Who taught you to fish?

For me, my Grandpa taught me freshwater species,and the saltwater it was my Dad.
I don't know why, but all my Grandpa fished for was freshwater fish,and just the opposite for my Dad.

For me it was my Grandma. She fished to live. She would always catch fish no matter what, or at least seemed so.

She passed early this year. She never did make it out on the new boat, but her old reliable pole makes the trip. We use it once every trip, just so she knows she is still with us. The pole is about 40 years old. But that fiberglass still brings in the big Salmon like it was nothing.

Sure miss her, but am glad she taught me what life really was.

My grandpa introduced me to steelhead fishing in his drift boat on the cowlitz when I was 8 years old or so. I still remember reeling in steelhead that he hooked. I however taught myself how to fish by reading Herzog's and Vedder's books and by just being on the river. So I started 8 years ago and haven't looked back.

for me, it was my dad and grandfather, growing up in ct, i was introduced to stripers, bluefish, and lots of flounder, I feel like i spent half my childhood sitting on the floor of my dads, boat as we journeyed around L.I sound, then my uncle took me to Maine and taught me the in and outs of trout fishing for a summer. also i can't forget the bluegills and sunnies we chased around the local lakes. still have my grandfathers deep sea rod. it is a real reminder to me.

My Grandpa taught me to fish with a flyrod in eastern Washington when I was probably 3 or 4. He used a flyrod for everything, flyfishing, baitfishing, even trolling for macs with lead core line. I caught my first trout on single eggs, but as soon as I was able to handle the rod a little better he taught me to tie flies and flycast. I caught my first steelhead on a fly I tied myself - it was a colored up summer run and I thought it was a huge trout. I was probably 10 or so before I even handled any kind of tackle other than fly gear, when I did it was a green hornet (direct drive, no drag or free spool) and a Payless special Eagle Claw rod that I caught my first winter steelhead on. We had just moved to Tacoma and a fellow who worked for my dad had a "MacKenzie River" boat that he would take us out in - this was in the late 50's and there were no boats on any of the rivers. He taught us both about drift fishing, and a few years later, early 60's or so, about pulling plugs - whenever we saw another boat though he made us pull in the hotshot and hide it I picked up salmon fishing about the same time - my dad bought a boat and we attempted to learn how to mooch in Puget Sound, which mostly invloved catching dogfish, it was a couple years before I finally picked up enough info from every fishing magazine and publication available to move beyond the cracker stage - from then on I taught Dad how to fish

DeKuma
Sorry to hear about your grandma passing away. The way you said it sure makes it sound like she really like to fish. I would bet that she had her own spot on the boat to.

For me, well my dad taught me how to cast a fishing pole. My grandpa taught me how to slay them ocean silvers.
Everyone on the river taught me how to bonk a few salmon and steelhead in fresh water. Thanks to all!

I guess I was self-taught more or less...my mother's stepfather sparked my love of fishing and I just ran with it.

Read as many books as I could find and at one time was a subscirber to a half dozen or so magazines.

When I aged and was around experienced fisherman on a more consistent basis, it allowed me to become a complete sponge...always had an eye open or ear tuned to what was being said and asked as many questions as I could.

At this point I am still learning...there are sportfish I have never had the oppurtunity to chase after and there are fisheries I've never particapted in...it never gets dull or old!

grew up in manchester and long lake so
I guess you could say I taught myself with some guidence from granpa.

I'm still learning from you guys

hope you don't mind

thought it would be cool to learn something new and then teach it to my dad for once instead of the other way around. We've been trout fishing before but when I showed him the chum in the river he freaked out. "I've never seen fish that BIG!!"

I'll never forget the look in his eyes...

thanks again all - I dont have much knowledge to share but I'll listen to every tip you got...

Many of the old, old timers here might have heard his name: Morry Abbott. He was kinda a Point Defiance legend and played ball for the Tacoma Tigers back in the late 30's early 40's before moving onto the "show." The old ball field was off Sprague in those days...

Up until his death in '89, the man fished a cane rod, single action reel and a Shovel and Rudder in front of Herring (he called them worms). His favorite water was less than 50' deep.

Some of the stories I have heard are hard to believe, but I believed him- I have the pictures. He used to tell the same one over and over.... "Back in my day, we used to throw those fish back (referring to 10 pounders!)"

Great thread! Thanks for bring back the memories...

