Teaching Someone To Fish 2024
Patrick Morrow reply :
I`m sure we all have some relatives or friends who are looking to start fishing when weather gets more and more warmer. So far I have about 2 colleagues and even my wife that have asked for help in terms of me helping them get started this year. I have had bit of teaching experience in past, but I`m still curios how you all guys teach newbies who ask for fishing help? Do you point them to some article that covers all the basics like this, show videos, take them fishing with you or recommend some gear and lures and let them learn at their own or what?
Sam reply :
Patrick, it depends.
Depends on.....age, sex and interest in fishing.
Age
Younger the harder as their attention span is so short.
Use live bait to make fishing fun.
Teenagers can do well but they, too, need some action or they will board.
Young adults can do best and learn what you tell them.
Older folks will do the best.
Sex
Girls do better than boys at younger ages.
Then boys catch up around age 12 to 14 with the girls.
After age 15, the boys can do great until the find girls, cars and money.
And the girls will, too, but their interests seem to change faster to clothes, makeup, nails, beauty parlors, dating and school work.
Interest
Depends on the type of fishing.
Saltwater is fun as you can catch something on almost every cast and every fish can be different.
Freshwater can be a challenge due to the time between strikes if they are not really interested.
Anyone can say they want to bass fish but since it is not as easy as it looks they can lose interest, fast.
It takes a special person, male or female, to bass fish due to the hunting that goes on and the frustration that can follow.
Matthew2000 reply :
Senkos.
bassinbrady03 reply :
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CRANKENSTIEN reply :
Well said Sam. I have 2 18 year old boys that loved pan fishing then bass fishing up until 14. Now they have other interest. Oh well the seed is planted and they have some skills.
BassinLou reply :
Anyone who I have taught, I taught hands on, on the water. An open body of water with no obstructions around preferably. I start with spinner if they are older and with little kids I start with a spincast outfit. Mechanics is the first thing I teach. After they grasp that concept I start with a soft plastic and begin to show them how to fish it. Once they get the hang of it, I leave them to it and stay close by for any help or questions.
Bladesmith, reply :
What is going to work best is going to depend upon the individual.That being said; I usually just take them fishing, being careful not to overload them with more info than they can digest. I do try to arrange it so they can catch a few fish as soon as possible so their interest doesn't lag. After they have caught a fish or two we can start with such things as casting accuracy and different tactics.
Ozark_Basser reply :
I take my nephew out sometimes to ponds and creeks. He is five years old, but honestly I haven't had to teach him much so far. I just tie on a beetle spin and he casts pretty darn good for a kid and catches fish too.
EvanT123 reply :
On 4/23/2015 at 5:15 AM, Matthew2000 said:Senkos.
I would not recommend this unless you want to practice your gut hook removal as well. Also what a boring way to get someone excited about fishing. Cast it out and do nothing doesn't sound exciting to most beginners.
I like to start people off with a fluke or grub. These keep the bait and person moving. If you really want to teach someone. Leave your pole at home and dedicate the experience to helping them.
I have a new rule this year for newbies(adults) One free trip. What I mean by that is I will tie your lures on for one trip. Anything after that if they want to fish with me they have to learn how to tie their own lures. They can use anything in my plastic box but continuing to tie on lures for a grown person is something I will not do.
Choosylobster reply :
Anyone could learn how the fish if they are willing to put the time and effort into it. You're not just going to cast a line and catch a fish. It takes practices. This is what a lot of my friends don't understand. I been fishing since I was 8. I truly learned how to fish when I was 13. But like Sam said it really takes a special person to bass fish. You really need to love the sport and appreciate the fish.
BW208 reply :
I have this problem as well. I usually shun them off unfortunately because I know they will probably just get bored or frustrated. They see my pics I post and they think its easy lol. I have a bad habit of not being able to give people some simple instructions and let them go. I always want to tell them everything I know and thats hard to digest as said above. If I do take anyone I usuallty start with catching bluegill or something easy with live bait. Then go from there if they are still interested.
Paul Roberts reply :
Get them catching fish, and let them own the moment. Don't try to "teach" too much. Teach on a need to know basis, or when questions are asked. The magic lies in the experience, not the knowledge. Experienced anglers can forget that.
wuchr20 reply :
remember to be patient
Brayberry reply :
Find a pond or local lake full of fish, I found a lake packed with stunned fish that maxed out around 10 inches, but there were 100's of them, when I taught me girlfriend to fish. I started her off with the small super flukes, so they were weedless, and she was able to learn to cast, work the bait, set the hook, all by herself. Also she was able to get constant bites and catch tons of fish her first time out, now she's addicted 
Beginners care more about constant action and quantity then quality.
southernson1989 reply :
Can't beat a bucket of crickets or box of worms and a cane pole for their first experience. Cat fishing with a rod and reel is a good way to learn what a bite feels like too.
Patrick Morrow reply :
On 4/23/2015 at 9:06 AM, BW208 said:I have this problem as well. I usually shun them off unfortunately because I know they will probably just get bored or frustrated. They see my pics I post and they think its easy lol. I have a bad habit of not being able to give people some simple instructions and let them go. I always want to tell them everything I know and thats hard to digest as said above. If I do take anyone I usuallty start with catching bluegill or something easy with live bait. Then go from there if they are still interested.
