Shocking and saddening as it is to learn of John's passing this morning I would like to assemble pictures and stories of John that some of you could share.

John was a great guy, obviously had a gift with the sea. With the help of his wife they raised one great kid - well, kid when I first met him out on the rocks at Quonnie many years back - young man now.

So pictures and stories, pictures of John, stories of experiences with John, pictures of the odd plug with a story.

We lost a good guy, a friend, and a prominent member of the striper community.

Thanks...

I was getting a sticker for Race Point.....it was the first year they had those insane lines to get them......anyway, Habs was a few spots ahead of me in line with Bassmaster. I knew who he was, had fished his plugs and was very pleased when he introduced himself, we talked for awhile and he showed me some of the stuff he was working on. Just a real, sincere guy....no BS. I also had the pleasure of having him at Plug Night at MSBA 2 years ago.....he gave my son a Habs shirt, which was very generous of him (I also think he wanted my son running around in a Habs shirt.....which he did!:bl: I know John got a laugh out of that!):rotflmao: Saw him at RISSA this past Spring and we talked a bit and he had alot of good, sincere advice for a new guy in the plug business. I appreciated that alot! He was also doing the fundraiser raffle for Bob Pond and his Wife.....which seemed to be what John was all about. How fitting. He will be missed by many and has left a lasting legacy for us all.

Plug story....before I started making my own....I was fishing a blurple needle at a favorite local spot one morning and was pounding fish for an hour or so until the sun came up! Man that was fun! Also one of the first batches of plugs I ever made had a few Habs "knock-%$%$%$%$ needles in it.....first night out with my own handmade plugs, Slingah and I were bangin' fish from about 10:00 pm until sunrise on them...fish from about 15 to maybe a few 25 pounds or more......all night long! I have Johns example to thank for that great night! Bumped into BM and Slipknot that night too....it was a blast!

Thanks John and Rest In Peace.
Larry

every time I saw John night or day on the phone , tackle show/shop or the beach he would ask me how my daughters were doing . not was I catching fish , he was interested in how my kids were . to me that was one of John strong points , caring about others .

RIP from me and my family

First let me say I am in shock today, I still can't really believe this happened.
My heart felt condolenses goes out to his family and friends -Prayers Sent-And May you rest in peace John....
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I met John (HABS) about 7yrs ago via the internet and we quickly became friends and have kept in touch over the years. I truely enjoyed spending some time talking to John up at the RISAA show back in the spring about fishing,plugs and Labs and just recently talked on the phone about a week or so ago...
He always had time to help me out or send me a plug that I needed and I will never forget him..
The fishing community really lost someone very special..

John- Rest in Peace Buddy- Everytime I tie on one your your HABS plugs I will be thinking about you....


Steve

I first met John 11 or so years ago while fishing with Bill Nolan at Quonie Breachway.‎ Bill & John were good freinds and I would run into them fairly frequently. Then as I got to know John a bit better you'd never know when you'd run into him other than that you would. He was everywhere and nowhere.

I'd run into him over Gil Pope's shop in Wakefield, at Weekapaug, or the old Ford pickup running around. Back then, you'd usually find him fishing Watch Hill or Quonnie.

The first "Plug Hoeing" I ever saw was a raid on the back of his van (before the explorer?) when Bill, Steve and a few others were rummaging through the Plano boxes of stuff fresh from Paint. Hot plug number 1? Hot Pink Needlefish.

Over the years I got to know John better and I am glad I did.

Someone was in trouble, John would donate plugs for a raffle or auction - nice stuff to - always the latest and greatest stuff from the lathe. He was pretty giving that way...

Time for thoughts and a prayer for his family...

I was going to wait awhile to post a Hab story but John has asked so I will post my favorite Hab story.

