Well I am flattered but really I suck, just ask Bassmaster. John you asked a really hard question to answer. There are so many. I was lucky enough to know a lot of them being a plucky kid who figured he had the chance, so why not talk to these guys. The worst you could get was "beat it kid". Fortunately I never got that response. I have fond memories of sitting in the basement of Stan Gibbs cottage "factory" watching him make plugs and he patiently answering questions, the same with his son John. I fished with Old Man Mac Reed, Stan Kuzia, Bunny DiPietro, Chester "Biff" Mc Ardle, Paul Kukonen. I sat In Frank Woolner's basement office and was showed his lure collection and received sage advice from him on what it takes to be a really good Striper Fisherman, I sat in Charlie Whitney's old shop on Race Point rd. back in the seventies and listened to him half whistle and half talk about fishing the beach. Had my first custom rods made by Charlie Murat at his little shop by the drive-in in N.Smithfield Rhode Island. Worked a couple days with Capt. Joe Eldridge on the Striper out of Barnstable while working as an alternate mate with Capt. Lucky Singleton. Fished on Johnny Shakliks Quahog II in Wellfleet and wathced Capt. Phil Schwind troll by us many times in Whitecap in the Bay while working the first year in 1972 on Seawitch.
Who would I like to have been able to fish with most? Arnold Laine. Just to sit back watch, listen and learn and keep my mouth shut on a outer Cape beach with him would have been just awesome.
|