Why?

Did you start fishing? Was there a defining moment...or did you just grow up fishing?

Personally....I grew up fishing. We took our daily salmon limits from Trout run. We Killed deer and small game....and ate predominately what we killed. It was a way of life....not a sport.

My kids....another story...they have "defining moments"....

my daughter was a 20" bass that still causes her to watch a bobber with malicious intent. She can't wait to stab somethin else.

my boy caught a pike on spoon as he pulled it out of the water for the next cast. It blew up in front of him. Defining moment!

While I grew up fishing....I also have a defined moment(s).

While I thank my Dad for all the knowledge he gave me.....I thank Indisquiz for having the "One Fly". I learned to flyfish for this competition....and since I've picked up a flyrod.....I'm using it year round....My hole fishing experience has been "re-defined". Thanks Jack

Slick

For me, It was the memories of fishing with my grandma. Both my folks worked (long hours/shift work) and I was raised by the wonderful old lady who loved the out doors and who hunted and fished. She taught me to respect the fishery and the game I hunted and seemed to "know everything" she even started me on my love of Bamboo. I've had many memorable moments but I think one of my biggest and recurring one is also the "One Fly". The amount of comraderie and excellent fellowship shown by the attendees sets a new standard for me each year. And my final defining instance was seeing the little guy I led along the streams (my grandson) be able to lead me and show me stuff he learned on his own.

i got cut from a little league team at age 9 (because my dad would not bribe the coaches with cigars like the others-1962) and was devastated. my dad went out an bought me a cheap casting outfit that really wouldn't cast too well, but after ten minutes, i was hooked for life.

btw, i started playing ball again in 1964 and did not quit until the mid-90s. ball became something i did when i wasn't fishing.

my dad and older brother never hunted or fished. i started fishing with my grandfather about the age of 6 or 7. hunted with him at age 12. love the outdoors!

kinda the story how i got fishing and my first fish with a fly rod

http://streamsidetales.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-owe-it-to-my-grandfather.html

Double Post: Another quick story.

My first flyrod was a Cabela's Youth model, 7 foot 9 in, for a 5 weight. It wasn't a bad rod, though the reel was terrible, but I needed something bigger for smallmouth in the river that ran 200 feet from my front steps. For my birthday my parents got me an Orvis clearwater rod with a rocky mountain cassette reel. This was a big step up in terms of gear. The closest fly shop was the orvis store down in Tionesta, so thats where my dad purchased the rod. He was talking with Dan, the shop owner, and mentioned that I had been experimenting with a double haul. Dan told him "Well, if hes going to be hot-dogging it like that he needs a wonderline" and gave my dad a wonderline for me free of charge. Happy birthday kid. Thats why supporting local fly shops is such a big deal to me, they've always treated me so well. Good memories.

I was born in december, and by mid june I was in a back pack on my moms back fishing for smallies....... French creek was so close to the house that I have fed ducks in our driveway while they were swimming (helluva flood). I did'nt have many toys, I had a rod, knife, hatchet, and a bb gun.... If I was not swimming, I was fishing. My dad is 100% the reason I fish, I can never thank him enough. When we go out now after steel head or musky, I outfit him, I figure he had to do that for me I might as well pay him back.
 
Jacob

Started going ice fishing with my dad when I was around two years old, he took me along so he didn't have to pay a babysitter. Actually started fishing around 4 years old and that's been it ever since. Soon I was kneeling over the seat of his 24' boat out of Port Clinton catching walleyes,perch & white bass. My dad has been my main fishing partner (when I go with one) for my entire life. He taught me a lot and now I'm passing that along to my kids (who love to fish) as well.
Doesn't matter what kind of fishing it is or what we are fishing for, I enjoy it all.

These are some really great stories...I enjoyed them all...thanks for sharin'.

Fishing in Canada as a young boy started the insanity.  Since then fishing has become more fun and exciting year after year.  Local stockie fishing in my home waters and fishing the Allegheny River have been constants since I was about 16.  Now that I've added Erie into the regiment fishing has become a 365 day addiction.  

My old man was in the Army and never really had time to take me fishing when I was a kid. That would change later though. I would spend a couple of weeks with my grandparents every year when I was very young. One day I was in the garage looking at Grandfathers fishing rods and reels and he ask me if ever been fishing and I said no. So he stop what he was doing right at that moment and said get in the truck. He put some fishing rods in the truck and we drove to the store and picked up some chicken liver and then to a bait shop and got some worms. We then went to this little creek that did not look like it had enough water to hold fish. We fished for Catfish and I was hooked for life. A lot has change for me since that day I was fishing that Texas creek. But one thing is I still love fishing just like I did when I was a kid. Every chance I get I am fishing.

ORIGINAL: mohawksyd

To meet chicks, of course!

 
Me too.
 
