Who introduced you

[Captain Cali]

My dad. We used to go salt water fishing all the time. We never did fresh water for some reason. He hasn't gone fishing in years.

I've asked him to go with me but he doesn't seem very interested. He is a workaholic.

It's either work...or Maui for a couple of weeks!  8-)

[SBM-RL]

my grandpa when i was probably 4 or 5 but big tome bass fishing started on my on when i was 11 an caught a 5 pounder in a pond buried in the woods at my cottage i caught it on a live frog

[j-bass]

Since I was too young to remember, my mom and dad would take me to what they called "the perch hole" (a small water lock connecting two resivoirs). They would sit me there in the grass w/ a 5 gal bucket 1/2 full of water for grass shrimp and minnows, I'd have my trusty cane pole w/ bobber and I'd catch perch all day (called 'em perch then, but they were sunnies and Rio Grande perch)............ah, the good 'ole days.

[Vyron]

I would have 2 say, my self when I was 6-7 years old. My dad cares only for hunting  .

[ejtaylor822]

My Dad and "GrandDad".  Have seen pictures of me fishing with them when I was proably 4 or 5 years old.  Fished until early teens.  They fished worms, minnows, corn, bread all on bobbers.

Started again couple of years ago, but flyfishing.  Neighbor got me started initially.  Read some books and took a class at a local outdoor store here (Great Outdoor Provision Co.).

Eddie

[RODBENDER]

My daddy .....and i guess my whole family ....(they all fish )

I can remember waking up in the bottom of the old jon boat on Grenada lake and daddy would say

" thought u was gonna sleep all day "...i'd pick up a pole and start fishing ...

Momma said she hated gettin me dressed in the middle of the night to let him drag me out in the middle of a water hole ...But she always did it anyway to keep daddy happy ...

When he died it took me a couple years to get back into the swing of things ...I had to start making all the decisions on my own , and its hard fishing in an empty boat when i'd never done it before ..

[stratoscaster]

My daddy .....and i guess my whole family ....(they all fish )

I can remember waking up in the bottom of the old jon boat on Grenada lake and daddy would say

" thought u was gonna sleep all day "...i'd pick up a pole and start fishing ...

Momma said she hated gettin me dressed in the middle of the night to let him drag me out in the middle of a water hole ...But she always did it anyway to keep daddy happy ...

When he died it took me a couple years to get back into the swing of things ...I had to start making all the decisions on my own , and its hard fishing in an empty boat when i'd never done it before ..

I don't mean any disrespect whatsoever so don't take what I'm about to say like that. What you wrote sounds so much like a country song I can hear the music. 8-)

My uncle use to take me bream fishing when I was 7 or so.  He was just being the great guy that he always was.

[Zebco202]

Roland Martin, Orlando Wilson and Bill Dance

When I was a kid I used to love to watch fishing shows.  I don't know why but I remember that they used to show Roland and Orlando on TBS and I would watch it ever week.  My dad didn't fish so until I was a teen I had only fished a handful of times.  When I was a teenager I had a couple of friends who were really into fishing so we used to go alot after school, so I guess I owe them some thanks for keeping me interested and teaching me a thing or two.

After having not touched a fishing pole in more than a dozen years, a friend here at work turned me on to it again this spring.

Since then, I've spent a ton of money (i've bought about 11 or 12 rods and reels this year), caught a few fish but most importantly I've made many a new friend and have some lasting memories of some fun times on the water.

[liquidsoap]

Well my dad used to take us when we were wee little which wasnt all that long ago.  But then he just stopped.   :-/

About 2 years ago, I was golfing and seen a bunch of carp and was thinking hmmmm?

Boy the rest was history.  ;D  

[Fish Chris]

This is a quote from my website;

>This site is dedicated in loving memory, to my late uncle Elton Wise, who placed a cane pole in my hand at the age of three, and showed me the sport which would become my life's passion.<

Often when I stick a big one, I can't help but feel that my Uncle Elton is smiling down on me, with pride :-)

My dad didn't fish, and was often gone (he flew a lot in the USAF). Mom used to take me to the local park duck pond sometimes. I still remember one time when I was about 5, she took me over there with a cane pole and Shiners, and I caught 3 bass from 10 to 12 ! .....Oh... Inches, I mean... 10 to 12 inches :-) But isn't it funny that I remember those bass as well as I do many of my 10 plus lb'ers.... even though those fish were caught 30 years before ?

