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Attachment 19573
This man is so far above my level.
Some years ago, we had many real Outdoorsmen of the Great Generation as our customers.
They were born in the 1920s, and lived through the Worldwide Great Depression in the 1930s and World War II in the 1940s.
Some hunted and fished their entire lives even into their 80s.
Bill,
Etched in my mind is that shot of Joe Shirshac wading nearly up to
his armpits when he was nearing 90 years old.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, especially our vets and those in uniform.
Larry S
Sun Diego
Joe Shirshac was an amazing man.
I took that picture and it really tells the story about Joe's fly fishing for Steelhead.
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I remember that day well.
The day before two nice young men came into the shop asking about Half-pounder fishing.
I told them to meet me in the morning on the south side of Watt Avenue under the bridge.
They showed up so we got ready and walked upstream to the clay banks, ~100 yards above the bridge.
We dropped into the river below the clay backs and I made a cast and described my techniques for Half-pounds.
So we three started the process of casting, mending, swinging, twitching and moving down 5 steps.
I let them go first because it was important that one or both hooked something.
Down below us was Jeff Blunder, a veteran fly fisher, who was getting down near the bridge.
I think my two newcomers actually had a Half-pounder on and landed one.
I noticed Joe had just waded in way above us and was coming down, waded to the top of his waders and casting all the way to the
other side of the river. We noticed that Joe seemed to have a fish on all the time. I waded upstream to him and took that photo which
accidently came out great.
Jeff Blunden had landed 6 and the three of us landed 3 then Joe showed up and had landed 11, behind us 4 anglers.
Joe was waded out far and casting 20 feet further than most, putting his fly over fish that seldom see one.
Attachment 19584
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When we were casting a new fly rod outside at the shop, Joe would drive up and cast the rod and it wasn't pretty.
I told people, get him on a Steelhead river, out to the top of his waders and he can outcast us all.
That walker just gave me an idea. It might let me fish for half pounders again and shad too. Not sure how the spey rod would work, but I'll talk to Andy about that. Gives all of us hope to extend our time on the water.
Jim, I am 78, born in 1945 and you are 87, born in 1936.
Fantastic.
I think you are the oldest member?
We drove out to the Sebastian Inlet today and an old guy with his doting wife were out there on a fishing dock.
Sadly, I did not take a picture because he was sitting in an electric cart/scooter.
They both had spinning outfits and some live shrimp.
God bless them both.
Bill,
Thanks for the story about Joe's photo op.
I remember sending him a small gift for his
90th that you hosted. He sent me a thank-you
card. What a true gentleman and role model.
Thank you, Bill, as well for your contributions
and dedication to the fishing
community.
We need more of both of you and Joe.
Larry S
Sun Diego
Thanks Larry
We are all so fortunate to have found the wonderful sport of fly fishing and the great friends that we have had over the years.
I got to see Joe at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center just weeks before he passed. He was walking with Andy Guibord along the nature trails and I was headed to the river to fish for stripers. I think it may have been his 100th. Birthday? I felt honored to have been in his presence and would love to have gotten to listen to more of his stories or to have fished with him. Maybe in the next go around...
Thanks Steelies
Old Joe was a friend to everyone.
He helped all of us by taking us fishing, many years ago.
I never saw him without a smile on his face.
I was very lucky to have Joe and his wonderful wife, Ulala as good friends.
When I was divorced and single for 13 years and working at my little fly shop Joe would call me around closing.
They lived in an apartment a mile from my shop and Joe would say, " We got an extra porkchop, why don't you come over?"
When we needed help at the shop cause someone was sick, we called Joe to see if he could work that day.
He would always say, "I will be right over."
Too bad everyone could have fished with Joe.