The most important fish of a lifetime.

[walrus]

I can’t remember the first fish I ever caught. I was long over fifty years ago, and so many milestones have been forgotten.

I can’t remember ever thinking any fishing trip sucked, including the ones where I caught no fish or got so seasick I couldn’t stand up.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
I do have a vivid memory my first store bought fishing pole. It was purchased in Greenville, Kentucky at the Nickel and Dime store when I was eight years old. I can still clearly see it in my mind. It was a cane pole with red and white stripes painted on it, medal sleeves so it could break down into three sections, a short piece of mono line, a wood float, a split shot sinker and small hook. I’m sure it cost a whole nickel. The cane pole did not last long in the hands of an overactive eight year old boy, and no fish were ever caught on that pole. <O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
The reason I remember this so well was because a few days after the pole was purchased, my dad was took my older brother and me fishing for the first time. He wasn’t a fisherman, but he knew we wanted to go fishing. We drove Kentucky Lake and rented a boat. He conferred with the man at the boat rental on the basics of fishing so he could help us. I still clearly remember the details of that day. To keep it short we fished, cruised around, went swimming, and just hung out as guys do.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
Why am I writing this? A short time ago I was talking with my grown son and daughter about their first fishing trip. They expressed how exciting it was, while I remembered how proud I was when they caught the first fish. When I look back on what I’ve accomplished over the years I find those fish are more important to me than the largest fish I’ve caught. I relive those feelings every time someone posts a fish report with pictures of smiling kids, and a proud dad. To you guys, Thank You!<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
Those with kids don’t miss out, take your kids fishing this week, you’ll never regret it. Hey, how about posting a few pics.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
If you don’t have kids or you want more of that feeling I encourage you to support “the Friends of Rollo” to give kids a chance that cannot otherwise get to fish.<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
Thanks for listening.<O:p</O:p

[PapaDave]

I remember my first fishing pole, same time frame. It was a cane pole ith a cork bobber on it. My dad took my brother and I out in the 'glades along the drainage canals. He would use a fly rod to catch bass and huge bluegill while we went down the bank with our cane poles and worms.

I guess it stuck. I am trying to get my grandkids hooked up in the sport these days.

[Deamon]

What a nice post. I also do not remember my first catch but I do remember my daughter's first real catch. She's now 17 years old and the days have flown by. She never picked up the sport but we both clearly remember and talk about this moment. A real treasure picture for me...

[DanaPT]

yup. . . My son thinks catchin fish is easy.

[TEAMFISH]

My first rod/reel was purchased from "Blue Chip Stamps" (anyone remember those?) Well that was 42 long years ago and i still have the setup. Can't remember the first fish but I know it was on the same rod, I was five at the time

[slobslayer]

Nice post... Last week I was going thrOugh my old fishing stuff and found my first fishing pole. Its a chartreuse fiberglass rod with a pushbutton reel. I may refurbish it and try to catch some bass again.

[YakNutz]

My avatar is my daughters first fish, cranked it through the surf all by herself at 2 and a half years old..that's a fish I'll never forget.

[dorado50]

I take kids fishing when the chance arises, no better feeling watching those kids catch a fish! This little boy and girl have gone on to catch dorado and sailfish(mostly on their own) in the last couple of years. The boy here in this pic can actually run my boat now(with alittle guidence of course)......






http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4228/sphotos527.jpg

[GregAndrew]

No kids of my own, but I love to support both kids and other deserving groups getting out on the water.

[FishNinjaY]

I'm close to buying my first kayak, hopefully, a Hobie tandem. Looking for a good fishing yak for me and my son. So far, we've been surf fishing and float tube fishing. My son loves it!

Kids Fishing... awesome! :reeling:
http://youtu.be/C9IeJPiXsH0

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C9IeJPiXsH0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

My middle girl (7) is a bit too much of a princess, but hopefully, my youngest girl (5) will grow up with the bug!

[tomahawk]

My dad wasn't a big outdoorsman, but my uncle was. He bought me a rod and reel when I was 7 or 8. Then badgered my dad until he took me fishing. First trip was to campland in mission bay for a weekend. Only thing I caught was an octopus. My parents bought my sister a rod and she caught a 20" halibut. Didn't return to salt water for 8 years. turns out dad gets sea sick. fished lots of lakes all over california. When iwas old enough to go out on 1/2 day boats on my own i was hooked. I started my son fishing when he was 4 or 5, I have a great picture of his first barri on a 1/2 day trip when he was 7. I remember how stoked I was when he caught his first yellowfin all on his own and how happy he was. Fishing with him is and always will be one my great joys in life.