I can't remember the year but it had to be 1989 or 90. It's during the Striper moritorium and the minimum is 36".
I am at Fresh Pond Rock at about 3 AM in September. It's pouring. I mean it's coming down in buckets. On top of that the wind is SE at abot 20 gusting to 30. I am all alone sitting on the Rock with my back to the wind Grunden hood up and trying to light a smoke. (I smoked back then).
All of a sudden this voice says: "Are you going to sit there and feel sorry for yourself or f@#*ing fish?" I look up and there is this guy with a huge Fu Manchu looking down at me, smiling. I said who the F are you and he say I'm Hab. He grabs my rod and CUTS my line. Looks at my Super Strike needle and says "here try this" and hands me a purple Habs needlefish. I still have it and we became solid friends. I field tested hundreds of his plugs over the years.
I saw John a week ago at HD in Smithfield and the first words out of his mouth were "How you doin' with the big C? that was John, always concerned about you and your family.
Fish with John a hundred different places and never had more fun. He was just the best guy. I feel very sad today but hope he is resting is that great space above.

Tight lines my friend, tight lines.

I really didn’t know John well at all but here’s a story:

When I was first getting into surfcasting a few years back, I was asking around both online and in tackle shops as to what the must have plugs were. Hab’s needles kept being mentioned and I was determined to get some. I heard that Phil Burgess had gotten a shipment and gave him a call. He was nice enough to send be a few, although he didn’t sound too happy about it (it required payment with a credit card and, if you’ve ever met Phil, you know he doesn’t like credit cards – “I can’t pay Hab’s with credit cards!”). Anyway, I got the plugs and was amazed at the craftsmanship and wanted more. I heard that Hab’s was going to be making another delivery on a given Saturday so I headed down to Burgess. I arrived pretty much at the same time as John. I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by these two “old salts” and when Hab’s walked in and the first words out of his mouth were, “Hey Phil, got any beer” it didn’t exactly ease my mind. I was hanging back, looking around and John asked me what I was looking for. I told him I was hoping to get a few of his needles and he opened up the box for me and gave me some pointers as to what I should get (white!). I’ve built up a nice working collection of his plugs since and I’ve had a few conversations with John, mostly through PMs, and Phil and they really are both great guys.

Canalman recently asked me if I’d be interested in writing an article about Hab’s plugs focusing on the swimmers and other non-needlefish plugs he’s been putting out in increasing numbers lately. I was really looking forward to writing it and getting the chance to discuss the plugs with John.

He will certainly be missed.

Posted by bido, on the other board

last year on the sunday of the risaa show john came over to my booth and read a poem that he'd written mentioning a lot of plug builders- does anyone have or know of a copy of it? ....it was great and i'm sure everyone would agree.

PJJoe would know where that is I'm sure Don. THAT was the single FUNNIEST frikin thing I ever heard him say in my life.

But you'll have to add 17 more to the list by now :hihi:

last year on the sunday of the risaa show john came over to my booth and read a poem that he'd written mentioning a lot of plug builders- does anyone have or know of a copy of it? ....it was great and i'm sure everyone would agree.

Here is a pic of John and his plugs (proto=types)

I am at a loss of words right now,

And the November BI Crew should remember this one

I have had many a good time with John, we were friends since the mid 80s and hunted and trained dogs together, and fished for many years..

John Loved my father and spent many weekends at my parents home just shooting the breeze with my dad and loving all the food my mom cooked, we got out of touch for a while which often happens when family life changes things and just recently started to talk more this summer.


I am stunned at this news and shocked and really just cant think of any more to say at this point..Except that it is a terrible loss, To Jess and John Jr..May god be with you at this time, My prayers are with you both

One more at Nelsons B&T October 2005

Here is a picture of what John was all about,
A few years ago at the Mass show show John gave this lure to my daughter, Today when I told her that a close friend had died, a friend who gave her the pink lure she said Hab's !!! She remembered! As did everyone who ever met him..................
VB

I had never met John until the Friday of this years RISSA show. I was working the CT Surfcasters booth and was able to get in before the crowds. Being a respectable plug ho, my first stop before doors opened was at John's booth, I introduced myself and we both noted how funny it is when you meet someone through the internet, that you get a little weird feeling the first time you meet in person, because you think you know the guy but you really don't. He was kind enough to let me rummage through his stuff and I picked out a couple of jointed 40's. when I reached for the cash I realized that I had forgotten to hit the ATM, not really knowing me from Adam he held the plugs for a few hours until my shift at the CSA was over, he also introduced me to Mr Pond which was an honor. A real nice guy, that's who John was.