I think one of the key points is helping them land a fish quite soon. I imagine if I would set everything up: choose lure, tie it, show her one of my "lucky-spots" and just let her handle the reeling part then I`m sure she would be interested. After that I would slowly leave her to pick his own lures, gear and locations. At least then she knows what she is working towards. Of course, I can´t probably go through this entire process with each of my colleagues. I agree with keeping the information simple part.
scaleface reply :
I set them up then forget about them and go fishing . If I'm lucky I will catch some fish and they will want to know how . If they dont want to know how then they dont want to take fishing seriously .
Patrick Morrow reply :
That`s some great advice here. I think I am going to start teaching this weekend, forecast promised a hot and dry weather, so that will definitely make the whole experience better for everyone. Do you guys think it would be better to stay in shore the first time or instantly bring them to boat?
DocNsanE reply :
On 4/24/2015 at 9:53 PM, Patrick Morrow said:That`s some great advice here. I think I am going to start teaching this weekend, forecast promised a hot and dry weather, so that will definitely make the whole experience better for everyone. Do you guys think it would be better to stay in shore the first time or instantly bring them to boat?
If you have access to a boat I would think it is best to start on a boat because it adds to the overall experience and for newbies the most important thing is having a fun, memorable day.
Crestliner2008 reply :
I like what Sam wrote above. However, before I'd even start, I'd try to find out just what they are interested in accomplishing. Just to catch a fish - any fish? Or, after watching some TV shows, do they want to catch a bass? Or a trout? Don't try to get too technical with gear and stuff. And explain that if the do NOT catch anything, it may not be because they are doing anything wrong. Most of fishing is "Location, location, location". After that, it will all fall into place.
I actually find that teaching kids to fish is so much easier than adults! They have no per-conceived notions to break.
Thornback reply :
There is no perfect teacher and no perfect student. Do the best you can and adjust your instructions as you observe how the student is responding. I taught a bass fisherman how to fish with shiners as bait and he showed no initiative. That was discouraging. I taught another guy to bass fish for the first time and we used shiners. He wanted to do everything and it wasn't long before he was catching. That was rewarding.
Ski213 reply :
As was said before I think the best thing is to not over load them. Especially if they are young or have very little fishing experience. I try to take them somewhere I'm pretty sure I can put them on fish quickly. Then I give them a white bang tail or rooster tail. I teach them how to cast for a minute in open water then I run them through a section and just tell them where to try to put the lure and how to retrieve it. I figure thats enough to start. Most of the people I've taken for their first time are children of girlfriends and they've all been young. They've all done well with that approach though. I'm not a great teacher but they've always been able to make it happen. Very rewarding to take a kid or adult to catch their first bass. My favorite time was with my neighbors kid. His first bass was a 3lb largemouth on his second cast. I was as excited as he was. Awesome to see how pumped up they get over it.
Senko lover reply :
- Take them to ponds.
Teach them about common cover and forage.
Throw some proven lures.
SirSnookalot reply :
For a younger person I would start them off bass fishing with plastic worm. I would not take them to the ocean.
frogflogger reply :
Taught lots of people young and adult, if they have any interest at all it is more fun than a barrel of monkeys - it is hard to beat the ned rig or a beetle for newcomers to the sport. Teaching the rudiments of casting and line management is much easier if they are getting a few bites along the way.
Catt reply :
I hear a lot of talk about what the teacher wants the student to learn and nothing about what the student wants to learn!
Some of my students are completely satisfied with perch jerking while others are as intense as a Michael Iaconelli.
RoLo reply :
If it's someone with little or no fishing experience, the first goal is to spark their interest.
The best way to spark someone's interest is to keep an arch in their rod,
for instance, bluegills in freshwater or pinfish in saltwater.
As noted above, instruction should be limited to an as-needed basis or to answer questions.
Roger
Ben Eipert reply :
When I take my younger cousins out I start them with a tube or a small spinner. Both of those are hard to fish wrong and catch all different kinds of fish. The best thing I have found to do is to fish the same thing as them. I figured out that they usually look over and try and to the same thing you are (especially the younger they are).
Alonerankin2 reply :
Hmm, no one taught me to fish per se, I wanted to fish, thereby seeking out the creeks & farm ponds for success.. As time moved, I became interested in bass, rather than bluegills, etc.. I learned from TV shows in the 70's and thru Bassmaster magazine....
My circle of friends so to speak were interested as well. If one has the desire & enviroment handy, anyone can teach themselves in the early years.
At some point, I became insatiable, no one taught me that either, I'm not sure you can teach a love for this sport, but if one does, then there are many, many fine points to it, as a lot of us have learned. The great thing to me, I still am learning!
From guys right here on BR.. After 40 years of fishing for bass & other fishes, it tickles me to pick up the "fine points" of structure/cover and rigging presentations. A person has to want it, IMO
Bankbeater reply :
Be patient and don't expect to do any fishing yourself. When you are on the water it is all about the person learning to fish.
Wiskey70 reply :
I asked the original question. Grew up on Mississippi River between mid-state WI and MN. Fished for cats off the bottom using a swivel and a heavy sinker under slough bridges where fast currents carried food to them. Caught panfish in back-water calm areas, and caught northern pike on spinners in all areas of the river. I even spear- fished for carp in the shallows, and saw a friend “catch” an alligator gar with the calf of his leg. But never caught large- or small-mouth bass. What did I do wrong?
FishinBuck07 reply :
I always take them with me, gauge their interest in the sport on the fly. Explain to them before I take them that fish are not always caught. You will find out real quick who actually wants to learn and who doesn't!
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