How Did You Learn To Fish?

[Oregon Native]

Pretty much self taught.  Got to go with my Dad a few times but seems there was never much time...always busy.  Had buddies in High School I went with and we all learned.  Did go salmon fishing with Grandma when younger on a charter...was cool.  Saw a bass tournament many years ago on Siltcoos Lake in Oregon....been down hill ever since.....

[Bassun]

My learning was a mixed bag.  Early on, (like 4-5) I learned on a cane pole (or long stick) how to catch bluegill from dad.  Then shortly later had my first hookup with a big farm pond bass with my snoopy rod with my aunt and uncle.  Cannot say that I learned a whole lot then, but I did get the bug which I think is the key for a kid.

 

I fished with my dad as a kid and began to learn how to sein for hellgrammites and fish creeks from him.  It took me a while to figure out how we could both be fishing worms, etc. side by side, in the same creek, and he would catch more fish.  He taught me the magic of structure and cover.  I still remember, plain as day, my first "a ha" moment as I watched my bobber float about 3 feet further from the bank than his, and when his came up to this bush growing out over the water his bobber got yanked under while mine just kept floating.  Next cast, I was in the right spot, and it was a game changer. 

 

I went from that moment of catching redeyes under a bush with my dad to fishing J-7 Rapalas waist deep in a creek within a coupe of years on my own.  Basically from there on, I learned creeks and rivers myself.  And, to be honest, I still think wading a creek with a little J-7 is my absolute favorite fishing to do.  20 inch smallmouth on 4-6lb line in the current of a nice creek is hard to beat.  As for lake fishing, watching Bill Dance etc. as a kid introduced me to some techniques, then reading magazines all the time helped.  But, when I finally got out on "big water" I struggled.

 

I've since learned that part of the problem was obviosly me, the other part is that the lake I was trying to learn on is notroriously hard to catch lots of big largemouth on.  And while I felt like I was doing horrible (obviously compared to TV shows) I was actually doing ok.  I've continued to learn all the time, still reading magazines, and more recently reading a ton here and by watching videos on you-tube as well.  If I had access to a lake as a teen, and the internet resourses we have now for learning - there's no doubt I would be a much better lake angler today.

[Bankbeater]

I started going fishing with my Dad when I was about 7.  He would cat fish and I would fish for pan fish.  Sometime in the late 80's we switched over to bass fishing.

[Djf3864]

My dad when I was a kid, but mostly my younger brother.  He was really into it growing up and only now I have started to pick it up, I lean on him for a lot of advice and to bounce ideas off of.

[OroBass]

Self taught

[Ratherbfishing]

My dad brought me and my 7 siblings trout fishing in a pay lake a dozen or so miles from home.  Then, riding my bike, I fished for bullheads, carp, bluegill and channel cats in the river near home.  A friend introduced me to wading for smallies and rock bass in a rockier stretch of the river and I decided this was much more desireable than the sit and wait approach.  I was mesmerized by the Virgil Wards fishing show and I imagined myself doing similar things when I finally grew up and had the chance.  I'm (much) older now but I still haven't grown up (entirely) and I still haven't fished most of the places Virgil Ward did.  But the enthusiasm and imagination of youth must have sustained me into my adult years as I still pursue my finned quarrie.  But to answer the question, it was a combination of lots of reading books and magazines, watching fishing shows, perusing sites like this one, learning from some friends, and LOTS of trial and error.  Probably the fish have taught me the most. 

[buzzed bait]

started just fishing with my dad....  for everything he could catch

on camping trips to the lake, we would fish at night for catfish.  during the day, target bluegill with bobbers.  other times we would hike in and trout fish often with spinners, plugs and crickets.  good times for sure.

[Steveo-1969]

My dad wasn't a big fisherman, but he taught me how to tie a clinch knot and cast a spincast reel.  After that growing up it was watching fishing shows, reading magazines and fishing with friends.  Now that I've picked it back up and become completely addicted to fishing it's still watching fishing shows, reading things on the internet (like this website!) and fishing by myself and my son.

[WRB]

We lived on a lake about 50' back from shoreline, fishing was a family event for dinner.

I learned to bass fish from being around a boat landing where my older brother worked by 2 very competitive anglers and reading Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and Sports Afield magazines. My favorite was Jason Lucas during the 50's.

Tom

[BassmanDan]

I went fishing once with my grandpa and uncle but it wasn't until I moved to NC that things got serious. I learned from books, the internet, TV shows and anything else I could get my hands on.

 

Sidebar...I remember catching my first bass on a Heddon Crazy Crawler when I was around ten years old...I'm going to throw one this weekend just for nostalgia's sake.

[joefish]

My Dad took me river and creek fishing for cats and we fished ponds for crappie and bass. Don't remember how old I was when he started taking me but we lived on a farm so hunting and fishing was always a way of life when I grew up.

[rhino]

Guess I'm the odd one out. My mother taught me how to fish. She would take me down to the local lake to some folk's dock that she knew and we'd worm or minnow fish with a bobber. My father never liked to fish. My father in law is who got me into it big time though.