Focusing geometry dependence of output Stokes energy in single pass methane Raman shifter is investigated. The experimental result shows that the threshold energy decreases as confocal parameter increases. This result can be explained by gain suppression caused by Stokes - anti-Stokes coupling. In this paper, we give simple analysis for the focusing geometry dependence of Stokes - anti-Stokes coupling and present the criterion of confocal parameter to reduce the gain suppression. Focusing geometry dependence of stimulated Brillouin scattering is measured and the result is in good agreement with theoretical prediction.