He did the same for my daughter as well Peter,
and she was shocked when I told her the sad news

While fishing last night I tossed a white habs needle, his favorite.

John was a hard worker. I would call him around 3:00 in the afternoon sometimes during the winter,
and he would always welcome the break.

We would talk hunting and fishing, but his main concern was always
how you were doing, and talk of concerns for others on the site.

A good man, who would always return a favor two fold.

Here is a Hab's / Tattoo plug that has gone wild!
VB

Some more friends of John.

this is going to be tough

i met john @ a local pond in smithfield, testing some wood 10 years ago

come to find out, he lived 2 miles away from me. Times spent in the habratory will never be forgotten, whether it was talking about plugs, family, friends or life in general. A man with a heart the size of the atlantic...he would go the extra mile for those he cared for and those he did not even know.
When my son was born almost 3 years ago, john gave me a plug (that was not produced) and told me that this would be for my son (james)someday when he hit the surf. My son loved to see john. I remember one day when my son was starting to get active, he would pull on johns moustache....things like that i will remember forever.

interesting that decksweeper and i had doubles this morning, he on a pencil and i on a rascal...and i remember saying to Mark that its amazing how special habs plugs really are, this is after nothing was going on @ first light. Put the plugs on and things came to life.

John, you were a great man

May your line stay tight and your drag sing forever

i will miss you my friend

rest in peace

One of the funniest things I ever heard was Bassmaster and John sitting together at one of the MSBA meetings talking to each other while Basmaster was doing a perfect imitation of Hab's voice. It was so good it was scary and they went on like this for ten minutes with neither one cracking a smile and went on in an inteligent conversation about the value of needlefish in bass fishing. It was Hab's talking to himself and I almost pissed my pants laughing so hard while they just went on deadpan. Maybe you had to be there but John just enjoyed the sh!t out of it, he didn't get mad, he just went along with it answering every question and offering his opinion. It would have made a great video on You Tube.

He did the same for my daughter as well Peter,
and she was shocked when I told her the sad news


yup my daughters too . class act

Thoughts and prayers going out to his family. Such a tragic loss.

Last year at the Connecticut Surfcasters X-Mas party, my little brother won a Habs hat and needle in the raffle. John was at the party and I suggested to my little brother that he have his hat signed. So my little brother wals over to Habs and asks if he would mind signing his hat. Habs goes" Why the hell would you want me to sign anything??!!" His table exploded with laughs, as he signed the hat....... RIP John, You will be missed.

John and I had several talks, with my daughters hearing loss we shared a common issue. He listened and helped me to deal with it. John was very genuine and showed he cared for his fellow man..I fished a needle and thought of the advice he had given me....

Met habs first at Capt. Don's a bunch of years back. Saw the red explorer around, so knew him w/o knowing him. I had a few non-habs plugs in my hands and he said "Why the hell are you buying that stuff?" Just for that, I liked him immediately, and was glad to know him when I ran into him at the shows or fishing over the last few years...

IMHO he revolutionized the plug making industry, with top quality components and finishes. Probably one of the first plugs you could buy w/o cutting off the hooks! T

In addition to being a friend to me, I will remember John as a man of vision and determination. I met John in the early 90’s through Roy Brouwer when John’s lure making business was in its infancy. On many occasions, John would come by Roy’s shop with a few of his creations. As if they were some kind of secret contraband, John would whip out one of his needlefish and briefly flash it to us, which always inspired laughter amongst the three of us. Of course he was hoping we would oblige him and beg for a second look at the creation (which we always did) while he sought feedback on what he was doing.

