How I started to fish

carl · Post by **carl** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 6:32 pm

Since there seem to be no pressing issues on the board, I thought I'd share my unusual intro to bass fishing. About 7 or 8 years ago I was in a traffic accident, the paramedics arrive, and although I wasn't seriously hurt, one of them (a trainee) attempts to start an IV in my right hand. In doing so she hit a nerve that paralized my hand. Now I grew up in the city and never knew many guys who fished, and the ones who did had big boats and would talk about stuff that I really didn't understand. So I go to the local VA for therapy. They put a contraption on my arm to keep my fingers from balling up and I start therapy which consists of electricly shocking individual muscles. I didn't have much confidence in the therapist when he had to lay out an annatomy book to figure out where to put the electrodes. So I go through this painful process for months and start to get some movement back. Well, one day I'm sitting with a friend who fishes, and he invites me out. I think he's nuts,I tell him how am I going to fish with this "claw". He said come on we'll have fun, and I went. He gives me a spin caster and at first it was very ackward, but I managed and we did have fun. After a number of outings I notice a dramatic improvement in my hand. It turns out that fishing is the perfect therapy for my hand. Now I'm hooked, bought a rod/reel and had guys at my VFW showing me how to tie knots with rope. So, then I find out a good friend is a bass nut, so he starts taking me out to these spots, small ponds in cemetaries, small lakes in the metro area, all the while teaching me. I'm addicted now, going on fishing trips, and eventually moving to Southern IL., where every other person is a angler. And the fishing goes on...By the way I now have 90% function in my hand. Good luck, and best wishes to everyone. Carl

johnnie crain outdoors · Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:23 am

Carl, great story. It should remind the rest of us how lucky we are to be healthy and have grown up aroung anglers where we could learn a little from each. Fishing is good not only for the body, but for the soul also. You're earning your stars. Johnnie

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:32 pm

Thats an awesome story Carl.

My dad taught me to fish at a very young age, and we grew apart when he and mom divorced (very ugly divorce). I wouldnt fish (for 20 yrs) because it was too painful to me because I would remember things about my dad and I fishing. We have worked things out now, and I wouldnt trade fishing or my dad for anything. It is amazing how life works, and I cant wait to take my daughter fishing!

Scott

johnnie crain outdoors · Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:40 am

Scott, thanks for adding yet another good story of inspiration. Fishing has split up so many anglers families, mostly bass tournament anglers that it's refreshing to see the other side for awhile. Just like the country song goes, "I'm gonna Miss Her, But Right Now, I've Got A Bite".

MMT · Post by **MMT** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:04 pm

Carl, that's a great story, congrats on the recovery.

brendanc · Post by **brendanc** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 3:58 pm

Definitely a good read Carl. Thanks for sharing. Scott, it great that you and your dad were able to re-establish your relationship again...

My Dad also tough me how to fish, only he didn't know about fresh water fishing, only salt water. Didn't matter, now I have two love in my life (besides my wife and daughter)"Fresh & Salt water fishing".

The bond that I have with my father through fishing is truly a great thing and it has always been a great way for us to keep in touch.

On an off topic note, my father was also the person who taught me about music. He was a drummer and signer and even had a record deal with a band many years ago. Music was the one thing that my whole family got passed onto us, for certain. I come from a family of 5 kids (2 boys, 3 girls) and every one of us plays at least 1 instrument and most of us play multiple instruments.

I am really looking forward to sharing these same things with my newborn daughter (Sarah), so that maybe one day she will be able to say the same things about her dad.

Enjoy every moment you can...

BC

johnnie crain outdoors · Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:34 pm

Brendan and all, My Grandfather taught me to fish and to love music. Though he didn't play an instrument he was the lead singer in our church and sang bass and high tenow both, amazing to me. I learned guitar at an early age from two married into the family Uncles. I learned bass by myself and perform with several local bands. We are country/southern rock. Love to jam with you sometime. Johnnie

brendanc · Post by **brendanc** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:39 pm

I'm always up for a "jam session". After we get things back to normal with the website, we'll be looking more towards arranging events and gatherings. This might be the perfect time to round up some musicians...

BC

mofish · Post by **mofish** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 8:01 pm

My Dad taught me too. He was a catfisherman and crappie fishermen more than anything. We spent many night drifting flats for cats, and tied up to many trees fishing for crappie.

My love (or should I say obsession) with bass fishing came when a Uncle gave me a handful of old plastic worms he was going to throw away. (this is one reason I don't throw any baits away but give them to kids at the boat ramps or on the docks)

I grew up with two younger brothers that also got the bug from me. My middle brother and I drove all over the state with a two man water spider boat, a 2.5 horse motor, a trolling motor, battery, tent, and more fishing tackle than I could stuff in my 20ft boat now. WE HAD A BLAST. We fished all over the legendary Lake Fork in that two man boat and caught more fish than we could keep count on.

All three of us fish the CAST Couples Tournaments with our wives and travel to the tournaments together to this day. There is a lot of compition between the three of us. We started a tradition of $1 on the first fish caught of the day that still last 20 years later and I guess always will.

Carl I think its great that you have found your way to bass fishing. I hope that you always have the healing power of a day on the lake in persuit of the bass. What great therapy.

Thanks for the memories.

Conley

carl · Post by **carl** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 4:48 am

Guys what great reads, esp. you Scott. All you guys who grew up fishing with dads and granddads, that sounds so great. OK, one more. I remember going with my grandfather when I was 8 or 9 to a casting range. This is pobably in 1955 or so. They had the lanes seperated with bouys, and at the end was a colored circle. Obviously it was the guy who hit the cicrle with so many lures. I remember a big commotion around my granddad when it was over. I guess he won, but I never heard about fish, just casting. I think it might have been a sport in those days. God knows what kind of rod and reel he was using. OK,now back to fishing, next topic.