Who have you met on the river?

[Kerry Stratton]

The fishing phrases thread got me to thinking. Oh come on now, you don't have to duck, my brain ain't that dangerous. Anyway who have you met while out fishing?

Someone mentioned meeting Larry Csonka. 4 or 5 years ago while fishing the Grande Ronde River I had to stop casting to allow a couple of rafts to float by. In the front of one of them was this huge guy. As they got closer I seemed to recognize him but couldn't quite figure out who it was. He asked how the fishing was and also asked about the 2 handed rod I was using. It was about then that I realized it was Csonka.

I wasn't at this one but a couple of friends were fishing for steelhead in Canada and stopped for the day. While loading their gear in the car a couple of other fishermen were doing the same at another vehicle. Talking to them about the day's fishing one of my friends tells one of the other guys that his voice sounded familiar and wondered if he might know him from someplace. The guy said that he might have seen him on the evening news; his name was Tom Brokaw.

[DShock]

Years ago, I was planning to go Salmon fishing with a friend from work. The day before, my wife mentioned she had heard Guide Steve Kohler was going to take ex Pres. Jimmy Carter fishing, the same day. Our boat, along with about 5 others, were anchored in a Hog Line out on the Willamette River. We all noticed a group of boats coming down the Clackamas River, toward us, and sure enough, there was Jimmy Carter. No one said a word, until his boat got close, and in unison, we all yelled "HI JIMMY!" He smiled and waved back at us. I remember his group of boats just motored up and down the Willamette that day, I don't think they did much fishing.
Doug

[kjackson]

When I was about 10 or so, I was off fishing by myself on the Bumping River (Washington). I was in the middle of a hot bite, when another fisherman wandered down, sat on a rock and watched me fish. I offered to move out and let him have a chance in the small pool, but he just sat and watched as I caught my limit of fat little rainbows.

It was only later that I saw a photo of Justice William Douglas, and my observer was the spitting image. Douglas had a summer cabin nearby at Goose Prairie. While I couldn't say for sure that it was Douglas, I've always wondered.

[hap]

Unfortunately Csonka is being seen by lots of folks here in AK as he lives here now and is filming his shows here frrequently. His reputation is pretty well flushed at this point. Many lodges have kicked him out mid-stay and told him the advertising he promised was not enough... He has met other folks fishing and attempted to force them out so he could do his filming.

I personally know a number of folks that entered agreements with him and regret them.

Another local writer and fishing guide, Chris Batin, has a similar reputation for being a complete jerk and I only mention it because I have seen video... He cut the line on a king salmon as a friend's young daughter was fighting it. This after rudely pulling in second to a huge hole and anchoring in a spot just to create problems for the people fishing above him. The video clearly shows him take a knife to the line as it passed his boat. There are many folks with similar Batin stories.
art

[ohiotuber]

No household names. Just a bunch of friendly, courteous & helpful folks with whom I am proud to have shared the water. That's good enough for me.
Mike

[misterpaul]

Once met Ben Rothlisberger and his Dad on Taneycomo.
I was working at Bass Pro when George Bush (#41) visited - I know, we weren't on the water, but it was still kinda cool.

[hap]

Met Jim Kelly and his brother Pat (?) once at a hunting camp where I was guiding and they were being flown from. Seemed like real good guys.

[Dot Man]

No household names. Just a bunch of friendly, courteous & helpful folks with whom I am proud to have shared the water. That's good enough for me.
Mike

What he said!

Jerry

[MontanaMoose]

....plus Bob Quigley over on Fall River one day, also Ernie Denison from The Fly Shop in Redding, which happened often. I met Walton Powell but not on the water. Met Jimmie Reams on Hat Creek. Din't meet him but came out of the brush to fish a fav pool on the Upper Sac and there stood Ray Bolger. I think I almost met Michael Fong but I din't ask for a name.

Met Jim and Deanna Birkholm at Lowell ID a couple of times. Jim very famous fly caster and Deanna the first lady fly fishing guide in Montana. Nice folks those...they have a fly fishing website.

I know there's more but I can't think of them right now.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

[KnightKR8]

My dad and I were driftfishing from a canoe down the Michigan AuSable, when Arther Godfree cought my dad in the chin on his back cast. We were right in front of his vacation cabin. I think that would have been about 1956...