We Mourn the Passing of a Friend and Fishing Giant! - Page 2 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Rob Rockcrawler · 03-16-2008, 09:36 AM

Thoughts and prayers. I was planning on going to the shop soon because of the good things i have heard about him and his shop.

Joe · 03-16-2008, 10:18 AM

I used to go into his shop when it was at Dunn's Corners in the 90's - great atmosphere. Nice guy - he had some great stories.

WadingWill · 03-16-2008, 10:58 AM

Captian Don was a great man, condolences to his family and friends. If you didn't even know him, you could call and have him leave eels outside for you to pick up a 2am, and pay him when you see him. He saw the good in people and the world. He will truly be missed. RIP Captian Don.

The Iceman 6 · 03-16-2008, 11:19 AM

Top shelf guy and one of the nicest people you want to meet!

RIP Capt'n Don

Pete_G · 03-16-2008, 11:57 AM

Selfless, honest, warm, and genuine; a true gentleman. Increasingly rare qualities.

As I usually don't roam that far into South County, I only stop by the shop a few times a year. Wish I had travelled a little further more often.

R.I.P. Captain Don

chris L · 03-18-2008, 02:05 PM

thats a real shame . Don was one of the best . Always had a good thing to say and always willing to help . He will be missed .

thanks for the fyi Don M

tynan19 · 03-16-2008, 07:31 PM

Very sad news! It was always a pleasure to stop into his shop while in SoCo.

Rick Ackley · 03-17-2008, 06:16 AM

Thoughts and prayers to him, his family, and friends. May he rest in peace. Such sad news.

Johnny C · 03-17-2008, 07:37 AM

Such sad news.
Don's is my first stop when I go to RI, it is a few blocks from the inlaws house.
One day a few years back, a tuesday morning, mid November, raining sideways, cold, blowing hard. I went down to the Quonny Breachway. I had not been there in a while, as I don't care to fish it when it is packed. I figured I would have the place to myself. As I walked out, I saw this big guy out there in a blue rain suit. It was Don. The place was loaded with blue fish and I seemed to hook one every cast.
Don, without fail caught a bass every time.
We were talking the entire time, mainly about my young daughter and about owning small business, how grateful he was for John and Jarrod at the shop.
Don could sense my frustration at dealing with "his partners" the blue fish every drift. He gave me his rod, and explained to me how to work a pencil popper so that it would attract a large lazy bass and not get sucked up by any blue that came by.
He and I laughed really hard as I began to get into bass the rest of the hour or two we were there.
Thoughts and Prayers to all Don's good friends and family, anyone who new him lost a man we all learned so much from.
Johnny

SeaWolf · 03-17-2008, 08:29 AM

this is sad news. i remember sitting at "the bar" in capt don's old shop in dunn's corners watching him wait on customers. he definitely had a gift of being able to talk to customers about fishing, tackle, hunting, alaska, etc., all while making the customer comfortable. i had a lot of laughs in the old shop with don and those laughs continued into the store's current location. he always had a smile on his face and you were always welcomed with a "Hi!" when you walked into the store. i truely enjoyed just sitting in the shop and talking to don.

don, thanks for the memories and i'm sure you're in a better place today. my prayers go out to bonnie and your family.

Goose · 03-17-2008, 09:17 AM

Sounds like he was a heck of a guy. Rest In Peace Don.

Fisherwoman · 03-17-2008, 09:43 AM

May he rest in eternal happiness, our thoughts are prayers go out to his family, may you know he is at peice with the big guy upstairs.

zacs · 03-17-2008, 09:44 AM

RIP Cap.

Very sad.

Saltheart · 03-17-2008, 10:52 AM

Too bad , he was a friendly guy who helped a lot. biggest striper i ever saw unmounted was the one he had in his freezer for a customer waiting to sent it out to be mounted , maybe 15 years ago. I think it was about 65 pounds.

Finlander · 03-17-2008, 11:09 AM

Don was a great guy....God Bless, will be missed by all.

Dad 818 · 03-17-2008, 01:15 PM

R.I.P. Capt. Don. Thoughts and prayers to your friends and family.

Tagger · 03-17-2008, 05:09 PM

R.I.P. thoughts and prayers sent ..

Vogt · 03-17-2008, 05:43 PM

I will trurly miss Don. He was what I could honestly call a great guy. Always willing to lend a hand to my confused group of guys from CT, and always had the ability to make you smile. I always made a point to stop in and see Don whenever I was in the area. Thoughts and prayers sent to his family and friends....

BMEUPSCOTTY · 03-17-2008, 06:52 PM

I finally got around to this thread. Captain Don obviously meant a great deal to many fellow fishermen, but sadly I never met him. I hope his family finds a little comfort in the fact you all thought so highly of him. R.I.P. Capt. Don