From the beginning, John’s stated goal was to create the best line of wooden fishing lures possible. He frequently dealt with failure as we would return some of his early prototypes to him with cracked bodies and bubbled paint. What amazed me the most was his resiliency and how he dealt with early failure in hopes of someday achieving success with his lure making business. Several years ago I was speaking with him and mentioned that I still had a bunch of the early 90’s prototypes to which he responded, “Burn them, they’re an embarrassment.” I think they were sold in a yard sale a few years ago. Sadly, they’re priceless items now. Time went on and you guys know the rest of the story....his goals were realized and he became a renowned craftsman.

Second to being a great friend and family man, John deserves a great deal of credit for his achievements as a business owner. More specifically, the resurgence in popularity of wooden fishing lures came in no small part thanks to John; He helped spark a rebirth in what had become a lost art among the fishing community. In my mind, he was this generation’s Stan Gibbs.

one memory i can't help but keep thinking about...

we're all at one of the fishing shows (MSBA I think) and Habs is ribbing Mr. Aquaskinz ... "hey weewee, let's head on over to Kadir's felafel stand" (the Aquaskinz booth). he was funny that way. :rotflmao:

And the November BI Crew should remember this one


I remember that rock well,,, That was just one of the many great years we have had out there,,,,

As Joe the plumber told the story of Habs dragging that fish on the beach in another thread,,, I will never forget him dragging that thing towards me and the way he pulled it off like only John could. ... It was classic....

Thanks Habs

I think this was from that night at MSBA also

http://www.bmwoodworking.com/brucefishing/habsdave.jpg


and it was my truck with the thumb, bassmaster was helping out as usual

http://www.bmwoodworking.com/brucefishing/habsdave2.jpg

I have so many stories I remember I can't type them all


How about the time in RI where fisheye took pictures of Habs and bassmaster under the hoopie like they were getting married
and before that Habs had a big mousetrap layed out next to his plugs
John really played into the bassmaster ho thing and played along with it even at the plugfests at my shop, swiping Dave's hanging plugs and getting Dave all worked up, the bottom pic is from the very first plugfest as he escapes with a bassmaster plug, the pic to the left was from RI earlier in the fall

First thoughts and prayers to John's family.

I met John probably 15 years , as many did, fishing Quonny Breachway. I remember one particuliarly miserable night about 12 years ago with the wind blowing straight in at 25+ mph and the waves breaking up and over the hard side of Quonny keeping us 30-40 ft back on the jetty. Everyone had left as fishing was near impossible and it was only John and myself. We were talking about how bad the conditions were and I told him I was going to jig the end of the breachway because you couldn't cast anything else he decided to put on a bomber! I laughed at him and asked how he was going to cast that thing and then climbed down on the rocks to make a cast. I turned to see John make his first cast which went all of 20 ft out and come straight back at him and drop at his feet barely in the water. He puts 3 cranks on the reel and the rod doubles over and he's on! He managed to work the fish around to the inside and I jumped down and retrieved his fish, which turned out to be 45" 35+ lbs., we just stood there and laughed. He thanked me for helping him landed the fish and invited me back to his car where he gave me two prototype squid poppers that still hang in my basement unfished. Everytime I saw him I would just say I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

- Rest in peace John.

John in1989, I took this at watch hill Light, ...just an afternoon of fun fishing

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&/Habarek.jpg

First thoughts and prayers to John's family.

I met John probably 15 years , as many did, fishing Quonny Breachway. I remember one particuliarly miserable night about 12 years ago with the wind blowing straight in at 25+ mph and the waves breaking up and over the hard side of Quonny keeping us 30-40 ft back on the jetty. Everyone had left as fishing was near impossible and it was only John and myself. We were talking about how bad the conditions were and I told him I was going to jig the end of the breachway because you couldn't cast anything else he decided to put on a bomber! I laughed at him and asked how he was going to cast that thing and then climbed down on the rocks to make a cast. I turned to see John make his first cast which went all of 20 ft out and come straight back at him and drop at his feet barely in the water. He puts 3 cranks on the reel and the rod doubles over and he's on! He managed to work the fish around to the inside and I jumped down and retrieved his fish, which turned out to be 45" 35+ lbs., we just stood there and laughed. He thanked me for helping him landed the fish and invited me back to his car where he gave me two prototype squid poppers that still hang in my basement unfished. Everytime I saw him I would just say I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it.

