I was probably around 11 or 12 the first time I went fishing and, If I recall correctly, it was at my dad's suggestion. His uncle, at that time well into his retirement, had in his younger days been an avid fisherman and so one day my dad suggested that he might teach me. Unfortunately he was too old to ever really take me fishing but he did help me buy my first rod, well okay, he helped my dad buy me my first rod, and offered me loads of advice.