Hard to believe six years now

http://striped-bass.com/striper-fishing/images/stories/in-memoriam/steve-shiraka-2009.jpg

I think of Steve often
6 years already, wow

RIP Steve

Tagger and I mention him often when we are together.......greatly missed he is.:(

he is missed by many RIP

A sad day indeed.Think of you often RIP

Steve was awesome. The few times I met him, I knew his passion for educating kids was equal to enjoying the Surf. We had a lot in common. I wish our paths crossed more often. RIP

A couple of years before his untimely passing, my nephew Frank and I spent a day along the Elizabeths with Steve and were suitably impressed as he worked a Heddon flaptail copy that he had carved. A number of good fish were caught by that plug and I have taken to collecting flaptails from past and present; I don't know if this makes sense, but they kind of keep Steve's memory alive for me. I learned a great deal from him and I hope that Debbie and the girls always remember how much he meant to other, both in terms of fishing and just the person he was. Good men can't be replaced, just remembered.

Steve was awesome. The few times I met him, I knew his passion for educating kids was equal to enjoying the Surf. We had a lot in common. I wish our paths crossed more often. RIP

Yeah,
I remember one day being in Mikey's old Wagoneer in front of Nelson's and Steve being inside. Mikey ran in, and I stayed inside the truck. I should have gone in and said Hi. That was in 2009 and the only chance I ever had to meet Steve.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda....Rest easy, Steve. I wish I decided to go in and say hi that day.

When I am done fishing, I make one more cast for Steve. I make myself fish it out as best I can. I say it is for Steve, and partly it is, but it also is for myself..........to remind me how lucky I am and thankful I should be to still have what he lost. Every time I do it it feels like he is still teaching me something. And he is.