- Rest in peace John.


Boy Jeff, those years at that breachway were some of the best times in my life...we all had such a great time and the crew there was the best..

I don't know John as well as many or most of you, but I have to say that he was always the tops when it came to assisting with anything related to fishing, would always make himself available and always try to help out. A true gentleman.

Knowing how this impacts me with the little time I've got to know him, my support goes out to (his family of course), but also to all you guys who have known him for as long as you have, who called him a friend.

He will missed and my family sends our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

WOW i cant belive hes gone just the other day i pmd him and he gave me his number and told me to call him well i did and he told me all his little secterts abotu how to fish them and he told me to call him back when i got the big one!!!

Thank you all for posting those pictures. Cast a paul on the fall run.

I knew john for about 3 or 4 years.. we would always run into each other at point jude lighthouse and he was always full of energy. the first time i met him, I didnt know he was the needlefish guy and he gave me a beautiful 2 ounce needle that i cherished for a long time- infact i took a fish that was 32 lbs on it.

john was always kind to me and always had a great joke to tell me. sometimes when i would call him on the phone, he would spot my name on his caller ID and yell out "ehhhbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!" at the top of his lungs.

He really liked the glass that i make and we did a few trades over the years- I made a glass squid for him and a glass habs needle that he kept in his
'habratory'. in exchange he made me a bunch of plugs- I'll still fish some of them- i know thats what john would want- the rest will stay in my collection to remember him by..

I'll miss you John.

I first met John a few years ago at one of the Mass bass shows. Actually, I met a lot of guys there that year that are dear friends to this day. Anyway, I ended up hanging around a bit with Habs, Tattoo, and a couple others after the show closed. We proceeded to empty the cooler of Guinness one of them had brought, took some "funny" pictures in front of some of the other displays, and then moved on to another establishment. Iron Mike somehow made his way into the mix, as did Laptew. We drank and laughed and told stories for the whole night. At one point, the how still escapes me, we ended up at some jazz bar watching a live band. Just sort of a blurry, crazy night that led to many years of friendships with John and others. As mentioned before, he would always ask how your family life was going before you would get on the topic of fishing. He called me a few weeks back just to see how I was doing. We hadn't talked in a while, and he genuinely cared how I was and how things were. That was what was so special about him, he really cared about you as a person. I had dinner with him, his son, and his wife a couple nights of the RISAA show this past winter. We all sat around the pub just talking for hours. He never let the "fame" of being HABS take over.

He will truly be missed. We lost a great part of our community this past weekend, and it will never be the same.

I never met John. I saw him, but we never talked. I know him through his lures. And his lures have caught me a lot of bass. Some of my biggest, were taken on his white 2.5 needle. I love that plug.

Tonight, I'm heading out with nothing but Habs in the bag. I'm going to fish his needles the way I always fish them--low, along the bottom, down in the rocks. I don't care if I lose one. I want to catch a bass--Habs, I don't think, would want it any other way.

great pics guys.

rip john

The Classic Habs

Some great times,,,,

days later, i am still in total shock over this loss of a good friend. when the news came early sunday morning i couldnt believe it. that's all that was on my mind sunday - hab's is gone. i did what i think hab's would have wanted on sunday evening, went fishing w/ a couple friends while pondering over some of the memories and throwing a hab's needle as a thank you for all those memories. i am still choked up today seeing some of the posts and looking at the pictures. all those memories...to john's wife jessica and his son john jr., my sincere condolences on your loss. he was a great man.

i've known john for over 20+ years from working with him in his business and as a friend. i still remember getting my first hab's needle back in the early 90's when it was not yet hab's on his own. i still have that same lure, which has been sitting on the wall for years now. back then as he was today, john loved to give.

memories...

i remember some of those casts next to him on the "hard side" as bass were pulled out of the rip.

