22 replies to this topic

[abelfisher]

Who was your fishing mentor?  Father, grandfather, mother, etc.  ?
How did you get started in this great sport

[D.Taylor]

Baby Sitter at 6 months old.
Mother and Father Both fished tournaments
My Mom was actually featured in Angler's Sport Magizine

[Aaron_S]

My dad and I used to only bluegill fish with crickets and one morning he said you want to try bass fishing?  At my young age I was like sure can't hurt and we caught about 10. I soon realized how fun they were when my dad tied on a topwater hula popper and the bass came blowing out of the water.  Then my dad bought me some fishing tackle for christmas.  Then I started looking online to find out more about bass and I saw how much information there was.  Soon after I found this site and I have been reading the posts on this site for about 5 years.  Ever since then I have kept reading about it and now it is a hobby and an obsession for me.  
Sorry about the novel just a little bit on how I got started.

[Orabbit]

Two people influenced me as a boy, my grandfather and a older man who was a commercial river fisherman.  I grew up on the Rock River in northern Illinois and after Grandpa showed me the basics, I would hang out at the power station fishing site.  This old fisherman noticed me there several times and one day asked if I could like to help run his lines.  From then on he taught me alot as I help him every day I could.

After that I fished regularly until college.  Then family and work seemed to get in the way.  I retired 4 years ago and started doing some "light" fishing (panfish) but not avid.  Last June I had the chance to join a group of guys for a 7 day trip to Canada.  Since that experience I have been totally hooked.  Now I fish 3-6 days weekly when the water is liquid!  So 30 years after fishing I got back to it!

[eddiefebuary]

My Dad. It was about the only thing we did together. His version of fishing though was sitting in the same spot on the bank all day waiting for fish to come along and bite. I quickly outgrew that and started fishing with lures with my buddies.

[squid]

My Dad and my relatives on my mom's side of the family when I was 3 or 4.  Back then we didn't have the tiny kiddie poles they have today, but it was fun.  Also, you could keep bass 10" long.  I remember my dad getting upset when it went to 12" and all he caught were 11".  Now it's 14" and we only catch them 13 3/4"...lol.   I grew up watching Bill Dance and Rowland Martin and others of that time frame....then came alnong a HOME boy that I root for now....KVD...lol...the Kalamazoo Kid.  I am a big fan of any Michigander who is fishing in the big leagues.  Like Chad Grigsby, Kevin Vida, and Kevin VanDam.  There are others, but these names are the ones who stand out right now.

My buddy got me back into the fishing habit and we then got into tournaments together.  Going on 5 years fishing in tournaments from local Wal-Mart tournaments to League trails.

[Snag]

I actually began on my own. My Dad said he didn't have the patience to sit and fish, so while I was growing up watching him play tennis at a park by the river I found an old cane pole at my Aunts house and taught myself to put a worm on the hook. After many mistakes I learned to do it somewhat right lol.. But the big mistake came when I caught my first catfish. OUCH....Didn't take long after that to learn how to hold them lol.. From that day on, I was hooked and the rest is "Early to bed, early to rise, fish like he.. and make up lies"...
Later,
Snag

[Snag]

Does he need another nephew????? lol

[buzzking]

i got satrted with my dad. him and i have fished together since i was born.

[playmaker47]

when i was six my dad took me fishing at a small pond by our house. haha i caught a big chunk of weeds my first cast and i just thought that was the greatest thing in the world. ever since ive been hooked

[Fisher of Men]

My dad introduced me to fishing.  I have many fond memories of camping and boating in our little 14 ft. "bomber style" fiberglass bass boat with a 20 hp Chrysler motor.  We fished for bass, sandbass, ran lines for catfish.  The other influence for me was my grandmother.  She would take my cousin and I bluegill fishing and man could she catch the bluegill.  We'd throw lures while she sat and kept catching.  She'd actually take a stringer home and fillet those little boogers.  They'd curl up when you fried them and it was like eating popcorn shrimp.  
I think it's so important to introduce your kids to the outdoors.  Just don't force them though.  When you take the kids, don't plan on fishing yourself.  Let it be their time.  AND, when they are ready to go, GO!
My wife's uncle burnt their son out on fishing (when his son was ready, he'd wait four or five hours before going home, and his son finally quit wanting to go.  

[abelfisher]

Great advice, fisher of men!  Great advice!

[Zaraspooker]

My dad got me into fishing when I was about 5 years old. He used to fish tournaments and what not. I remember my first Bass ever. Since then I have been "hooked" on Bass fishing.   Me and my dad were best friends for years, until I became Einstien (aka Teenager). We had enough fights in our time to start our own UFC. At the careless age of 17 years old I packed my stuff and moved out. Since then me and my dad have not been the same. We talk from time to time and I try to let him know how much I love him, but some things were said that neither one of us can take back. I want to become a guide for pure love of the sport and to show my dad what a good teacher and father he is. Anyways....... thats who got me in to Bass fishing.

[Will]

My dad started me fishing, but he likes to walleye fish or troll instead of bass fishing. Once I turned 10 I started teaching myself bass fishing techniques. Now I am teaching him how to fish  ;D.