Joe Shirshac

[Langenbeck]

The grand master of Sacramento fly fishing celebrates his 97th birthday today. Happy to call him my friend for 50 years. Joe enjoy your Special Day.

[Terry Thomas]

A true ambassador for the fly fishing community of Northern California. Happy Birthday Joe! ��

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Joe took groups of anglers all over the world for many years.

His favorite trout are the big Brook trout of Labrador.

[hwchubb]

Happy Birthday Joe!

[Larry S]

Good call, Gordon! I sent him a small gift when the fly shop hosted hi 90th.
Received a very nice thank you note from the master himself.
And, who can forget the following video tribute ;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajkbs53ITzA
Best to all and especially to Joe and his friends,
Larry S

[JasonB]

Quite the character, I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting with him here and there about many things. Especially love hearing some of his stories about fishing many of the same streams I love to explore... from the 1950’s! Truly a one of a kind; I can only hope to be in half the shape he’s in by the time I reach his age!
JB

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I called Joe yesterday......they were having a party for him.

Joe has a lot of family who love him and take good care of him.

He flies to southern Cal where one of his daughter lives and they take their sail boat out to Catalina Island.

He is still driving....wore out his Toyota Camera and had to buy another one recently.

Andy Guibord spends a lot of time with old Joe as they are very close from years of fishing.

Joe still goes out with Andy in his boat........


_____________________________________

Joe has helped me for over 50 years working in the shop for decades.

He was a Sacramento City Fire Fighter and painted houses for his side job.

Every time I moved my shop he showed up to paint it inside.

Joe took me with him the many great Nor Cal fisheries when we were both much younger.

He had a Chevy Suburban and a nice travel trailer which he took all over the West.

We went to great places like Pyramid Lake, the Trinity, Klamath, Eel, Garcia, Gualala rivers.


Joe and I went to Christmas Island in 1986 for the first time of many for both of us.

Joe and I both took many trips to Christmas Island over the next 20 years.


He took many to the Brooks River in Alaska where they camped in tents in July for Sockeyes and Rainbows.


Joe started taking groups to New Zealand's North Island for many decades.


He also took lots of groups to Copper's Minipi Lodge for giant Brook trout in Labrador


Joe went for years to the Florida Keys until he landed enough Giant Tarpon.


He had a connection to an old private Atlantic salmon fly fishing club on the Miramichi river in Nova Scotia.

[Mark Kranhold]

Happy Birthday Sugarshac!