How were you introduced to fishing?

[GVSUKUSH]

I thought this would be a neat way to learn more about how some of you were introduced to fishing as a youngster, or not so youngster.

I know I was about 3 when I caught the bug, and I drove my dad nuts with questions on family trips like “Dad, any fish in that stream?” “how bout that one?” “What kind of fish are in there?”

I went back to my roots this past spring/summer and started hitting the bluegills and stream trout like I did when I was a kid.

I started off fishing for stream trout at an early age in the Whitney Drain (E. Branch Au Gres) about a half mile from US 23. My grandparents lived there and we’d just walk across the street and jump the guardrail to the ditch. My dad would pack his pockets full of splitshot, pliers, eagle claw snelled hooks, and night crawlers. I’d cast out into a hole, drop the rod to the edge of the bank and watch for bites. If I close my eyes I can remember it all, the smell of the clay banks, aroma of various plants in the summer heat, bug spray, and stringers of trout for the frying pan. There are some things that you’ll never forget, and those days on the banks of the E. Branch were some of my best memories.

I grew up across the street from a private subdivision pond and spent hours, hell days, fishing for gills and bass while other kids were getting in trouble. I guess that’s why I had so much fun with big gills last spring, it reminded me of a simple time where I didn’t have to worry about when I could fish next, mortgages, car payments, 8-5 work schedules, etc. Things were pretty simple back then.

As Thousandcasts said in another post, sometimes you just need to remember that you’re fishing because it’s fun.

[pikedevil]

My dad got me started with bluegills when I was 3 and my metamorphisis into an obsessed fish addict was shortly after. Between ages of 5-12 we lived in the desert southwest and I would have to wait for our family trips to the mountains where we would fish for stocked trout from the banks of the mountain lakes. We caught plenty and I soon learned things like light line = more trout.
We moved to Michigan when I was 12 and my fishing education really sored. I now had tons of oppurtunities literally in my back yard (we lived on a trout stream and 1/2 mile walk to the grand river) My dad still fished with me a little but I self taught myself through a lot of reading and a lot of trial and error. It took me 3 years to catch my first steelhead but now they come more often than not. At age 15 my neighbors starting taking me out on lake michigan and I realized that was where I wanted to spend my summers. By age 16 I was mating on charters and now we own our own boat and have been routinly cashing checks in the big tournaments on Lake Michigan.

[SRT]

When i was 4 my parents lost me in the woods and i had fish to stay alive until I was found by a michigan-sportsman 10 years later.

[trout]

When I was five I remember bluegill fishing at a pit in Ohio.
I don't think we even caught fish but I remember the walk and the feelong that I want to play there more.
Cool Sig SRT ;)

[GVSUKUSH]

I wonder how many of us started out on 'Gills, I'm gonna say the majority.

[ESOX]

My earliest reccolections of fishing are sitting in a 15 1/2' closed bow Lone Star fishing for perch in the dumping grounds on Lake St Clair. Have a few pics of me out there before I could walk, but I really don't remember that.LOL

[dinoday]

I can't remember a time when I didn't fish.I can remember back to about 3 or 4 and fishing with a cane pole for bluegill with my grandpa.
I do know he's the one that got me fishing...started out with gill's took me up to perch and bass.He took me on my first Canadian fishing trip when I was 10 and there's been no looking back!
Thanks Grandpa :)

[Steven Arend]

I was born with a Fishing Pole in one hand and a Bow in the other with a gun slung around my neck.

As far back as I can remember I was always fishing somewhere farm ponds, drainage ditches, and the big lake. I can remember being a kid and fishing on the big pond with me dad and catching kings the size of Mac trucks. (When you are 5 years old they look like whales.) I have traveled through out the states and I’ve always brought a fishing pole and if I did not have one I would make one out of what ever I could find.

Steve

[callie]

At six my family moved to Grayling and rented a house on the Ausable. Every waking moment, when I didn't have chores or school, I'd be on that river with an old Shakespeare rod and reel of my dad's and a bucket of garden worms. I'd have a ball. Then three years later we moved back to Petoskey and I began fishing the Bear.

[ESOX]

Funny you should bring this up. Trout and I were discussing the same subject on our way back from the outing with the kids last Sunday. and neither of us can remeber not fishing or shooting. I know my kids will not be able to remember when they started either.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88706

[GVSUKUSH]

Paul, that thread is what got me thinking about this.

My dad is responsible for my love of the outdoors, I've just taken it to a higher level than he ever did. When I have kids I know they'll have the same passion (if dad has anything to say about it) :) .

[gvsufishin]

Kush,

I'm suprised you were'nt banned from Okemos for fishing, that sounds like somthing us hicks from Mason would be doing :evil:

This is a good post even if you are from Jokemos. I was lucky enough to have a pond in my yard growing up that my dad kept stocked with bluegills, bass, perch, and trout. I spent just about every spare minute I had fishing it. Even when I go home now I still have to throw a line in and catch a bluegill or two.

