First ever ...

[Johnsfolly]

I don't know if these were my first fish but I do remember catching bluegill and small bass from a.community pond at my aunt's place in Fishkill NY. We would only get out there once or twice every couple of years. That pond had the most aggressive bass. So much so that I would go thru my tackle box and try lures that I hadn't caught fish. If I couldn't get a bite in the pond I would just toss those lures🤔😉. In the late summer trips the bats would be thick and they would dive bomb our baits. 

I do remember catching my first brown trout in CT on a rooster tail when I was 10 or 11.

I know that I have told this story before. My first fly caught fish was a fallfish from a creek in the Poconos when I was 21. I was fishing a Caddis and lost sight of my bait. I made my back cast and the fish went sailing past my head and landed on the bank behind me🤣.

[Foghorn]

The first "fishing trip" I remember wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. My Gpa Tom was raised north of what is now Johnson's Shut -Ins so we would go there on occasion. The men were talking going fishing and me being a 6-7 year old kid thought that we'd get our limited fishing gear at the time and enjoy a family outing. This is going back several years ,but I remember it was strange that nobody had any fishing equipment but had gigs and 22 rifles. I don't recall anyone "catching" anything but do recall one black snake that caught my attention. At that age , the snake looked like a anaconda as it was laying on a limb right above where I was supposed to follow the men on the trail . I hit the brakes only to be questioned by Grandpa as to why I was stopping. I pointed to the snake and he reached up and grabbed the snake and threw it off in the brush. I pretty much stayed in his hip pocket the rest of the day.

[basska]

No clue. Nobody in my family likes to fish. I had to teach myself completely in the last few years. My kids (God willing) WILL be fishing. I'm sure I caught some bluegill somewhere when I was little. Fun topic.

[Gavin]

I have no idea, but I'm sure it involved a Grandpa Pigeon's purchased Zebco 202 and Sunnen Lake in Potosi, MO.  I still wish that I had that combo, but I broke the rod beating a cottonmouth to death with it 45-50ish years ago.  The spillway below the dam was one of our favorite spots, but very snakey.

[FishnDave]

Rub it in.  Look at all you guys... "I caught my first fish when I was a young'un barely born!"  

Despite the many frustrations, I haven't given up yet! I'll let you know when I finally catch my first fish!  There WILL be yelling and dancing and celebrating!  Or at least that's how I imagine it.

[Foghorn]

14 hours ago, Gavin said:

I have no idea, but I'm sure it involved a Grandpa Pigeon's purchased Zebco 202 and Sunnen Lake in Potosi, MO.  I still wish that I had that combo, but I broke the rod beating a cottonmouth to death with it 45-50ish years ago.  The spillway below the dam was one of our favorite spots, but very snakey.

Man you are correct about the snakes. We were trying to fish below the dam one day and struggled with all of the snakes and teenage girls our age sunbathing on the back of the dam.

[MrGiggles]

Don't remember the first. Definitely do remember the obsession with all of the fishing magazines in the school library, and always ogling the 30" pike that my dad had mounted in the basement. Had a pretty impressive collection of lures from garage sales and stuff, and many holes in my clothing from cutting hooks out. 😆

My grandma had a lake cabin near Alexandria, MN. My dad and I took many trips there, never really caught much that was exceptional, bass and sunfish mostly, the one notable memory is when we arrived somewhat late one evening and the big bullheads were eating, kept a couple and smoked them on the small barbecue that was there. Delicious!

Went to Lake of the woods one year with my uncle when I was 11, in early March as I recall, temps were fairly mild but there was still 3 feet of ice. Caught many nice walleye, jumbo perch, a couple tulibees, and an eelpout. There are pictures somewhere, next time I go up, I need to get them digitized. Had wicked sunburn/tan from the sun reflecting on the snow and ice.

Made another trip with my uncle one winter out to Grindstone lake chasing smelt, which are sort of like sardines, but bigger, 6-8 inches. Very toothy, predatory critters. We cleaned them with scissors, snip the head off, empty the gut cavity, and fry them whole. The bones soften enough to eat, I never really cared for them, but my uncle ate them like french fries. 

The small town that we lived closest to had a bank tournament on the city lake one year for the kids, I was probably 7 or 8. Had a prize for biggest and smallest fish. Don't remember anything notable being caught, but a 12" bullhead won it. Got a very stern talking to when I hooked my dad in the palm on my backswing. I was close to getting the small fish prize with a sunfish that was about the size of my hand, the fishing in that little mud puddle wasn't exceptional. 

[ness]

These are all pretty cool stories. 

I think I'm gonna change the title to something besides first fish. But we need to keep it clean, boys.