Downriggin"

It was Granddad up at Loon Lake in the Forties, I was his Fishing Partner. He would tie a light rope on the pole and the other end of the rope to an oar lock or the rail of old round bottom alluminum boat and then we would troll for Silvers & Rainbows for me and Mackinaw for him on Loon.

In 1948 My Mom & Dad bought a home on the Beach at Manchester, an old Oak Flat Bottom Skiff of questionable vintage came with the place and my Granddad came over from Spokane aand tought me how to fish the sound between the passage at the Naval Fuel Depot at Manchester and South Colby.

Here in Port Townsend two old Brothers by the name of Neville taught me how to Fish Disscovery Bay & Admirallty Inlet along with another local here in Port Townsend by the name of Louie Buschelio who taught me how to fish Point Wilson and the Mid Channel Bank.

My dad, who has been gone now almost 20 years.

He taught me many things, how to tie knots, how to catch grasshoppers and thread them onto a hook, how to sneak up on trout, but most important was his version of fishing mojo, long before the term 'mojo' was upon us. He held that how you held your face was very important in what luck you were going to have. You had to have the right face on to catch fish.

I sure wish he was here to teach his grandkids all the good stuff he taught me.

My little brother hooked me up with a rod for Christmas, many many, moons ago... Then this wise old steelheader from Tacoma took me under his wing and pointed me in the right direction ... Thanks...Because I know I was lost... Is it the fish, or the way the water affects us that draws us to it???
Rivernut

Grew up on Bainbridge Island and learned to fish as a kid with a hand line and pile worms (best bait in the sound - I really should try using them again). Caught cod, flounder, rockfish, dogfish, ratfish, cabeson and even the occasional salmon. Thought I knew enough to get by until I ran into my mother-in-law BA and her friend Lois. These two had their own personal kicker at Pt. No Pt. back in the good ol' days. They kicked my ass and never let me forget it. They were amazing and Vic loved the fact that it didn't sit well with some of the other fellas. For them fishing was serious business. I learned to keep up just enough to be invited along from time to time. Lois wasn't entirely convinced about me before she died but my MIL, who can't fish anymore, still winks at me when no one else is looking. And why would'nt she, if I caught a 20lb King she caught a 35# and a 22#der.

Lois was a rare breed, a self made woman, a very successful executive for a large Seattle corporation back in the 50's & 60's (that's saying something) and also very well known as an outdoorswoman. Her love was steelhead fishing. I used to hear the stories about this fabled fish, Enos Bradner and the guys, the trips down the Soleduck and expeditions north to the Skeena. My MIL didn't enjoy the cold or steelheading and Lois never invited me. But I dreamt on. One day....

Like before, I tried to learn to steelhead on my own. About the time I thought, I'd figured things out (still had'nt landed one on a fly like Lois, tho), I had the great fortune of running into Bill Herzog. Watching him fish was like watching Tiger. You knew you would never be as good but he elevated your game just to be around him. What I learned from Bill was by osmosis (I really should buy his book). I was very blessed to have spent time around a true master. What I was never able to learn from Bill about fishing is no longer as important to me as the time we and the buds were able to spend together. It was a pleasure to climb down canyons, drive 200 miles at 3:00am, stretch a line, a float and a tale or two with him. With Bill, fishing was a passion, a passion he could not contain. Bill, if you're out there, thanks. What you passed on to me, I will not contain either. Because of you my son can out fish me too.

To BA and Bill, God Bless.

My Dad's passion was bass fishing, and we did a lot of it on Ken Lake, especially at night. I would fish for perch with a worm under a bobber, he would cast plugs after bass.

My Grampa Forrest got me involved in trout fishing, mostly on Banks Lake or on the Potholes Lakes. I never got to go salmon fishing with him, but he always stopped by when he came back from Westport.

I read and taught myself how to fish effectively for salmon in the salt, but I always learn new tricks from everyone I fish with.

Steelhead fishing was something I did a few times a year, and a good year was catching 3 or 4. After a 10 year hiatus from steelheading I started getting some tips from this board, and another local board. I "boat whored" a few rides with some completely awesome guys here, and learned a few things, then a few more, and so on. I now have my own boats, thanks to some good luck and a bit of hard work, and I am sharing what little I know with my Dad and brother.

