The seed was probably planted by mackerel trips on holiday in Devon, but I do remember bringing a brown trout out of a highland river on a spinner when I was 9 or 10. After that, we moved to the fens and I wanted to start fishing as all my new mates did. My dad didn't (he used to go with my uncle when they were kids but wasn't too keen) so I had to pick it up as I went along. Loved it though and now, 17 years later I'm still at it.
I suspect my first fish caught on my own clumsily tied and set up tackle was probably a rudd, roach or perch from a local village pond. Can't remember which as we used to catch loads, but I still remember the feeling of being down by the pond, catching roach, rudd, very small carp and small tench on a float in the lillies during the summer. 1/4 pint of maggies and a sandwich and it felt like heaven. No wonder I still have a fondness for lilly choked ponds full of tench at dawn!!