[Hypnofish]

Here is a memorable one with my 12 year old son on his lime green mini X. Super Bowl Sunday we changed up our routine and went out Kayak fishing. We meet three dudes that were bigger than any Ravens lineman.

https://vimeo.com/user2958944/review/58918234/cb5390cc53

[FishNinjaY]

Here is a memorable one with my 12 year old son on his lime green mini X. Super Bowl Sunday we changed up our routine and went out Kayak fishing. We meet three dudes that were bigger than any Ravens lineman.

https://vimeo.com/user2958944/review/58918234/cb5390cc53

you're gonna need a bigger boat! :eek:

[Fish4Fun]

I remember mine. Had to saved many weeks to afford a Daiwa casting rod (I was fascinated by the rod having a U offset) and a spinning reel. I remember this well because the first day I used it we had to run from a sudden tropical downpour. In my haste I lost the fastener screw to hold the reel. Luckily the guy at store from who I bought the reel fashioned a a wing nut and a screw for me. So for the rest of many years, I had the most weird looking setup for hey I had so much fun...

[wade]

Nice look back down memory lane, Walrus!:cheers1:
I remember mine..:reel:
http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwegallery/data/635/208576_1937791369852_3749609_n.jpg

[driftwood]

Yup, First impressions last for ever in a kids mind.

http://www.bigwatersedge.com/bwevb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1818&d=1263085652

[bellcon]

No kids of my own, but I love to support both kids and other deserving groups getting out on the water.

Hell Greg, I have a few you can help support :D

[RGB]

Great stories! My son just got his first fish last week in Mission Bay (he just turned 3). Just a little Lizardfish that most would consider a nuisance, but i'll never forget it. Hopefully he'll remember it too, if not i have the picture to prove it.

[theluckypig]

Hell Greg, I have a few you can help support :D

ditto!

[JarrodMc]

My pops was never a part of my life but my mom sure did the job well. She took me out to Lake Wohlford and a local old man that always fished the lake, Nick, helped me get us set up on my way to catching my first rainbow trout. My mom and I ended up going more often and Nick was nice enough to even give me an old rod/reel combo he had. Man did I catch some trout on that. And 15 or so years later I'm still fishin. I don't always catch but hey, you don't win the lotto if you don't play.

[lamb]

Good stuff!

Nothing like fishing with kids.

But be aware - it doesn't mean you kid(s) will get the same bug you have.
Trust me, I know that the 1st hand, it's my cancer wound :(

Fishing has been running in my family for 3 generations...
I've started taking my son out from an early age, and he caught pretty much every kind of fish we catch in our local waters... He never really showed too much of an interest to go back. Like it's cool and all, but given any other choice - he'll pass on going fishing. :(

I remember a distinct moment when I realized this kid was never going to be big on fishing. He was maybe 8, I took him out for some PM halibut fishing along Zuniga Jetty in SD Bay. We were not there maybe even 30 minutes, he started whining "dad, when are we going home?..." I kept brushing him off with "when we catch a big fish".
Soon after, he hooks up. He brings it to color, and all excited I say "big halibit!!!" It wasn't really that big, 10-12# from what I recall, but I tried to make it more exciting for him. We didn't even bring the fish on board, the fish is hanging down below the boat - right away he responded - "ok, can we go home now".... :o :o :o

People told me he may get back into it once he gets older...
He's 19 now - I'm still waiting. :)

We still got some great memories

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/gallery/files/3/6/1/6/dino_10lb.jpg

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/gallery/files/3/6/1/6/IMG_9727.JPG

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/gallery/files/3/6/1/6/IMG_9724.JPG

[seaquinn]

I have been fortunate to have both my boys love fishing, and we put together a nice photo site, at www.FishingWithTheKids.com (http://www.FishingWithTheKids.com)

Only "problem" is that one is now obsessed! He just won an age-group (11-14) freshwater bass year-long San Diego contest, now we have to take him to the San Joaquin Delta for the California State contest, but hey, I am proud of him. I just can't get that much into just catch-and-release bass fishing.

Thanks for starting this cool post!

But like most of us, hey my brother hates fishing, and I am obsessed, same dad and mom and home.

[seaquinn]

At 8 or 9 years old he caught this 28-pounder by himself, we were wondering why it took so long, while we were catching 15-20 pounders... big, exhausted smile:

http://www.fishingwiththekids.com/images_web/gavin_huge_yt_kitchen.jpg

and with older brother, at 8 and 10 years old:

http://www.fishingwiththekids.com/images_web/eli_and_gavin_with_yt.jpg

[Wayne_R]

No fish yet. Only 2 trips under his belt, one to Perris (yuk) and one to skinner. Hopefully get one before he turns 3 :)

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad55/bamboleo_photo/jrffishing2.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad55/bamboleo_photo/jrffishing.jpg

[Sully1]

Excellent post. WTG!

[Deamon]

Good stuff!

Trust me, I know that the 1st hand, it's my cancer wound :(



Hey Adi, I hear you on your boy, too bad. Hopefully he gets back into it someday. I'll tell you what...I'll wear his floppy hat (don't you have one like it?) and I'll fish in his place. We can repeatedly hit your halibut spots until he gets back in the game, okay? Jim

[crazyfishnfool]

My boy Rocco's first ocean voyage on the island task out of Ventura. I think I have created another fishing monster!!:reeling:

[lamb]

Jim, you got it! :D
I hope you saved the one right where I met you otw.
I heard that one can produce, at times. 70 - 75 ft ;)