Can You Remember The First Time (Bass Fishing)

[jhoffman]

I started fishing the rivers for smallmouths at such a young age I dont remember the first. I was so little in fact my grandparents would take me and when I was off doing something and not paying attention they would catch a fish, hook it on my line and then let it go. One of my fondest memories from those early years was sitting in a 10ft jon boat in the Juniata river with my grandfather in a pouring down rainstorm just catching massive smallies one after the next. They bought the boat due to my passion in fishing. He asked me if I wanted to go home and I told him that wasnt an option. I would give my bass boat away for free to have one more day like that with that man, forever missed.

[TeeJay]

I'm pretty sure it was behind my grandmother's house in Orlando on the little canal that lead to the lake. And I'm pretty sure it was on a cane pole when I was maybe 11 or 12.. I lived over seas most of my life so I never really got to experience fresh water fishing until then.. been in love with bass fishing ever since but I really started getting in deep the past few years. I'm 28 now.. Lol..

[Mud River Matt]

I had caught a few bass when I was younger and fishing for anything that would bite. I didnt start "Bass Fishing" until last year though. I had a decade long heroin addiction and didnt do much of anyhting at all in those years. So last year, I started hanging out at a local archery and bait shop a little bit, and those guys took a liking to me and talked me into going to rehab. Well after rehab, I kept hanging out with them and about this time last year, I was taken on my first bass fishing trip. It has been downhill ever since. I thought my heroin addiction was bad but this fishing thing is ridiculous. Every bait I see I want, every reel I see I have to have, and every rod I see I have to pick it up and play with it. I have bought a boat and now I fish at least 3 times a week, a lot of weeks I fish 5 or more times a week. So that is my story, I am very thankful for being introduced to this great sport, which has really helped me stay clean. Good fishing guys

[Grizzn N Bassin]

oh yeah back when I was little I used to go catching perch and catfish.. but around 7-8 years old I went every weekend with my uncle he taught me A lot for that age I remember the first bass I caught it was on a weed less frog with Salomon eggs on  the bottom of the hooks. we nailed them all morning on them.. that's the day I got addicted to bass fishing and I've fished ever since.. I'm 21 now

[SirSnookalot]

I don't remember my first bass but I do remember my first pike.  My dad and I were fishing in the Detroit River on the Canadian side, I must have been about 7.  We had some motor trouble so we docked the boat on Bobolo Island and while he was fixing the engine I was casting a plug, and I caught my very first pike.  60 years ago seemed like it was yesterday, from that moment on it was nothing but artificial lures for me.

[Hogsticker]

I remember back in the early sixtys I would ride my ten speed 3 miles out to a farm pond north of town in Hillsboro, Oregon. I remember fishing nightcrawlers and such and this guy comes walking by flingin weightless worms and rippin on em. He was nice enough to give me one floresent orange six inch worm and it has been down hill ever since!!! I remember when I got home that anything plastic in my box was modified. Took a lizard I found ... I remember it being a clear brownish color. I cut the legs and head off and just ripped on em the next saturday I rode out. Ohhh the good ol days and the memories. I remember red and white daredevils were good too. Don't believe I even own one of those now.

Tight Lines

I started my early fishing days on Henry Hagg Lake. Very fond memories. I believe the current State record smallie came outta that water.

[Ratherbfishing]

To an eight year old boy whose combined fishing experience amounted to a few trout from a local pay lake and some yellow bullheads under a bridge where a small stream widened, bass fishing, like any other kind was more an abstract thought than a reality.  Somehow I had managed to procure a propeller rigged creme worm and, with a zebco 202, caught a small grass pike that scared the living daylights out of me.  It was so exotic and dangerous I was afraid to touch it.  But it had me hooked!  I had actually caught something with a lure!  Me!!!  I found and purchased a Garcia fishing magazine from a local Ben Franklin 5 & dim.  Ah, it was beautiful!  I poured over the glossy pictures of trout, salmon, and bonefish found in reaches no closer than 8 hours by car (or 800 hours by 1-speed bicycle).  My fingerprints must've been all over that magazine.  I can't remember ever actually reading (or comprehending) many of the articles but those gem like images fueled my imagination!  Then, sometime in early high school, a friend who lived near the Middle Fork river introduced me to Smallmouth bass-or at least the concept of smallmouth fishing.  Mostly we caught rock bass and creek chubs) but now my obsession (sickness) had gained in strength and is only worsening  The prognosis, I fear, is terminal.  But what a way to go!

[Basseditor]

My first bass was while musky fishing in Wisconsin. I dont remember how old i was. maybe 8 or so. Caught it on a suick worked over the top of vegetation. I was disappointed it wasn't a musky.