I've been fishing since I can recall.  Not sure if my Dad took me as early as I have taken my kids.  My daughter caught a fish at 17 months.  Just yanking up and down on a rod, off of the cabin docks at Moraine.  I know from pictures, I was fishing at a golf course pond by my cousins' house when I was 4-5.  Pretty sure my Dad started taking me trout fishing around that time, and we were always at Moraine, Pymatuning or Erie for picinics / vacation.  When I was 8-9, he'd be mad at me for "bass fishing" instead of "being patient" trout fishing.  His definition of trout fishing was soaking maggots or meal worms on the bottom of Cannonsburg Lake.  I've always liked moving from spot to spot, tossing lures and exploring.  Once my Dad realized that I didn't worship trout like many do, and the Pgh area didn't hold many trout waters, we focused on the other warmwater species lakes and rivers.  Although, this is the same time that we discovered steelhead fishing.  From about 10 years old until I was too old "to think my Dad was cool", we took a few weekend trips to the Nut, Elk, Trout Run & Godfrey, never going upstream from the parking lots and didn't even know there was an "East Side"...  No matter what type of vacation we were going on, I had a rod and gear packed (still do).  I took a little break in high school, like Syd mentioned, meeting chicks on the water, just wasn't happening.  Although, still managed to fish, but was in transition from the spinning rod to my personal surf rod / telephone pole...  When college came around I had figured out how to get chicks with spending 1/4 the amount of effort, and opened up the fishing time again.  There was some ok trout streams along with a few lakes relatively close to campus.  My senior year, I tried my hands at fly fishing.  For about 7-8 years it was my preferred choice of equipment.  Then got a kayak and the fly rod was too much of a PIA.  After, got a regular boat, and still found the spinning equipment more effective.  Now I grab whatever gear seems to fit the situation the best, and give myself the best chance at catching fish.  I just recently purchased my first noodle rod, figuring it was better suited for the trip or two that I make to the tribs over either of the 3 fly rods I own.  That and I'm too lazy to switch the Rio Clouser line off of my 8wt reel...  My first impression of the noodle isn't much.  Can't mend the line or do a quick roll cast, but would definitely help on keeping skein or minnows from flying off and probably best for casting lures into the lake.  I didn't do any of this, mostly used flys, jigs and wax worms.  Probably better off using a fly rod for each... 

Dad didn't fish so it was up to Grandpa to teach me the ways of the outdoors...
Started trout fishing in the Brookie stream that flows through my yard....
I can still remember rowing my Grandfather around Sparty Pond watching him work his magic on the Bass with a Purple rubber worm. ( I was 12)..
Been hard after it ever since...
Here's a pic from the way back machine...My first trout..(1969?)...
 

Awesome pic there bings! Retro for sure duud.

Fishing is in my blood...Most of my ancestors did it and dad kept the tradition going for us, thank God. First time I fished was a lake in Missesauga, Ont. with my family....I remember catching frogs for bait. Although refridgerators didn't look quite like the one above, it was still a long time ago! Grew up fishing Herford Manor, Slippery Rock Creek, Connequenessing Creek, Moraine and many local farm ponds. Grown to love fishing by boat on the lakes and any body of moving water. I got into muskie fishing in college, late 80s, and was introduced by one of the best Todd Young. Not a day goes by when I'm not thinking of my next fishing adventure...its been what has kept me out of trouble once retired from sports; I only hope my children do the same.

Quite simply put , Thanks Gramps.   He always had time to take me fishing after school and on sundays.

First as a youngster it was the piers around the Bay for perch and crappies. Usually spring and fall times. He always showed me what to do,how to cast,how to tie(knots),how to bait the hook, Techniques Ive kept for many years.

Secondly he took me on the boat( "The Pimp Daddy Caddy" ). I be getting older and more Sperienced. Trollin for eyes. How to feel for the bottom, what to use,plugs ,spoons,harnesses.

Thirdly he showed me how to catch steelies. Ive become my own fisherman by now and Gramps still always had time to take/go with me. Ive always enjoyed his company and I never forgot the things he shared with me.

Especially his patients to teach me about fishing all the different kinds of species of fish.
 
He now cannot do any of it but every time I visit him I share my fishing stories with him and to see his smile makes me happy to know he'd be right there with me if he could. Thanks again Gramps.

The Deetz

my dad and grandfather got me started at an early age.we used to fish for catfish at the mouth of elk and used to walk down from the road.this was before the access was built.i can remember sitting on grandpas shoulders walking down that steep trail that led to the mouth.we would fish all nite and sometimes take a tent,(when we were allowed to tent)and stay all weekend.my first fish was a 23 inch chanel cat that i got on my little zebco rod and reel dad had bought me the day before we went.i was 2 if i recall,and dad let me fight it the whole way to net.of course he stood behind me so i didnt get drug in. lol.i wasnt gonna let go of that pole.when i got it in everyone around us started clapping and hollering about the "little"kid and the big cat.these memories ive kept for years until now.im trying to make new memories with my grandsons as they both like the outdoors.thanks for starting this post.it reminded me of why i do this thing called fishing and try to pass it along as i go.