I was 12 or 13. Rode my bicycle to Outdoors Unlimited in Arlington and bought a Millionaire 5H. Still use it when I take my Dad catfishing.

I had to be either 10 or 11 years old. My best friends uncle sold me an old Ambassadeur 5000 for $20. I thought I was "Big Time."

The ole knuckle buster reels. Caught my first bass when I was in the 4th grade. Old Hickory Lake.

Ernester, my first was a 5h also, man I was on cloud 9 when i got that real. My grandpa used an old Knuckle Buster wth nylon line and a spark plug for a weight when fishin in the Red River. I have two of those old reels in the box with the paperwork.

The same time I got the bass bug, 20 years old chunking a Quantum.

O.K. kids, I am really old! My 1st baitcaster reel was a Bronson. Then my dad and I each had a green Shakespeare (President?) with nylon gears. Neither reel was free spooling. The rod was a Heddon hollow glass rod, and you could really cast with those 5/8 oz. plugs. I entered a bait casting contest at my Jr. High, organized by my scoutmaster, Mr. Pierre Fontaine, Director of the Dallas Aquarium (later the Dallas Zoo). My 1st cast at the target (hula hoops)was a dud because I forgot to take off the click. The other 9 casts were right on or close, and I got 2nd place. I still have the little medal somewhere. And our line was 15 pound black nylon. We actually caught some fish with that line! I also had a metal rod, which I used for trolling!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fishing-Reel-Bro...=item3cc2244c13

11. Bought a new Amb. 5000 switching over from a Mithell 300. Went through about 4 million yards of line that year too.

I was more old school when I started fishing.

Late bloomer, I'm 28. I just switched last week to a baitcaster. I've been fishing with spinning gear forever. Bought a couple cheap daiwa strikeforce baitcasters to see how i liked it.

ambassader 5000c , bought new in the 60's
mitchell 300 , bought new at the factory in france.(1960 USN)
still have both reels.

8 or 9 and Ambassador 5500, I still love these reels.

I think I was nine and it was an old blue Dawia Millionaire on a Lews Stick.

I can still remember clearly my older brother, about 19 years older than I am, taking me to Sears to buy it.

I also remember him bragging to everyone about how fast I leaned to cast it. What a great big brother.

It was 1985, I was 10 years old and it was an old quantum. Got it for christmas from my mom and dad. I was top dog at the local tank!

My brother gave me a hard time because that is all I wanted for christmas. He told me that he could catch just as good with a string tied to his toe. Now days he looks to me for answers when he goes fishing. I tell him a sting and his toe works well. OH how I love paybacks!

Awesome stories!!! Thats neat stuff, keep em comin

^^^^^^^Same here^^^^^^ I was 13 and mine was red. Purchased from BPS in the days of C.O.D. shipping. Also purchased Minn Kota trolling motor, 17lb thrust. It still works to this day.