Peace,

Fish

[RODBENDER]

I don't mean any disrespect whatsoever so don't take what I'm about to say like that. What you wrote sounds so much like a country song I can hear the music. 8-)

My uncle use to take me bream fishing when I was 7 or so. He was just being the great guy that he always was.

[FlyRod]

My Dad (RIP), his fellow Army officers (AKA "Uncles", mostly all RIP :'(), and some of the wonderful local folks in various places we were stationed...KY, TN, TX, LA, Panama Canal Zone (Die! Jimmy Carter!!! And do NOT RIP>)

FR

Forever grateful.

[fishingJ]

The fish

[WishICouldFish]

My dad a few times when I was younger.  Other than that...my college

[RockvilleMDAngler]

My Grandfather (RIP) and uncle always fished in the ocean and that was a blast but I first got REALLY interested in fishing when my Dad took my little sister and I for a walk (I was maybe 7) and we went over a bridge where kids were fishing for carp with bobbers and bread.  A carp or catfish took this one older kids bait and swam at top speed taking his lure (and nearly him) under the bridge, the kid tried to tighten the drag but it was useless.  As the kid was holding on and bending nearly off the bridge the fish swam over 70 yards and then snapped the line, sending the young angler toppling backwards.  Ever since then I loved freshwater fishing.  So since my Dad took us on that walk I will credit him even though fishing has never been his obsession.

[titelinez]

My father definitly got me into fishing. He would take me to Loch Lomond reservoir when I was kid. Then when I was about 8 years old I caught the biggest bass I have ever caught. I think that day really stuck in my head. I was really proud of that fish.

ME: casts spinning rod with a worm out from a point on the shore.

DAD: Standing 100+ ft away fising for some bluegill.

ME: Appears to have gotten hung up on a rock about 6ft out in the water. I give it a few tugs and it comes free. I'm then nearly pulled off my feet and into the water as a big ole female bass scooped my worm up off the bottom.

DAD: Looks over and sees that I have something on my line...continues fishing.

ME: Starts screaming my head off that I got a big one on the line.

DAD: Looks over and smiles

ME: Pulls this 5+ pounder from the water and I'm standing there with the fish fully out of the water and just hanging from my line.

DAD: Looks over and screams,   "Deva!!! Stay right there!!! Don't move!!! I'm coming!!

ME: Lets the fish flop around on the rocks not wanting to pick it up cause it was big and kinda scary lookin.

DAD: Scrambling over the rocks and running as fast as he can in my direction.

ME: Dad, look what I caught!!

DAD: Bangs his shin on a rock on the way over cursing under his breath but totally freaking out that his son had just caught the fish of his life.

He was one proud Papa that day. I have a picture of that fish still and when I wish I was catching bigger bass i just pull that pic out and smile.

For years I didn't fish much but last year I decided to pick it up again. Since then I have been fishing whenever I get the chance. Me and Pops still go fishing every once in a while. Everytime we do I think of that day. He still freaks out when I catch a fish. He almost tipped our boat over trying to get the net next to the fish last time I caught a dinky trout.  ;D

[MadGator]

My family (Dad, Mom, and 2 bros) used to go fishing every spring, summer, and fall with my grandparents up north in WI, MN, and Canada.  My grandparents (grandpa 83, grandma 79) just stopped going to the Chippewa Flowage twice a year about a year ago.  We were fortunate enough to be able to go up for a long weekend on they're last trip.  Our main focus was always Walleye, but we would often fish for pannies, when the going was slow and to keep us kids occupied.  Some of my best memories were fishing with my dad, brothers, and grandfather.  My grandpa still makes walleye jigs, he has a stock pile of about 1700 he would like to spread through out the family.  I took a day this summer and had him teach me how to make them to continue the tradition.  

