Ron, the first LM Bass I remember catching with a lure was also on a hula popper. I was in maybe 8th grade, fishing a strip pit with my dad. I accidentally tossed my lure over a limb. The lure swung just above the waters surface. I think it was on the second or third swing when a nice bass went air-born to take the lure. It took me right off the limb and I was able to land the fish.
Long before I ever had a fishing pole in my hands mom and dad would take us kids for walks along the little creeks in the nearby state parks. We would scan the waters for minnows, scuds, snails, water striders and such.We also liked to float walnut shells on the creeks trying to figure out how they would react in the currents. Mostly I remember it as fun time spent with the family. Dad would take me to the river sometimes when he fished. I was armed with a small net which I used to catch crayfish or hellgrammites. Dad would use them for bait. I may have been in about third grade when I first fished.