I always ask questions when I fish with someone, especially when I'm fishing a river I don't know. I have also started a journal so I can keep track of my lessons learned and teach my boys to be better fishermen than I ever will be.

DanS says it best in his tag line,

"Share some knowledge, share some fun."

Hey Mooch...how long have you been fishing at PNP. I grew up 7 houses from the PNP beach resort. My brothers and I worked at the boathouse for 2 summers. We kept a kicker in the boathouse in the winter,and had our 20'er moored in front of the house all summer. AHHHHH!....the good ole' days!

HBP,

I still fish there today, but I was fortunate to have fished PNP in the 60's, a shadow of the earlier boathouse days but a very special time nonetheless. As a kid, who could forget the long roller coaster ride of the hansville hiway out there in the dark, the ride down the ramp into the water, the lighthouse, the tides, the action, the characters (Vic, Shorty and so many others) and the amount of bait and salmon in those days.

Good times, more to come.

Peace

My dad, he showed me the ancient secrets of Salt and Fresh Water fishing for Trout, Steelhead and Salmon. If it wasn't for him I would still be figuring out the Sport. He Passed in 1972 and a Year and a half later I had a son of my own to fish with and pass on those ancient fish secrets. We fish together at least 4 out of 7 days a week, and he has been the best friend a father could have.

Grew up in the islands (Hawaii)... taught to fish by my granny. Her pleasures were fishing, a glass of whiskey and smoking a cut plug tobacco.
For awhile there I think she regreted taking me with her cause I'd eat the bait and break off every 5 minutes. I was finally given 1 prawn and a lesson in hook tieing, I was about 8 yr. old at that time.

Our poles were bamboo, mainline same length as the poles, a split shot and hook. The bait was usually fresh prawns.

I was about 9 years old when I first saw a spin cast outfit. Brought to the island by one of my cousins...what a shock! This thing could get your bait out farther than you could throw a rock. Won't tell you how many fishing reels or poles I own now!

That was digging deep into the memory pool but I guess we all had to start somewhere.

Good Question HBP

My Dad!!! Funny how now I "help" him now that roles change as time move on.

Im gonna be a Dad in June for the first time! I will need someone to help me when I get older--call it Wiser-eh. "This is how you row Daddy down the river"

I admire the fathers on this page that take their kids fishing.

Coho,

Congrats!!!

My best fishing partner is my daughter... I started her early tying flies... Heck she used to sit in my lap and hold the fly rod as we rowed around the lake in my pontoon boat...

Now she into sharpening the hooks and putting Smelly Jelly on stuff.. My favorite is.. she'll rub Smelly Jelly on herself and come home and give mom hugs...

Kids are wonderful! Fishing is a great time talk to your kids about anything and everything. It is amazing how much of an impact fishing and time together makes on their lives.

The Kid

The Kid

My dad is the one I learned from. I have expanded ont the things he taught me and now I teach him things.

He started takeing me out with him to point wilson when I was about 4 and helped me reel in Kings that he hooked.

Then when I turned about 7 he started trying to get me my first steelhead. He started me out on a diawa 8.5' spinning rod and a mitchel 300. It wasnt till I was 8 that I got my first one.

I was lucky and got alot of good experience on a family owned private lake thats on my uncles farm.

Both my father and grandfather were the ones to show me the ropes. My dad started me off the OLD dock under the I-90 bridge where him and the locals would meet before and after work. He would pick me up after school and take me with him. I learned how to swim there on accident at about age 4. He would also take me down to the green where I got my first steelhead. My grandfather gave me the intro to fly fishing at iceicle creek where I woundered off up river for my first fly caught trout. After catching and releasing this fish with no one around I made my grandfather smell my hands to prove that I did catch that fish! Man those were the good old days.

My father put a fishing pole in my hands as a little boy .Neither of us knew what we were starting though.

Although he helped me get started I would have to say i learned what little I know from massive amounts of time on the water making mistakes.I started fishing little cutthroat creeks in the 4th grade.All my summer vacations from then on were spent either on the creeks or prowling the salt chucks for whatever would bite.I will for the rest of my life remember the old boy that introduced me to cuttys in the salt.I was probably ten.I was wandering around on the beach screwing around when he come down to do some fly fishing.We got to talking and he went up to his truck and came back with a box of spinners and spoons.He pointed to a point farther up the beach next to a creek mouth and told me to cast a spinner.I hiked up to the point and cast my spiner and wham,a cutty!!I remember turning around to show off my fish but he was gone.I still have the box,the spinners are long gone though.

