My grandfather started me out when I was just around six or seven, we took several cane poles and a big can of worms, went to this little creek behind his,familys farm and my first fish was this big carp, it bent the pole double and I was not big enough to get it up the bank and he flip off, but I will never forget that one, and he was with me when I caught and landed my first bass a 5 lbr, got it using a techniquie is saw in IN Fisherman, I have been hooked ever since, been a BASS member since is was 15, I am now over 40+, but still love it, have caught many more since the early days, but never will forget those firsts, with my grandfather who passed away OCT,06. He is back fishing behind his old home place.