If you could thank one person..

[zaraspook_dylan2]

Who would you thank for getting you into fishing? Personally, it would be my dad for me. I remember going out with him on his old bass boat when i was 4 years old. He was with me when I caught my first bass on a fire tiger rattle-trap. Every fish I've ever caught, I dedicate to my dad, for he is the reason I love this amazing sport.

[Infidel.]

My Dad for taking me fishing and God for putting the fish there in the first place.

[acmaul13]

X2 8-)

[skunked_again]

My Dad for taking me fishing and God for putting the fish there in the first place.

word for word X2.

[Grey Wolf]

My father.

[Sharpie]

My dad for teaching me how to fish then, my wife for letting me go fishing.

[TimJ]

my cousin for starting me into fishing and my club friend Bruce for starting me into tournaments and a steeper learning curve.

TJ

[MALTESE FALCON]

My dad, he had a real passion for the sport, and got the fever started in me.

Falcon

[BUCKEYEone]

in place of my absent father, I thank both my grandfathers for teaching me the basics.  Neither one a bass fisherman (walleye) but they gave me the tools necessary to catch the bass bug!

[grimlin]

I guess i have the INTERNET to be thankful.I wouldn't have 1/4 the knowledge i do now because of websites like this one.

None of my family got me into fishing....I just went to summer camp one day when i was just a very young boy...while everybody went swimming all i wanted to do was go fishing for some odd reason.My mom says i have my grandfather's blood running thick in me...he was the only hardcore fisherman in the family.Sadly i never got the chance to meet him.

My passion was bluegill fishing which i still do once in a while.

[flyboy]

I have never had a chance to thank him but I would thank a really great guy from North Carolina by the name of Buddy Norris.  Buddy took me fishing the first time in an aluminum boat with a C-clamped on trolling motor and put me on my first bass that weighed 9# in Winnie's Cove near Belle Glade, FL.  We spent many other productive days fishing together and even won a tournament together.  He put me on fish one day when I caught not one, two, but three nine pounders on an old Hot Spot on three consecutive casts.

I lost track of Buddy in 1979 and don't know whether to thank him or curse him for this obsession he cultured within me.

   

[bass or bass ?]

My Grandmother taught me to fish from the bridge over Cypress Creek right next to their house in Ft.Lauderdale Florida when I was 13 years old in 1964. Thanks Grandma.

[Pez]

My Dad for taking me fishing and God for putting the fish there in the first place.

word for word X2.

        X3   

[swilly78]

There really isn't one person to thank.  My Dad took me fishing as a kid, but I was bored with it at that young age.  I didn't really get into it until my early twenties.  I guess I would have to thank every fisheries manager in Massachusetts, Arizona, and Illinois, for providing a heck of alot of opportunities to enjoy this wonderful sport.

[bassinbob54]

my dad too..started takeing me as soon as i could sit in a boat as he and my mom cast away for hours at a time and soon i was right there beside them, and still at it over 50 years later...

[BassnMan Mike]

It would have to be my dad as well. He worked 2, sometimes 3 jobs to keep a roof over the heads of our  family of 6. Still, no matter how busy he was he would always make the time to take me fishing. I remember he would rent aluminum boats from the base, sometimes with motors, sometime we would row and we always caught fish.

He has passed on and I sure do miss him. I would give my left arm to take him fishing just one time in my Champion, he would really enjoy it

[Catt]

My Dad for taking me fishing and God for putting the fish there in the first place.

Bingo 

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

my dad for teaching me how to fish when I was about 3 years old.

[roadwarrior]

Speedy Madewell.

I started fishing with him in July, 2001.

We have been fishing together ever since!

8-)

[Siebert Outdoors]

My Grandfather.  He use to take me when I was 3-4 yrs old

[J Francho]

I can't really name one.  My Dad, and my Grandfather (his dad) for all the fishing, and my "Big Pappa" (maternal grandfather) for getting the family a cottage to spend our summers.  Finally, some stranger in a bass boat that asked if he could cast in between our docks.  I asked a simple question, and he showed me a Texas Rig worm, how to pitch a baitcaster, and gave me hooks, sinkers, and a bag of Culprits.  He has no idea how pivotal that was in a 12 year old's life, LOL.

[TimJ]

JFrancho...now that's the coolest...and I'll bet you're giving back to kids big time. I enjoy teaching kids to fish, not necessarily for bass, but just to fish. If they like it, they'll expand, and I'll be there to help.

I have a mystery person too. He helped me with T-rigs and rebel purple ringworms many moons ago at a Michigan campground. First time...tap-tap-tap...wow.

TJ

[Wild Bill [NY]]

In my case it was both my Dad and his Dad, my paternal grandfather.

Both took the time to share thier passion of fishing with me when I was very young, starting at 6 years old.

Both of them are both now long gone to Heaven, but I still share my catch with them by holding the fish very high to the skies before I release the fish, so they both can 'see' the fish better that way.

Nowadays, I pass my passion of fishing on to the next generation through many fishing programs with the Boy Scouts and also through the NY State DEC Dept of Freshwater Fisheries where I act as a volunteer, teaching at childrens fishing programs.

Sharing fishing with novices and others today brings me great joy

[J Francho]

JFrancho...now that's the coolest...and I'll bet you're giving back to kids big time. I enjoy teaching kids to fish, not necessarily for bass, but just to fish. If they like it, they'll expand, and I'll be there to help.

I have a mystery person too. He helped me with T-rigs and rebel purple ringworms many moons ago at a Michigan campground. First time...tap-tap-tap...wow.

TJ

I help kids out here and there, mostly I talk to their dads (if they're there), and give them a couple of lures, and explain how to use them, and then they can show their boys how to do it.  Its better if their dads take all the credit.

[K_Mac]

For me it is my younger brother. He was the one who got me back into fishing when I was in my late twenties. I had gotten caught up in all the challenges of life, and forgotten that all work and no play makes Kirby a dull boy. We fished together for years, and we learned a lot about fishing and life together. When he was killed in an accident it was a very tough time. I refurbished his boat last year, and it gives me pleasure to know he would be happy for me when I use it.