind set, I'm too focused on the fishing to be much of a companion to a new friend.

[Kyle Sandberg]

That will be my downfall(or has been).

[Random guy]

Depends if she is that type of gal. Now if she is you can't go wrong with a little evening fishing on a calm lake or river. Pack a little picnic and have shore lunch. Great way to talk and get to know eachother. Now if she is not the type of gal I'm guessing it will be a long evening on the water.

[Rost]

I took my future wife fishing all the time and she loved it. Now, she'd rather just stay home with our girls.

They played "I'm Gonna Miss Her" by Brad Paisley at my wedding dance almost 5 years ago. And so far, it hasn't come to that point even with 2 kids. Maybe I just got lucky..

[the squirrel]

The worst case scenario would be.... Well lets just hope you both have your life jackets on

[echotrail]

I wouldn't try fishing for a first date unless you know from someone reliable she enjoys it. You get only one chance to make a GOOD 1st impression. By the odds, the majority of women don't like to handle, smell or be near fish or bait. During the first date find out if she likes that kind of activity. I took my wife on our first date snow skiing and to dinner, but I knew before hand she enjoyed skiing. (She never has fished).

[Corey Bechtold]

Make sure you bring protection. Get your mind out of the gutter!

Sun Block, Sun glasses (for flying hooks) and bug spray.

Have fun,

Corey Bechtold

[slick814]

I'd say try a little shore fishing... I'm sure most of us would rather do the boat thing, but.. have a picnic, a couple of Y sticks in the ground, toss out a couple bobbers, watch a sunset kind of thing... she may think it romantic, (which ain't a bad thing) and you most likely won't take it as seriously as if you were in a boat.(also, not necessarily a bad thing at that point). Good way to get to know each other a bit while you're at it... believe me, it's not a bad way to go, and it's also not the most expensive date you'll ever be on.

[tunrevir]

I like this post! I used to fish about 260 days a year when I was single. Rarely, did I miss a day on the water even if it was for a few hours. I skipped the senior prom and went fishing many years ago and I have no regrets. When my wife and I were dating I would pack supper and the grill invite her to meet me at the dock and we'd spend the evening hours fishing, chatting and eating untill the sun went down. She is not a diehard fisherperson even till this day. She enjoyed being out in the sun reading, talking and just being with me. I still can't understand that last part but she did it for me and I have made some sacrifices for her over the years as well. Do I think fishing is a good idea for a date? Yep! Might want to make sure she isn't a charter member of peta or anything. You can have a nice romantic time on the water but remember to do the right thing! You aren't there to fish as much as you are there to get to know her and share something that you really enjoy doing. Bring a picnic lunch, supper, offer to bait the hook and remove the fish for her, be open to the fact that she may just want to hang out and read or sit in the sun. Of course, it helps if you know she likes to fish before you take her out. Oh, yeah, 4-6 footers, wind, rain and drizzle I'd make alternate plans, if she suggests that you should still go out on the water because the fishing is better in that type of weather, marry the woman as soon as you can!

Tunrevir~

[MuleShack]

Nice Post!

And if she volunteers to help clean the fish, that is another keeper.

[stmichael]

Great Post!!

I would have to say that unless she is a true fisherwoman, be prepared to do everything for her, do not assume she is all for womens rights. Bait her hook, take off fish retie hooks... etc. Show her that you are there to make sure she is having a good time(some women like men that are focused on them at times... of course some more than others). I practice this even with kids. I tend to do a lot less fishing, but, talk about what is going on while you are messing around with mentioned... easy opportunity to make small talk. She will be more open with you when she sees that you are a gentlemen and will try to take care of her. I would say if you have a boat to go out on the lake. If she gets bored...(you may have to hone in on your body language skills) go for a boat ride and give fishing a break. Show her that it is not "just" all about fishing when you are together. If you cannot get out in the boat, shore fishing can be fun too.

Make the woman happy, you will be happy too... My .02

[BobT]

From my experience, if I were in the market I would want a potential mate to enjoy at least some similar activities as myself. My current wife is not too interested in the activities I enjoy and I wish she was. Over the years I have discovered that we really don't have that much in common. Our marriage works but it is really a lot of work.

Take her fishing. If she doesn't enjoy it, consider whether it's important enough to you to take things any further. We focus too much on meeting other's expectations rather than finding out if we are truly compatible. Better to find out earliear than later.

Bob

[1Yogi]

Wow, good answers here, I expected a lot more joking around. Thanks for the great suggestions. I can think of a couple of great ways to do this now and both are in line with what I was thinking of doing anyway.

P.S. to Corey thanks for the suggestion it was on my mind too!!

[Scott M]

Quote:

---

I took my future wife fishing all the time and she loved it. Now, she'd rather just stay home with our girls.

They played "I'm Gonna Miss Her" by Brad Paisley at my wedding dance almost 5 years ago. And so far, it hasn't come to that point even with 2 kids. Maybe I just got lucky..

---

I took my wife on our first date out ice fishing. Things worked out really well obviously, although she really doesn't care to fish much. She likes coming with but doesn't want to touch anything and is afraid of any and all fish flopping.

She absolutely loathed "I'm gonna miss her" by Paisley until just recently. She swore she'd about kill me if it played at our wedding dance.

It's been a fishing relationship, and she's okay with that. Fishing on the first date, fishing when I proposed, fishing when we have serious and deep talks.

As much as I love fishing, I realize that she comes first. She sometimes jokes that she is the second love of my life, which may at times be true, but she is always the number one priority. I'm sure as I get older and we have some kids, I will have to make some sacrifices but for now I'm enjoying getting out when I can and living the married life.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

[archer59]

Well if she doesn't like to fish ... do you want a second date???

[the squirrel]

Just think you might get lucky and your bobber will go down.

[so haaad]

If she likes fishing, you're better off keeping this one! Do NOT practice catch and release!

[Andrew Erickson]

i almost took my ex out carp fishing lol

[Down Deep]

Unless she says, " I see you love to fish, I love it too", I would go with the standard get to know you, dinner and a bottle of wine or a walk in the park.

[cold one sd]

I think it would be a great idea for a first date. Of course it would depend to some degree on how well the fish are biting, how nice her boat is and how fast she is at filleting fish.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

Lots of good responses. I would say take her IF she has fished before and expresses genuine excitement at the thought of going. Otherwise standard date. Fishing may not be her thing but that doesnt mean she's not the right person for you. Fishing is not everything. Respecting each other's interests and boundries is. If she is mildly intersted in fishing then I would say that's a 3rd or 4th date activity. First dates are about talking and getting to know each other, if that is your intent.

[BartmanMN]

If it is "Back woods Betty," then Yes. If it is "Valley High Tiffany," then No

[hogsucker]

I took a girl out on a first date yesterday evening. When we first met, she learned that I was a flyfisherman and told me that one of her goals is to flyfish for trout in Montana. Mainly for the romanticism that comes along with it. I told her that you don't need to go to Monatana, I'll take you out in western WI. She is a ballet instructor, city girl, never fished in her life and I didn't know how it would go. Last night we fished the evening hatch and she had an incredibly good time. I taught her how to cast well enough, and she actually caught a trout! The beauty of the river valley and wet-wading experience was very romantic, and the date went exceedingly well. Many women have a romanticized idea about flyfishing for trout, and will jump at a chance to try it. ~hogsucker

[Corey Bechtold]

Good luck hogsucker. Just remember to tell her that when she hears the line snapping while casting that her fly is probably missing.

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold