First Fish Tale

[BassBeat101]

Hey everybody!  This evening at my league night I was talking to a teammate of mine who is getting into fishing this year for the first time - and I was telling the story of how I got into fishing.  That got me thinking - what are everybody's own personal story about the first fish they ever caught?  Mine's really simple, but special to me...

It was about three years ago, a noob to the fishing sport.  My grandfather had fished his entire life, but I never really got into the game at all.  That changed 3 years ago, as I was looking for a new hobby that was a departure from my atypical Miller Lite and the newest Madden combo.  On a whim, I decided to try fishing - no particular reason, just thought I'd give it a shot.  I didn't really know any fishermen, maybe I was trying to be weird - who knows - so I decide to head out to Wal-Mart to pick up my new "rod n reel".  It was a Rhino spincaster, sadly she's gone now but a decent pick up for 30 bucks.  

So I head out to my local lake, and without really having any idea of what I'm doing, toss my bobber with a chartreuse/red jig out into the middle.  It was mid to late February, rather cold as I remember.  I had no idea what to expect, but on my third cast (ever) I felt a small 'tick' in the line, and sat there, stunned, and with a naive, subdued feeling of excitement.  Next thing I knew, my bobber was all over the place and I was the proud owner of a lovely red eared sunfish.  I just sat there and stared at it for a second, not knowing how to take the darn thing off the hook.  I finally figured it out, and let the little guy go.

I don't think I caught a fish for the next 3 months - but it seemed that every time I was close to giving up, I would feel a slight nibble on my line- and come back for more the next day.

It's been my favorite hobby ever since.  And while my fishing skills still leave much to be desired, I strive to improve every day, and I have at least limited my skunkings to about a week or 2 timeframe.

Daryl

[eastkybass]

I can't remember the first fish I ever caught but there are pics of me floating around from when I was 3-5 years old with rod in hand and fish on the end.  One of my favorite is the first bass I caught while really trying to catch one.

I grew up crappie fishing mostly but when I was around 12 my Dad got me my first bait caster.  I was out at Cave Run lake and had spent most of my free time learning how to cast with it so I was really excited to give it a try for real, so the first thing I did was tie on a black shad 7 inch culprit worm and made a cast off the end of the dock.  When I was dragging it along the bottom a felt a tick and the line jumped out to the side.  I set the hook and started to reel.  When I got it in  I had a 17 inch Spot on the end of my line and was hooked for good.

[skillet]

 Both my Momma and Daddy were dyed-in-the-wool cane pole fishermen (and fisherwomen, maybe anglers is a better term), so I don't know when I started. Really,as far back as I remember. Man, if I had the time, some of the stories I do still remember (burnt too many brain cells at one time) but as all of you "all fishermen are liars" ;D!!

 I do remember the first bass I ever caught. I must have been about 7 or 8 fishing with my parents (fishing with worms) for catfish. We were using cane poles and corks and the cork just went out of sight instantly, no nibble or anything. When I raised the pole, which had to be 8 or 9 feet taller than me, I couldn't get the fish to come to the top of the water. Not knowing any better, I just ran backwards up the bank pole in hand, and drug him out of the water. Thought it was the biggest fish I had ever seen !! My parents soon thru cold water on the whole situation by telling me "It's just a bass". They considered anything they didn't eat on about the same level as gar :'(...

                                                As Ever,

                                                 Skillet

[Triton21]

I don't remember my first fish but sure remember my fisrt legal bass.  I was at my Grandfather's house fishing the small stream across from his house and had caught some sunfish on worms.  I turned over a rock and there was a cricket under it.  I caught it, put on my hook, tossed it into the water and the water exploded.  A 14 inch spotted bass jumped all over the cricket.  I was tickled to death.  I had caught several smaller bassbut this was my first "KEEPER".

Kelley

[fezkoe]

I cant really remember my first fish and it was only probably 10 years ago. But i was just a little kid who went fishing with his uncle on vacation one day. I was trying to fish and i was having trouble casting. I tried to get the cast and it didnt work. The rod eventually came out of my hands and was lost on the lake bottom. My uncle was very mad because it was a pretty good rod. I was discouraged. But he forgave and told me to keep trying because i was so discouraged from what had happened. I then caught a little fish,thinking it was a bass, a little one. But that was what i think my first fish was. And its too bad that i stopped fishing for a while. But after i came back, the first fish i caught, was a nice 14 inch bass. Immediately when it hit the water, the bass hooked on and it was so much fun. I decided to bring fishing back into my life then.