For your interest in Fishing and the Outdoors ?

It was my Dad and GrandPa. Fish'n & Hunt'n fools, that really rubbed off on me and my brother.

Fortunately my Kids love Fishing and the Outdoors too.
If I can pass anything on (other than money) it would be my love for fishing..

Started off trout fishing the streams every Monday night in NJ with my pops.

I was at a Boy Scout retreat for a week at Possum Kingdom when I first saw one of the guys fishing off the bank and catching perch. I told my dad that it looked like fun. He said when we get back home you can go fishing with your Grandpa, cause he likes to crappie fish. I started fishing with him and have been hooked on it ever since. Spent millions on fishing it seems, since that first day watching at PK.

grandpa and grandma,they got stuck with me and my brother every year when school was out for the whole summer. Grandpa was the head Deacon for the little country Baptist church where they lived, and had the key to the churches cabin on the lake nearby.
We were at that cabin seemed like all the time. His v-hull aluminum boat with 10hp got us to all the crappie spots just fine. It has taken me 50 years, and I'm with my third wife, but I'm back on the lake everyweek, at my own 'cabin'. Thanks grandpa and grandma, I know we drove you guys crazy,...but I loved every minute of being with you guys. jim

Growing up in Houma, LA just made it a way of life. My earliest memories are of being out on the boat fishing, trolling, hunting, skiing..etc. We had several camps out in the swamps, as well as on the saltwater bayou in cocodrie.

By the time I was 12, I was really sick of eating shrimp 5 nights a week. When we moved to texas, I couldn't believe how much money people would pay to eat what to me was baitshrimp.

Trout fishing on a fly rod with my Dad as long as I can remember. Notice my trusty shooting iron to fend off Bigfoot!!

Grandpa. Would spend several weeks in the summer in Hamilton, TX fishing the Leon and the tanks in the area.

We fished for everything. My grandmother cooked whatever we caught. Even made carp taste pretty good.

My brother.

My grandfather was a professional hunter and trickshooter for Marlin, back when gun companies hired guys like that to be filmed shooting animals with their guns and to travel around giving shooting demonstrations. Later he was a rep for Abu Garcia, a whitewing guide in Mexico, an inshore guide in Port Mansfield, and a YO Ranch guide. The house was full of trophies, guns, knives, etc. and it was never boring being around him.

I grew up in Southern California and within a 3 hour drive we could be in the mountains, the desert or on the beach. My parents took me camping and fishing with them at least a couple times a month. Even though LA was a big rat race, there were more outdoor opportunities in California than anywhere else I've lived.

No one in my family. They are the most non outdoors people I know. Well, except for picnics and stuff. Every time we went to the lake, if I saw someone fishing, I would be right there next to them asking them a million questions. I didn't start fishing and hunting till I was 24

My Father would take me any chance he could. I remember Mom would tell me right before bed time that Dad is going fishing tomorrow and I had better get my things together! Man I would go nuts getting all my tackle and rods together... I never could sleep either...I missed so much school back then but it was worth every day I missed. April 1st was by birthday and opening day of trout season so I alwys went fishing on my birthday and I still do to this day!!
I love Dad!!

My Grandpa and my uncle....Never had a dad growing up so I feel very fortunate to love fishing....I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world

myself

Great stuff, so many diverse back grounds with a common interest. Amazing.