[GVSUKUSH]

Kush,

I'm suprised you were'nt banned from Okemos for fishing, that sounds like somthing us hicks from Mason would be doing :evil:

This is a good post even if you are from Jokemos. I was lucky enough to have a pond in my yard growing up that my dad kept stocked with bluegills, bass, perch, and trout. I spent just about every spare minute I had fishing it. Even when I go home now I still have to throw a line in and catch a bluegill or two.

I was one of 4 or 5 kids in my entire high school that could be considered hicks. Very few kids that hunted and fished. You can make fun of my high school all you want, my wife is from Grand Ledge and she does it all the time. :lol:

[J - Rod]

Unfortunately, I grew up in Shiawassee county, not a lot of fishing opportunities. I would go fishing a couple times a year at Sleepy Hollow and in the UP for panfish/pike with my dad. Trolling daredevels and bobber and worms were the only techniques we knew. I had a reveleation when I was 21, interning in Waukegan, IL, and I lived 5 minutes from the Bass Pro Shop in Gurnee. As soon as I set foot in the door, I became addicted. Like Pikedevil, I taught myself everything by reading and trial and error. Ironically, I was back to the basics of bobber and worms for steelhead this past fall (with a little more refined of a presentation.) Grand Rapids is great place to live for people addicted to fishing, I can't even imagine having to live in Shiawasse County again. Now it's my turn to show my dad how to fish.

[J - Rod]

[QUOTE=gvsufishin]Kush,

I'm suprised you were'nt banned from Okemos for fishing, that sounds like somthing us hicks from Mason would be doing :evil:

QUOTE]

You don't know the meaining of the word "hick" unless you've been to Ovid-Elsie.

[SLIPBOBBER]

I really don't remeber the first the time I ever went fishing, but I do remember many times going is a kid. I was lucky enough to live withen walking distance to a lake in Gladwin county. There were not many times that my dad took use fishing, but the times he did I think I can remeber most of them.

I remember my first time salmon fishing. Just after they banned snaging.
We traviled to Harrisville and set up early afternoon and waited and waited.I was getting really bored and tired setting on the cooler watching my poles.
Then my pole started shacking and I just sat their. I then watched my dad get out of his chair and grab my pole. Will you missed that one he said.From that point on I was hooked stareing at the end my fishing rods.

I did end up catching to biggest salmon of my live that night a 32# king.

That is something I will never forget and some day hope to experance it with my kids.

[TroyBasso]

Unfortunately, I grew up in Shiawassee county, not a lot of fishing opportunities. I would go fishing a couple times a year at Sleepy Hollow and in the UP for panfish/pike with my dad. Trolling daredevels and bobber and worms were the only techniques we knew. I had a reveleation when I was 21, interning in Waukegan, IL, and I lived 5 minutes from the Bass Pro Shop in Gurnee. As soon as I set foot in the door, I became addicted. Like Pikedevil, I taught myself everything by reading and trial and error. Ironically, I was back to the basics of bobber and worms for steelhead this past fall (with a little more refined of a presentation.) Grand Rapids is great place to live for people addicted to fishing, I can't even imagine having to live in Shiawasse County again. Now it's my turn to show my dad how to fish.I too grew up there in the 70's and early 80's. After a 11 year stint in the service, a wife and three kids I landed in Tennessee. I would give anything to move back to Michigan...... even shiawasse county.

[GONE FISHIN(LARRY)]

By heredity I guess ,my father fished,both my grandfathers fished,and now my kids love to fish.I reaily don't remember how I got started, I've been fishing as long as I can remember,as with my kids now all our vacations growing up involved fishing.

[thedude]

well, my first fish was a bluegill, i was only 3 and i barely remember it other than the picture. My parents don't fish unless someone is taking them. (Although my dad did take me to the pond to get my fist fish). My grandfather on the other hand was a fishing fool. (an ornery one at that). Took me to canada when i was 7 and i never looked back. My first official (no-help) fish came on consecutive casts of a blaze orange / black dotted daredevil spoon and both were identical northerns.

i owe a lot to my grampa for getting me hooked. Its lead me to my true favorite pasttime (duck hunting :) sorry guys) and my best friends are the ones i hunt and fish with. Some of my best memories are in a boat or blind (or both)!

[Houghton laker]

WE have spent our summers up at Houghton lake ever since I was born....I have spent many a day out on the pontoon boat bluegill fishing with my father!! Then came the move up there...after school I would be out gill fishing till my mother would blow the air horn to let me know that supper was ready!!......my dad was'nt much of a Ice fisherman...so the elder neighbor asked if I would like to start fishing with him after school and he would teach me all his tricks!! I would get out of school...hop on the arctic cat...and head out to the shanty!! he would have the holes and pole all set!! he taught me many different jigging approaches that I still use today!! He ended up being well known on the Lake for his walleye catching talents and even in his passing :( I still appreciate all he has taught me!! My Dad doesn't get out fishing with me at all any more because of health...and florida :) but I always make sure his freezer is full of fish! ;)

[piker13]

when i first started fishing i was 3. my dad took me icefishing. now i want to fish every day possible. now.... im 15 now and caught 6 fish ranging from 29''-36''. i never want to stop.

