" There must be always two, a master and an apprentice " to the sound of Yoda's voice... Welcome to the dark side Got Stripers... This Dark Side brings the chase of the two-handed bass at night in an Estuary far, far away...
Bill has assumed the position of court stone buster on his own, not something bestowed upon him from this site and that’s why the disclaimer is displayed on "Ask #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&".
In addition to being the most intense and successful striped bass fisherman I've ever had the opportunity to regularly cast with, he is one of the most narrow-minded (some might say focused <img src="/Images/Tounge_Wink_Face.gif"><!--e5-->) arrogant, opinionated, and argumentative people that I have ever met. But he is also a good guy that does not translate well on these boards. As far as he is concerned, there is one fish to chase and one primary way to chase it. Everything else is immaterial or maybe second best to him. Most of his “bashing” is supposed to come out in a good natured way but there is certainly an undercurrent that the best way is of shore fishing for stripers, Korkers scratching the rocks, and casting the eel to the so’west even when you know he is playing. This isn't the first time. He was well known as "Get off my Rock, Nolan" back in the good days of another board... But it works and that’s why he does it. Many striper sharpies agree with him and tell him so. But he catches a ton of big fish. Much of what he does never makes it to these boards… Is he amongst the greatest ever? He may eventually be. He sure is pretty friekin’ good. He catches a ####load of large fish.
But I’ll let you in on a little secret, he did own a boat until a couple years ago which complemented his surf casting (not replacing it) when tides and times weren’t optimal from shore, much like Bill and Juls do. We have also talked of getting a boat in the future. Surf fishing is his desire, more so than boat fishing (It’s mine too, I love being out in a boat and I’ve missed it since selling it about 7-8 years ago but I much prefer fishing in the surf).
To sum things up? Bill will never be a diplomat. No call will ever come from the White House asking Bill to intercede in some distant conflict. When you find him out on the shore you’ll at least see him smile while he’s busting your balls, something that does not translate well on this board. But in the surf, you will often see his rod curled over to some large bass. And he is good enough that 80% of the time he is the high rod in both numbers and pounds and that is when fishing with some very accomplished anglers.
I've been fortunate to fish with some really excellent anglers like Fisherwoman and Baitcaster, Bill, Steve McKenna and others, well before this board started and he Bill is probably the most intense striper chaser I've ever met.
Got Stripers, don't get overly worked up about him and his tweak, fight fire with fire and all. Most that have gotten tired of him will just ignore him.... BTW, did I tell you that I've been catching decent bass, from the shore, at night, on live <font color="000000"> <b>BLACK EELS <img src="/Images/biggrin.gif"><!--e7--> </b> <font color="cccccc">
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