Once we had gotten older, and in high school we were no longer able to go fishing with the family.  All the social commitments during that time were just too much, my parents sold our camper and we pretty much stopped fishing for several years.  After college I moved to Madison, WI, into a house with a close friend of mine and his girl friend.  Shortly after, both of our girls broke up with us and much drinking was had.  When the girl left she took our TV (just like a woman).  We got a new roomy, who had a TV, but only stayed for a couple months.  So now it's summer and we don't have a TV.  One night we decide we had had enough and go TV shopping.  The plan was for me to buy a new TV, and my friend to get a theater system.  Had everything picked out, then when we went to make the purchase they were all out of the TV, which pretty much deflated our plan. The next day, my buddy suggest that we go get fishing poles.  Seeing how we live around four lakes, I agreed. My thought was that bass would probably be (next to pan fish) the easiest to catch close to shore.  So we talk to a very nice gentleman at Gander Mountain, and he gets us setup with some nice bass rigs and tackle.  Each of us drop about $150 in rods, reels, and tackle.    I fell instantly in love with fishing all over again. Since then (about 4 years ago) I have several thousand in rods, reels, and tackle and a boat.  My friend has moved away, but we were able to get together for a fishing trip in Kentucky this summer.  Also, about the same time I renewed my passion for fishing, both of my brother did the same.  Fishing with my brothers is one of my most favorite things in the world.  Now we need to work on our dad.  ;D

[vincedia]

My best friend got me hooked, but it took me over 10 years to realize it!

We were in High School and he had a house on the jersey shore. His father had 2 boats, so we spent many summers on the ocean. We would go fishing quite a few times throughout the summer. I still remember catching weakies off the beach in Cape May. I also have distinct memories of the Cape May shark tourneys. All these huge boats speeding through the normally calm dock that his house was sitting on. Watching the fishermen pull huge beasts out of the boats and on the scales.

That was it for over 10 years! I had not touched a pole since. Then two years ago a friend asked if I wanted to hit his favorite local stream. I had to run to Wallmart and get my license, rod/reel combo and about $5 worth of lures. He rigged everything for me because it was different than using live bait and trolling in the ocean. There was no bank fishing, but we waded into the water on a 90+ day and just sat there under a bridge. It was extremely relaxing. I almost blanked as he was pulling in a few, mostly pan fish. I threw the lure into the water and got bored. So I set the rod down and lit a cig, and as soon as I looked away....BAM a sm took it and ran. I grabbed the rod and pulled him in. That memory stuck with me for a long time. I think this is when I picked up my bait monkey, but thank god back then he was still young, it took him another two years to hit me hard.

So within the last few months I decided that I wanted to fish and needed to buy all new equipment and tackle. And that's how I got here!

Vince

[Nate]

My mom got me hooked when i was about 3 because my dad was always too busy with sports and things that he had to do so i was raised by my mother.

[alhuff]

My dad got all of his kids, including me, hooked on fishing from the time we could hold a fishing pole.  most of us still love to fish to this day, there were 6 of us.

growing up you worked and fished, not always in that order.

i enjoyed reading all the stories you all have posted, now we all have to insure that we pass the same love for fishing and the great outdoors on to our kids and grandkids.

thanks for the topic LBH,

Alfred  

[Rattlinrogue]

My Paw-paw used to take all of us grandkids bream fishing when we were little 'uns.We caught the heck out of some big bull bream.

[New Bass Man]

My dad.

[Crabcakes]

My grandpa really started it for me. He took me out fishing on the beach when we went on family vacations to North Carolina. My first fish was a spot out of the surf I caught with him. He'd always tell me "keep your line taut". I've been fishing ever since and in the last two years started freshwater fishing but the salt is home for me. I've now landed 46 species of fish which is pretty good for 18. He's passed on since then but the love of fishing and the outdoors he inspired will stay with me forever.

[abelfisher]

myself.  Dad was not around.  Fortunately, I got my son introduced to fishing.  

[jomatty]

i wish i could say that my dad had got me into fishing.  i think our relationship would be a lot closer if we had that to do together.  unfortunately he dosent care for it.

my friends father is the one who really got me into fishing.  he would take us fishing from a very young age on his bassboat and also on float trips for smallies in his john boat.  those were great trips.

my mom had no interest in fishing but would drive us to the river and patiently wait as we threw grubs and nightcrawlers at the bluegill.  

when it came down to it i was hooked as soon as i dropped a line in the water although i lost interest for other pursuits for a few years in my late teens early twenties.

matt