But we had a great trip. Several 4-5 lb largemouth, 42" northern and 48" musky. My dad caught the musky but the newspaper ran a picture of my brother and I holding it. I misplaced the photo. That was more than 50 years ago.

[Grantman83]

I was 23. I by accident almost caught a large bass and the line broke. I swore vengeance against that fished and promised I would catch him in the future. 6 years later, last summer I went back to that SAME lake and intentionally went to the same area and caught fish there. Truly satisfying

[KY Outdoorsman]

My girlfriend and i had this same conversation the other day. No one in my family enjoys bass fishing as much as my brother and i, hes the one that got me in the sport. When i was about 17, (now 20), i had just totaled out my first car and I was devasted, i busted my leg up so i was laid up for a week or so. He had just moved to northern KY and invited me up for the week, so north i went. He told me to bring my pole although i hated bassin at the time. The next day we went out to Linville Lake, he and his buddy were catching at least 3 a minute to my one every 10 minutes. His buddy said here man tie this on, it was a shakey head. I tied it on and caught up with them. we ended the day catching at least 30 a peice even thought they were small. I got the concept the very first day and ive been loving the sport ever since. My leg prevented me from standing but i still caught my fair share. I fished for bluegill all my life but that day was when i caught my first bass that i can really remember well. Good times.

[greyleg33]

Well, Oregon Native, me too. Actually spent a part of my youth at Gales Creek[or crik as Oregonions say]. It was all about salmonids in those days. Didn't start fishing for bass 'til I was in the Navy and back East.1st one on a Rapala floater.

[Oregon Native]

Well, Oregon Native, me too. Actually spent a part of my youth at Gales Creek[or crik as Oregonions say]. It was all about salmonids in those days. Didn't start fishing for bass 'til I was in the Navy and back East.1st one on a Rapala floater.

I used to fish Gales Creek a lot. Even rode bike from Hillsboro once or twice. Caught lots of slime rockets there. Sooo glad to be away from the salmon/steelhead/trout mentality of the west. Love the fish....not all the attitudes.

Tight Lines

[Raul]

I can´t remember the date, I remember the year, 1980, I know it was a Sunday, always been a Sunday warrior, I remember with what, a Rapala size 7 black and silver original minnow, I remember where, a small lake inside a private community called Lomas de Comanjilla, I remember it was early in the morning, I even remember how I worked the bait, can´t remember the exact weight but it was about a little over a pound; man it´s been a long time if I count by years but I remember as clearly as it happened this morning, years and thousands of dollars in gear later I have the sensation I´m slightly hooked in bass fishing, trout ( what I fished )  can´t stand a chance when compared to bass.

[Brian6428]

My first fish was off a local dock last summer. As a result of summer bordness, i decided to build a raft out of plywood, inner tubes and some rope. It worked, and i decided i wanted to catch fish off of it. I have always been fascinated by fishing and always wanted to go, so this was just the reason i needed. The next day I caught 4 bluegill off crappie nibbles but decided I wanted to catch the "big fish", and therefore decided to bass fish. A long month later I caught my first bass off of a bass pro shops brand crank bait. It was about 11' but I have never been so proud of a fish as i have that one. 

[Scorcher214]

About 5 years ago, I had just gotten my daiwa regal and bionic blade spinning rod and reel combo from BPS and had picked up some misc tackle while i was there. It was my first time targeting bass and I was fishing using a 3/4oz bullet weight and a trick worm in about 2 feet of water. Not catching anything at all. Some guy and his buddy walked up to me asked me how I was doing and i told em i wasn't getting anything. Saw what I was using and suggested what he was catching them on: a 7.5 inch Berkley Power worm in motoroil, 1/16oz bullet weight, and an offset bend hook. I started ripping some serious lips. Must have caught 10 bass on that one worm at least (Which is mind blowing because now I cant get them to last 4 fish). I found the guy again and thanked him a bunch for helping me out. 

[tritondriver]

i didnt fish in my younger years as dad didnt fish, then when i retired from the air force in 1996 at the age of 44 a neighbor of mine took me on a weekend bass fishin trip, first one was on a Rattle Trap about 2lbs..have been bass fishin every since and havent played a round of course since that day...and i thought i spent alot of money on golf...nothin compared to bass fishin but wouldnt change a thing especially when i get to teach my grandkids..that is priceless...

[CPBassFishing]

My first bass came out of a pond at the end of the street 3 years ago on a watermelon red coffee tube, 1/0 EWG, and a 3/16 oz tungsten weight. I just T-rigged it and was hopping it off the bottom. I like to think that that bass is still in there, but who knows........ not everyone follows the rules of C&R.