i remember the mid-late 90's going to a csa hartford event and there was hab's in the corner w/ a small table and some of his lures spread out on it. how far he grew from that day.

i remember in recent years during the fall mda/ms tournament seeing hab pull in or already there on those sunday mornings and there was a large waiting to be weighed or just weighed that helped pulled in the trophy for his club.

i remember a few years back tattoo, hab, and i sitting at the gin mill talking over hab's new website to be built - what do you want, how's it going to flow, etc. well, many beers later the drafts were nothing like what we wanted it to be as the laughs, jokes, and beer started to take over.

toby, i think we are thinking of the same story, the mass bass, year's ago. that was a good time.

all the times i went to the habratory, bumped into him on the beach, bumped into him at a shop, there was one thing that was expected - hab was happy to greet you, had a smile and full of that energy.

hab loved his trade and fishing. he may not have built the first wood lure, but i think it's fair to say he started the recent renaissance into custom wood lures and built the market to what it is today. he brought quality and craftmanship into custom wood lures again in that renaissance. they may have been hard to get at times, but when you "got a hab on" you felt that next cast could be the big one. and, as history shows, they caught fish. friends, fish your hab's lure as that is exactly what he would want us all to do.

john, i'll say hi on those dark nights when i put your needle on and ask for some good mojo. i'm sure you gave st. peter a needle on your way through the golden gate. may your casts be forever now. god bless. john, good-bye my friend.

dave fontaine

Last RISSA Show - Last Picture I have with John:

I only met him a few times. First was at the first SOL RI fling. I was up in Weekapaug B&T a few weeks later and he recognized me and talked for a few minutes. I was suprised he remembered who I was. I mean I was just (still) a plug building moron. He was HABS (in my mind). HABS were everything a plug should be. He was always down to earth and I really enjoyed that about him.

I always had a real deep respected for the way he went about his business. I always knew I would never be a HABS, but always thought if there was to be a model for this plug building world, he was it. The plug building world wouldn't be what it is today without him. :(

I only met him a few times. First was at the first SOL RI fling. I was up in Weekapaug B&T a few weeks later and he recognized me and talked for a few minutes. I was suprised he remembered who I was. I mean I was just (still) a plug building moron. He was HABS (in my mind). HABS were everything a plug should be. He was always down to earth and I really enjoyed that about him.

I always had a real deep respected for the way he went about his business. I always knew I would never be a HABS, but always thought if there was to be a model for this plug building world, he was it. The plug building world wouldn't be what it is today without him. :(


That was John--if you met him once, he'd remember you years later. I met John at one of the MSBA shows when they were still at the Braintree Armory. I was there with Brad the Hawg Hunter. John came over and talked plugmaking with Brad and gave him a bunch of pre-punched lips, as Brad was trying his hand at making swimmers. A couple of years later I ran into him at Watch Hill light, and he remembered me as "Brad's friend from NY". I saw him a lot more over the years, after that.

He really had a knack for remembering people he only met once or twice. And always had made you feel like one of the crew, no matter how long he knew you. And talk about generous>>> sometimes I think he gave away more plugs than he sold. Every time I saw him he would give me something to 'try out.' Then I remember the time in the parking lot of the old clubhouse I think I was with TT, and he kept giving us wood to turn. And then he reached into a box and started giving us handfuls of these old gibs style popper bodies he used to make.

What a guy. I feel lucky to have know him.

RIP John.

i last talked to him a couple of weeks ago. he said he was feeling good and liking the speed bag out bag. and how much he was looking towards working with his dogs. last thing he told me was to take it easy not work seven days and enjoy life...thanks john and God bless you.

