I received a call this afternoon from Don of AHP and he passed along the sad note that John Watts from Captain Dons Bait & Tackle passed away last night after suffering from a heart attack. I have no more details beyond that.

I will say that John was a nice guy, class act, and always more than willing to help out his fellow anglers with good advice.

To John's friends and family, please accept our heartfelt condolences. He was a great guy & a friend to many...

I will post more as it comes to me...

Thank you,

John Redmond

Jesus,that sux.You just about floored me with this.A more helpful,nicer,generous guy you'll never find.

wow
that sux john was one of the good guys . always enjoyed talking with him at the shop . He will be missed . my heart goes out to his family and friends .

Sad news. Very nice genteman. Always a friendly atmosphere in that shop.

man that sucks. My condolences to his family and friends.

John was a great guy. He was one of the reasons I always stopped in there.

RIP

wow, I can't believe it that is sad I always liked talking w/ him super good guy.

lost a good one here

stand up guy

thoughts and prayers to the family

such a loss. John was a great guy. so outgoing and willing to help out. Prayers to his family and friends.

My condolences to his family and friends.

John was a good man and a good friend. He was my first customer when I started selling plugs. We talked on the phone about plugs a week ago. I'm just stunned.
My thoughts and prayers go out to John's family and friends.

Bernzy

My condolences to all who knew him! What a shame! Can someone tell those of us who didn't know John who he was and what shop he was with? Also tell us about him?

I feel like I lost a relative. Very nice man- a real gentleman. May his memory be a blessing to his family.

He Just called me Saturday afternoon, RIP Buddy. He will be Missed.

I never met the guy but my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who knew him.

My condolences to John's family. I always enjoyed dropping in at the shop even if I wasn't buying anything. John always had a smile and made you feel welcomed. He'll be missed!

:(

On my first trip to the rocky state.He put me on my first RI fish.I loved going in there to see him he always would remember who I was..What a shame....

I'm still stunned by this... You couldnt meet a nicer guy thoughts and prayers for johns family. John always made you feel welcome there and was always smiling

My condolences to all who knew him! What a shame! Can someone tell those of us who didn't know John who he was and what shop he was with? Also tell us about him?

He was Don's partner at Capt. Don's Bait and Tackle in Charlestown, RI. In his 50s and healthy and active. No sign of this coming as far as I know. Was with him about a week ago, helped him carry a heavy wall section for a little shed out beside the shop. He was always helpful, easy with a smile... unfortunately I never fished with him. He saw me practicing my casting with a conventional last year at the back end of Quonnie. He was very encouraging. The captain has had a tough year, with his wife being sick and now John's passing. Don's OK too. Well... that's that. Fine man.... good fisherman. Amen.

My condolences to Capt. Don and Johns family. :(

This is just awful. John was a great guy and he and Don made a great team. My condolences to John's family and all who knew him.

Thanks for the info 1dozenraw! Sounds like I missed a good one. Again my condolences to all who knew him.......sounds as if he was too young to go!

John was a great guy. Always helpful and very honest. It's a sad day indeed.

life is so unpredictable......even though we are living longer lives
some leave us way before their time.... Rip fellow fisherman.

Though i only met him once about 4 years ago late night at a breachway. Ill never forget the lesson on slinging eels he gave me. great guy! My condolences to his family and friends

John was a great guy - always very friendly and full of info. I’ll certainly miss seeing him in the shop this season.

wow- that sucks he was a great guy.... was always willing to hold plugs or eels till i could make it to the shop.

rip john

you gotta be kidding me

:(

That news is very saddening. My sympathies to his family and friends.

Wow, tat sucks. I used to talk to him every Sunday night for my reports, and we were making plans to go fishing together this coming season. My condolances to his family.

the news floored me- i was in the shop and got a call fron capt. don telling me the sad news....just talked to john a couple of days ago. john watts was one of the classyist people i've ever known- a true gentleman. we lost one of the good ones...prayers and thoughts for his family- RIP freind 'till we fish again.

I am sorry to hear this, my condolences.

The fishing community lost a good one

John was a real great guy , He will really be missed

Don`t hit Rhody much and didn`t know John but from all I`ve heard he was a great guy.... sorry for your loss.

Mike

just a terrible, terrible loss. i am so going too miss talking with john in the shop. john was a class gentleman that always had a upbeat attitude and always made you feel welcome at the shop.

i remember not too long ago i went into the store with my wife and daughter. he made a point of talking to both of them. he said how nice it was too meet the family of one of his guys.

he will be missed.

brian florek

My condolences go out to his family and friends.

I only talked with him a few times but I remember how he used to laugh at how I was powerless when it came to refusing the plugs in the shop. We had a good laugh about it together at last years rissa show. really nice guy. still can't believe it.

Sorry to hear this :(
condolences to all

I spoke to him once at RISSA. Seemed like a very nice guy. My sincerest condolences to his family.

Very sad. I'm not able to put a face to the name, but terrible just the same. Shop is always a friendly place, stories of Alaska and bear hunts and then met one of the owners walking his dog on an empty beach last fall reinforce that everyone associated w/ Capt. Don's are class acts. Sorry for their loss.

One could only wish to have this many nice things said when the time comes.
My condolences go out to his friends and family.

I am, personally so sad to hear this. A message was left for me last night that I got this morning and it was as though someone poured boiling water over my head when I heard it. I just spoke with him a few days ago. It goes to prove how unpredictable life is and how everyday is precious.

John was a class act, a man of character, depth, caring and love. He loved his family, his business, fishing and the outdoors. I think he left an indelible impression on the people he touched. Talking with him was a pleasure because he could speak on so many topics knowledgably and sincerely. We were going to fish together this year, finally. He will be missed by many.

May you rest in peace friend, you left too soon.

So sad-- "only the good die young" it too often seems!

Never met the man, but feel like I know him now after Kadir's & others touching tributes. I just know there's way too few of this type of class people left in this Country/ World-- hurts so to lose any, esp. prematurely! :(

John was a great guy, I stop in one day last fall to buy a gift cert. for a club raffle, he made two out and donated one, I don't ask, he just did it. Great guy will be missed by all. Best of luck to his family and Capt. Don.

Finlander, that was who John was...best way to sum him up and he'd never tell anyone he did that.

John was good people.

From an old surfcaster: he was too young and his family
needs some extra love this week.

Very sad news, thoughts and prayers to everyone who lives he touched...

Arrangements:

Gaffney Funeral Home
59 Spruce Street
Westerly, RI
(401) 5962648

Calling Hours are Thursday March 29, from 2 to 5:00 P.M. with the funeral itself at 5:00P.M.

you gotta be kidding me

:(

Ben, Where the hell did you get the footage? I'm havin' flashbacks.

I knew John well. He was a great guy and always had a bit of advice, a kind word or a report. We are loosing all the great ones and there are none to take their place.

Arrangements:

Gaffney Funeral Home
59 Spruce Street
Westerly, RI
(401) 5962648

Calling Hours are Thursday March 29, from 2 to 5:00 P.M. with the funeral itself at 5:00P.M.

Don - is there anything on where to send "in lieu of flowers"?

not that i'm aware of bossman. gotta talk to the capt. about doing something when things settle down...

not that i'm aware of bossman. gotta talk to the capt. about doing something when things settle down...

I'm in!

i was going to call you bobby- see ya at the show.

there will be a memorial service for our friend john watts at cemetary cove in westerly on friday 11:00.