Quote Originally Posted by HURRICANEBOB View Post
In 1994 I bought my wife a Zebco Gold 33 and a Berkley Cherrywood CRC-10, 5'-6" Medium to introduce her to fishing. I spooled it with good 10 pound test. She pitches lures with it, loves to bobber fish with it, and she's caught bass, cats, gills, white bass, and even small stripers with it. She still has it today and just loves it.

What made it work for her was the ease of operation and the total light weight and ease of use of the rig. I think that's the key. Make it fun and easy to start.

I moved her up to a Zebco 888 Prostaff Reel with 20 pound test and a Ugly Stick CAL-1101 6'-6" medium heavy rod for busting Stripers on topwater. Again, she adapted to it easily because it worked just like the smaller rod and reel. And I'm telling you she can put a Redfin well down range when she sees fish busting the surface.

I'd start with something that's just real easy to use until she gets hooked on fishing, then try exploring spinning reels next, and finally thumb burners.

I got to tell ya guy, you will never feel better as a man or an angler than the day the wife squeals with delight as the drag is zingging away, and then she lands a whopper. Just don't get no flipping better than that.

Got to stop, eyes watering up.
You are luckier than I am I got my wife a very similar rod and reel (Zebco 33) about forty five years ago. She hooked a bass that was about a five pounds the drag was so lose she could not do anything with the bass he was taking all her line I told her we have to tighten your drag before you run out of line and of course the fish got off and she has never let me forget the big fish I caused her to lose. 45 years later.