On my trips to the north I would often take the scenic rt. home.On the way one time I ran into John. I later would come to find out he would often visit this location.It was a pick up spot. .Some of his conn. friends would come and get the contra-ban for their store.Tattoo would be with him an we would sit an talk and bust balls.John was one of the many who got the NIB internet humor.It was At the meeting spot though where Our friendship was formed.I would go out of the way when I had A idea he would be there.We spent many hrs talking of life the old days and our Polish heritage.He took a pic of me on a rock, it floats around on the inernet somewhere.It's me waving back to my friend when John called my name..Over the winter I talked to him.He was first in line when I needed something for the kids...He gave me cart blanche.Though I never took advantage of it.I guess I thought he would always be available.I told him to do it for others.As I read the kind words and stories I come to realize it was John's way.He wanted you to feel like You where something special.There is no greater quality in a man in my opinion.We are greatly diminished.

I remember meeting Mr. Haberek for the first time a few years ago at one of the shows at the convention center. I had been fishing his lures with much success and when I spotted him, I had to thank him. I was in my early thirties but I was nervous because he was a legend to me, even at that age. I may as well have been a kid meeting Tom Brady or Big Papi.
I told him that I had caught my personal best striper on one of his needles, and he was genuinely happy for me. I figured he had probably heard these compliments thousands of times, but his face still lit up with joy. He asked me how big the fish was and I told him....."well I didn't weigh it, but it was 36 inches". He told me that I wasn't fishing enough and to get back out there and come back when I had a "real big fish". He then laughed and thanked me for using his lures. He just seemed to me to be a guy who loved where he was in life and loved bringing joy to others. I had a few more occasions in the last couple of years to thank him and always did when I saw him.

Bullwinkle;)

I enjoyed the sportsmen conversations with John.

I have so many stories that I sit here almost every night and I am going to type one but get chocked up and can't get myself to do it.
Here is another couple of pix.

Last year as most of you know I was laid off, I went fishing everyday from July 29th till I ended it with DZ on Block Island November 18th. I Caught so many Stripers but the one that sticks out in my mind and I will never forget, It was in the middle of the day the sun was hot and bright I was plugging the beach at Plum Island and I had the whole 7 miles down all the holes,rips,cuts and Bars. I finally get down to about the 5 mile mark and get out I had a Habs 2oz. pencil Popper White red eyes, the surf was probably 4 feet with nice rolling waves so I made a cast right before the wave started to grow I start to pop and work the plug the wave comes up and the sun was shinning thru perfect as I watch the plug I see this huge Striper race thru that wave and inhale the pencil popper at first I thought it missed the plug but no she didn't miss it and after I got it in it was 25 pounds just 41 inches. it was a perfect day

these pix are from Mass Bass 2 years ago at M&D'S Booth

With the Hab's Tournament set to kickoff tonight at 6:00 p.m. I thought it might be cool to mount my S-B comeback by bumping a few threads dedicated to the man himself. If you'd like to join the party go to www.gotight.net/habs-tournament 100% of the proceeds go to benefit Hasbro Children's Hospital and the Tomorrow Fund. Hope you enjoy the read

Wow some great memories

This thread brought a lump to my throat. What great years we all had with Habs.

Kind of amazing that one crazy man like him could have had an effect on so many lives. 8 years and it still seems like we just lost him.

I was looking for a picture with Hab's Humping Deer Hunting hat for the Hab's Tourney Tag but could not find one. But for those that never saw it (or saw it and never put 2+2 together) it was somewhat like this - but orange, with more humping deer...

I remember him spitting blueberry vodka at a grill on BI one weekend,he called it the flamethrower...

He had a potato peeler in his shed with a hook on it, said it was proof that fish eat anything

We were at the Wekapaug overlook one morning before sunrise when he was come upon by a dog walker whilst making a doody.

Truly one of a kind
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I was looking for a picture with Hab's Humping Deer Hunting hat for the Hab's Tourney Tag but could not find one. But for those that never saw it (or saw it and never put 2+2 together) it was somewhat like this - but orange, with more humping deer...


I think it's called "buck-ing"

Those are some great pictures @tattoobob. Even though I never met Habs I can feel how great of a person he was. His plugs are really something that I admire greatly.

He was a blast to be around. I was just thinking yesterday on when we were going down to Weekapaug late fall when deer ran right in front of both our cars, nearly causing collisions.

Thick rhode island accent "I'll tell yah, Johnny...."