My girlfriend Mary, has taken up bass fishing and needs, probably a woman, to give her some baitcasting instruction. I got her a new Shimano Calcutta 100TE for Christmas with a new Shimano V rod. I think I've done about all I can do.
She's been out with a guide twice and saw me catch big bass and she wants to catch one too.
I can put a 1/2 oz rattletrap into orbit with the new Shimano reel, I hoped it would eliminate the backlashes for her. NOT. It helped, but...
I'm considering a trip with someone like Sherry Ruslink. Any ideas ladies?

Try taking her to the Mesquite Tackle show next weekend.There will be some excellent female speakers there.I am sure they would'nt mind helping her.I helped my wife learn how.We took little steps and got her there in a week or two.Dont rush it and dont expect her to cast as far as tou any time soon.Work on her form and let her make short cast untill she feels comfortable.Distance will come after she starts feling more confident.Be sure and adjust the rel so she wont backlash.Start with it tightened down and she will slowly build up her confidence.

Yep...tighten that reel up so that she can't backlash it with a 1/2 - 3/4 oz. bait.

After 50 casts or so, she should be getting the hang of it. Then, loosen the reel up a little and you can work on distance and location.

Try getting in touch with Bonita Staples www.ladyangler.com, She will be at the Mesquite show next week.

Make a long cast. Put a piece of clear tape across the line on the spool. When she gets an overrun it will most likely stop at the taper or before.

When she gets good enough you can remove the tape...sorta like training wheels.

I had the same issue when I started using the reels that my husband gave me. The spool was too wide for my thumb. Make sure she has a smaller reel, like the Abu C3 so that the line won't come back around her finger. Tie on a solid spinner bait and tighten the reel so that when you free spool, the spinner bait just barely stays in place without dropping. I had an easier time casting sideways until I got the hang of it. Then I started casting overhand. One more tip... practice over water... I found it harder to learn the feel over the hard ground in the backyard. Hope this helps! You can always hire a lady guide or ask someone at the show, but in the end, its all about practice. Good Luck and tell her "Welcome" to the sport!

Just adjust the spool or the brakes. I taught my wife who never fished before, and now she does just fine. Try to teach her side arm pitches and after she is accurate with those go to overhand. The key to casting is let the rod do the work. You don't have to move your whole arm to make a cast. Teach her to flex her wrist. To make a cast- it's power under control you don't have to throw with force to make a long cast. Just be patient. Spend time in the back yard casting at a hula hoop or large bucket or target. This will help her to become accurate, and give her confidence.

Thanks. I'll keep trying. She's says she has been doing better with a sidearm cast. We'll concentrate on that. She was using a Calcutta 50, certainly small enough for her hands. The Calcutta 100TE isn't a whole lot bigger.
I keep reminding her to keep her elbow in but she tends to put her whole body into it.

You may want to try a underhanded rollcast also. You don;t have to use alot of force to cast a distance. Just make the rod tip make a circle and just before you complete the circle release the lure. Try this!

Encourage her to keep practicing. That is the key. She will find her cast. It is not an easy thing to teach. You have to feel it.

Welcome aboard Newbassity. Alot of good info here.

Rangerkev...sounds like you are talking down to women. I am very surprised at reading this post from you. Would you suggest the same procedure if this were instruction you were giving to a male fisherperson? "We took little steps"?

The best thing for her to do is simply practice, she will learn by her own mistakes. I did and now I can cast one with no problem what so ever. Sharon

Sharon has said it all. Just practice.

Now wait a minute.Before you convict me let me tell you my side.The reason I said this is that it keeps a women from getting discouraged.By taking baby steps it lightens the pressure she will feel to make long and accurate cast.It is sorta like expecting a kid to fish for bass,they become impatient.Even with a man I would suggest going slow.If someone has never cast an open face reel it can be disheartning.My wife and I fish together and have a blast,and if you ask her she will say that I do not degrade her.So with that said I will venture back to the other sections so I dont get in trouble any more.