I am one of the fishermen you hear about that went years before catching a steelhead.I hiked up and down the hood canal tribs for years without catching a thing.I did not know how depressed the runs were.Did not care as I had fallen deeply in love with the rivers.When I turned 21 I met the only reel fishing partner I have ever really had.Between the two of us we manged to nail down the runs.Those were some exiting times as I had spent so many years fishing those rivers.

I also have to thank Bill Herzog for his writings and his wonderfull way he has for sharring his love for the sport.I still finally understand some of his writings.We are both in love with the same rivers and what he has taught me about spoon fishing has put me into more fish then any one other thing.Thanks Bill!

Time on the water is the best teacher there is.

I wouldn't have thought that General Zog would have been mentioned as much as he has been.

My Dad mainly taught me how to fish. He focused mainly in the Salt Water around the Kitsap Peninsula while I was growing up. I wasn't really into fishing saltwater at the time, more rivers, but as time went on I grew to love all types of water. My grandparents are also a big factor in fishing. We used to spend a week a Sekiu every year fishing for Kings the 1st week of August. When that ended in 93 I didn't return until they started having these short openings. Had one of my best years ever at Sekiu last year landing 37 kings to 30 pounds and releasing 30 of those unharmed in three mornings of fishing.

My dad and granfather taught me to fish freshwater species growing up in Wisconsin. You guys are teaching me to fish here in the Pacific Northwest. It has been tough getting into it, the regs are very complicated and I always feel a few days late on all of the timing but I think it is starting to get better. Good topic...interesting stories

Josh

My Dad taught me to fish for fun and to put food on the dinner table.

After Dad would come home from work as a young 4 year old I was waiting with gear at the ready to go to the nearby lake. We would catch a few trout for dinner, I always wanted to keep fishing but Dad would say we only keep what we are going to eat tonight.

As I grew up Dad took me out in the ocean for rockfish and lingcod. We would launch a wood john boat from the beach in Pacifica, CA. This was plenty of work just to keep a few fish as the freezer was small.

Dad then took me to the south tower of the Golden Gate bridge. Striped Bass and Salmon were the game. It was here that Dad would release small fish and keep a large one.

Fishing became fun and I learned about catch and release as we only kept what was needed for the dinner table.

Now as I approach the 50 and my Dad has been gone for 10 years I continue to enjoy this sport wit my wife, son and daughter.

Thanks Dad

For me it was my grandma, Before I could walk she had a fishin' pole in my hand. I lost here three weeks after I was medically retired out of the Marine Corps. she stayed alive long enough for me to say good by .

But one thing that she said to me was the story was when I was 6yo I was watchin' some fly fishermen fishing the Upper Quilicene River, and I said I could do that !! So he handed me his fly rod and and I showed him that I could, I was a natural!!!!(That was the first time I ever picked up a fly rod and I still have it in my hand today) I still feel so incomplete without her here

For all of you who lost a grand parent or parent who taught you...... Is it hard for you to return to that special spot that you were taught at??????????

my grandpa taught me to fish the salt and my uncle taught me how to work a drift boat in the river.

Well my dad taught me how to fish creeks (Quartz and Granite)rivers(Talor)My mom got me started in the salt at Westport in the early 70s.My mom fished with my Grandpa out of Lapush
in a 14ft row boat she tells me all the old stories over and over again and I never get tired of hearing them!! I still have some of the old balsa wood plugs they would use!!!

My Grandpa Leo taught me how to fish in the 60's and 70's on Lake Tahuya and Lake Cushman. He lived on Lake Tahuya and I would fish off of his dock for sometimes 8 hours at a time. I would fish in the morning when he left for work and stop to have lunch with him when he came home for lunch. I would then go right back out on the dock after lunch until he came home at the end of the day. I would then drag him out onto the dock after dinner to fish with me some more. I just never got tired of staring at that bobber. I sure do miss him. Jack

Nobody in my family ever fished except for me so I guess I'm self taught. And boy did I ever do a bad job on myself. I started out like Mooch and progressed to where I'm today. But I probably started out just a liitle earilier than he did. I've gone thru all the stages that I wanted to and now I'm into Fly Fishing. And this is where I'm going to stay. I'm getting to old to try something new.