Who got you started?

[Rebbasser]

OK, boys and girls, here's one for you:

Who got you started fishing?

My dad started my obsession. We would go perch jerking with a cane pole when I was 4 or 5, moved up to the trusty Zebco 33 and the rest, as they say, is history. The roles reversed over time and I taught him. I lost him back in '02 but have some great memories of the time we spent on the water together. I just wish I could have taken him out just once in my boat.

[flfireman]

My dad and uncle would take us out bluegill fishing in NE Ohio. Moved to Fl and never stopped. The old man doesn't fish anymore, told me when I get a bigger boat w/ more seats he might go out. He doesn't like the gators and doesnt trust me when I say they don't eat a lot.

[keithdog]

My dad got me started as soon as I could hold a cane pole. My first rod and reel was a 5 1/2 foot fiberglass rod with a Zebco 202 that he snaged off the bottom of the lake while fishing in Canada. We spent many years as best fishin buddies. Like you Reb, as time passed I became the one teaching the old dog new tricks. He's been gone for 15 years now, but there isn't a day I spend on the water that I don't feel him sitting there in the boat with me. I'd bet your dad has been along with you too Reb. One thing I could say about my dad was when no one else was catching fish, he always seemed to be able to land a few. I really miss those days.

[carolina-rig-01]

my dad and my grandpa got me started. i was still a baby when they started taking me to the lake. the first bass i ever caught was when i was 4 or 5, it weighed just under 3lbs. believe it or not and my grandpa still carries the picture in his wallet and is always happy to break it out and show it off.

[islandbass]

Dived in, cold turkey solo, four seasons ago. Read about 4 books before I even bought a my first combo, which happened to be a $19.99 rig I bought at Walmart, dubbed my Walmart Special.

Since then, a whole bunch of rods and reels and lures somehow found their way into my garage.

[Twinsprtsfan]

Yeah, I pretty much just dived in as well. My friend has a pond and I never really thought much about fishing it all those years, then one day I decided to, and now I have the bug.

[JB]

a guy i worked 3rd shift got me started, as a way to get some fish in the fryin' pan, in the early 80's. Once the catch n release trend got around here, we mostly just got gills and crappie to eat, returned the bass.

[Nitro911]

I was doomed pretty much from the get-go. My dad and both of my grandfathers were avid fishermen. On the day I was born, my grandfather went to a Gibson's (remember those?) and bought me a fishing license. I still have that thing. He told me he had to argue with the lady who was trying to tell him I didn't need one. He said that I DID need one, and it had to be issued on the day I was born.

And that is what I was born in to. And it is the reason why I am forced to fish. Dontcha just hate it?

By the way, my son's first license was a day late...his was the day after he was born. And yes, I had to argue with the clerk a little to get it issued.

[torelaxandenjoy]

Good morning, my cousin actually got me started then my dad would try to go but basically my cousins and I would go. We were very lucky because we access to a very large private lake stocked withe what we thought was every none aquatic species. GREAT TIMES. I wish I could take my son to it, but it's gone to the housing group.

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

OK, boys and girls, here's one for you:

Who got you started fishing?

My dad started my obsession. We would go perch jerking with a cane pole when I was 4 or 5, moved up to the trusty Zebco 33 and the rest, as they say, is history. The roles reversed over time and I taught him. I lost him back in '02 but have some great memories of the time we spent on the water together. I just wish I could have taken him out just once in my boat.

[Lilmoosecountry]

My dad at age 3. I caught a 8lb channel cat. He said after he casted the bait for me that i would get it tangled up every cast. He also said because i was getting it tangled that he did'nt believe me that i had a fish. I have no memory of that day. But i do have the picture that my grandma took of that day with that fish.

[pignjig]

Good story, Nitro! I think I'm kinda blessed because I got to start so early I don't remember. Some of my earliest memories are standing on a bank with a 202 with my dad and a neighbor. They were picking catalpa worms off a tree so I'm guessing we were catfishing. Maybe it was carp fishing 'cause everything smelled like doughball? That Zebco was like another appendage! I still have every old lure they passed down to me. My parents got me a subscription to Outdoor Life before I could even read. As far as serious bass fishing, a buddy took me to the James River about 10 years ago. I caught a 21" smallie on the first cast. Bug bit, for sure.

Great post, Reb.

-Pig

[rodman rat]

My uncle from the time I was about 5 or 6 would take me twice a year on fishing trips with him and his buddies and I was sworn what happened fishing was forgot and never repeated. I went with them every year till I lost him last April and have really missed the trips! Bought my own boat in May and it is what I do with my Sunday's and any day I can get out of work!