[Splitshot]

For me it’s a long way back and that is why this post is a little longer than most. My dad and mom used to set up a crib in an old row boat they rented on a lake just north of Grand Rapids. I considered both of them experts with a cane pole and they never used anything else. About ten years ago I took my mom and brother on a little lake similar to the one we fished as kids and I’ll be darned if my mom at 77 didn’t out fish us both with a cane pole.

One of my uncles had every modern piece of equipment available in the 50's and even by to days standards was a excellent trout fisherman. I had a great uncle who was born in Fife Lake and knew every lake, river and stream in the area. Both of them took me with them often. I always felt I was one of the luckiest kids in the world.

When I wasn’t fishing with family, I was off fishing local streams and lakes around the east side of Grand Rapids, practicing all the things I learned from my uncles and parents. I started hitch hiking at age 9 with permission from my mom. Oh how times have changed. It was pretty easy to get a ride if I had my fishing pole with me and I fished every day I could.

At about age 16 my folks bought a little cabin in Dublin, MI and a whole new world opened up for me. My dad was a car salesman and he always had a beater at the cabin for me to drive. Every weekend I would be out exploring every little two track within 25 miles looking for some new lake or creek to fish. Everybody liked my dad and although he didn’t fish much any more, there were always people at the cabin.

Most people knew he didn’t fish so were not reluctant talking about where they caught fish and what lakes, rivers and streams were the best places. Dad would always tell me about those places and I would look them up on a map and find them. After I got home from the army and graduated from college I thought I was a pretty fair fisherman but a new revolution was about to begin.

It took me two years to save enough to purchase one of those funny little green boxes manufactured bu Lowrance. By that time we had moved to Milwaukee in the early 70's and I lived about a mile from the Fishing Facts tackle store where I spend a good deal of time. At the time I was back to my roots fishing bluegills and must have been pretty good because Spence Patros asked if I would be interested in a job writing about panfish for them.

I had to decline because it just didn’t pay enough. After a couple of years there we moved to a little town just outside of Madison. Learned about walleye fishing especially on the Mississippi River and found some of the best bluegill lakes I ever fished.

Moved back to MI in the mid 70's and just kept fishing. Last year I think I must have spent a hundred days on the water. I know I’m slowing down a little but I keep meeting members here and I just can’t resist exploring new territory. Since I was old enough to drive, I have spent a long 4 day weekend fishing new water every year. My best friend and I used to plan all year for the trip we called celebrating the rights of spring.

It is the best advice I can give anyone and because of that, I know so many good fishing places many of them I don’t even fish once a year. I have them all listed on lake computer map and a river one and the maps are so cluttered map notes you can’t see anything unless you blow them up so you can only see a couple of miles. Heck last week I fished two new lakes, one by invitation that I won’t even put on the map. Caught some 10" gills too. When someone is generous enough to take me to a good fishing spot my policy is not to go there again unless it is with that person.

Lots of people wish they could have fished Michigan back then, but although there were a lot less people, the fishing today in many respects is better now than it has ever been.

[Garden Bay]

My brother (Sofa King) took me fishing on the Thornapple river any chance we could get away from dad and the farm for a few minutes. He had a lot of patience because I was always caught in branches or snagged up on something. I remember fishing with him, but never catching anything :confused: However my Grandfather had a cottage on horsehead lake and would take me for a weekend. He always fished with a cane pole, he gave me my first rod and reel, I don't remember the rod, but the reel was a Zebco 202. I remember catching bluegills and sunfish off the end of his dock. I lost my grandpa to cancer when I was 10 years old, but everytime I go fishing I think of him.

[Ranger Ray]

Although my father was not a big fisherman and pretty much taught myself everything I know, I still attribute becoming a fisherman to him. He did not teach me to fish but moved us out of Grand Rapids and into a house on White Lake when I was 8 years old. I think I fished everyday that first summer fishing and the rest is history.

[Icet]

I have fished since I can remember. Must have been my dad as I don't recall anybody taking me when I was real young but him. I loved it so much that I would sneak down to the river to fish - mom used to pack me a lunch if I told her I was just going down to the pond - but that river kept calling me. The might St Lawrence is where I first fished for big-uns. I fished when I was in the service literally all over the world. I love fishing. When I finally moved to MI. I could not wait to buy another boat for LSC. I brought up two boats from down south but they were not suitable for the lake. At least that is what I told the wife. It worked. I will stop at a mud puddle, that's how bad I am. On my honeymoon in Key West we went fishing for three (3) days. Almost fried the new bride from the hot sun. Lord, I caught fish, I mean son I caught fish. Loved it. Lived down there for a number of years, quite a few and can tell some Salt tales but that is not what you asked. Yep, thanks to my dad and living on or close to the water all my life. :) :) :D