[MississippiBoy]

Great idea for a post, Reb. I betcha this brings up some great old memories for a lot of people.

My dad got me started. The house I grew up in had a small lake behind it. I could throw a rock from the back door and hit water. Dad said one time when I was still in diapers, he turned his back for a minute while he was cleaning up brush/fallen limbs, and found me waist deep in the water. I guess I never had a chance...

[Bob Smith]

My Dad and Mom! Been fishing all my life.

[Texas_Justice85]

just like everyone else, good ole pops!

[BigBassin144]

My dad and Grandpa. It wasn't until this past summer I really ot into it though. I'm trying to teach my dad some new stuff, but he is beign very stubborn. He doesn't see why I need different rods for different things. I hope I'll inspire him this summer when I catch more fish than him.

BB

[pignjig]

HA! BB! Same here! The fun part is when those rascals have two lines in the water and you're trying to troll! Gotta love 'em, those rascally dads...

-Pig

[lunker-lander]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

My dad and Grandpa. It wasn't until this past summer I really ot into it though. I'm trying to teach my dad some new stuff, but he is beign very stubborn. He doesn't see why I need different rods for different things. I hope I'll inspire him this summer when I catch more fish than him.

BB

Same story exactly! They don't trealize the stuff about the rods though....

-Lunk-

[k-money]

My dad got me started on fishing. One of my first fishing memories was trolling on saginaw bay for walleye back when the big ones were around. We also perch fished a lot which is always fun. Over the years i've learned a lot about fishing and personally i think im a better fisherman than him but he disagrees of course. Ever year we have a memorial day fishing tournament on Fletchers Pond and I always win. But I wouldn't be anywhere without him.

[bamabassman]

good ol pop got me and my brother started. his dad had a boat (dad still has it, a 12' sears v-hull alum boat. and it still floats!) fished mr. brewers pond and mr manns. along with fishing the warrior river, mountain woods lake (when it wasn't private com.), and guntersville. now if i can only get pop to let me return the favor. seems he only has time for the grandkids and great grandkids. but he says that he wants to this year....we'll see. brother and his son go alot with me. and i love watching heath (nephew) catch dem bass. he wants to go pro, i am gonna help him all i can.

[brushhog]

My dad was, until his health detioriated, and avid outdoorsman. He hunted anything that could be hunted and trout fished a great deal. He was the only suburban father I ever heard of running a trap line on the Mohawk river and then putting on a shirt and tie for work! My original fishing bug was from him, trout fishing and pan fishing.

The bug went dormant when I went to college and my Dad moved South -

It was a few years ago that my then 7 year old who decided, out of nowhere, that he wanted to go fishing. The bug was back!

Bass fishin' happened by accident, catching a few pond bass while pan fishing on his second trip ever!

Best thing that could have happened to my relationship with my Boy!

[BassAddict]

My dad got me started when I was about 3 or 4. He fished club and Federation tournaments back then. My parents got divorsed when I was 16 and dad had to sell his boat. He stopped fishing tournaments after that. Recently since my brother and I have been fishing tournaments (about 4 years now) my dad hooked up with an old buddy from the club and they fish the same series we do. We've had a lot of fun with it the last few years!

[MIbasser]

I would have to say just like everybody else... My dad and grandpa from the time I was just a little guy. Don't know when I started but I'm going to guess around 4 or 5, but I know the first lake I fished was Houghton Lake in northern Michigan.

[zooker]

lets just say it was in the genes.

pop grew up trout fishing the rivers of germany ,then northern pa and the souther tier of ny. he is an avid deer hunter and trapper..

this fish was live released into my pond...



pop is now 81 and can not get around very well any more..

well on my moms side her whole family lived on the finger lakes of western ny..my uncles are both great lake/finger lake charter captains. they speicalize in trout and salmon..
ivan may reconize these two clowns..both are uncles..



there is no known picture of my first fish. which was a brook trout on a fly rod..

i do have one of my first bass on a fly rod.

but there is vintage proof of my first solo charter on the great lakes.-my pop right my uncle on the left- king salmon btw..



i had to dig like a gopher to find that picture then scan it..

zooker

[Bob60]

To be honest the only bass fishing role model I had was Jimmy Houston. He hooked me with a laugh and a spinnerbait 20 years ago. But I still have a problem kissing them.