Legends of the Salt... Saltwater Hall of Fame thread

[baitstealer]

Wow Marylee you were lucky to have a Dad like that. Not a lot of people in my family fish, so I am the pioneer, learning as I go along. I read some of the posts you all put up here, and it seems that the times in the past were reallly great compared to what we have now. Thanks for sharing, this is a real nice thread.

[DarkSkies]

Russ Wilson is my Dad. It is so nice to see that people still remember him after all these years. Thank you for the "nomination" and the kind words and memories. Fishing was his love. I remember him taking me to school and there was a live well in the back of his VW minivan to keep his bait fresh, just in case those stripers were running.

Marylee, hello. Glad you enjoyed the posts.

It was a pleasure to do the research on your Dad. It was inspired by talks with Finchaser, and some other folks here. I couldn't have done it without the stories they told me.

I truly regret that I didn't meet your Dad while he was alive, as he sounded like such a character.

I am happy to have been some small part of the memories. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have any other questions. Welcome!

[hookset]

Awesome stuff ds, just awesome. I would love to take time travel back to the 1960s and fish with some of these guys, no internet, no cell phones, and the only fishing reports were by the guys sitting around the counters of the old tackle shops.

[finchaser]

Awesome stuff ds, just awesome. I would love to take time travel back to the 1960s and fish with some of these guys, no internet, no cell phones, and the only fishing reports were by the guys sitting around the counters of the old tackle shops.

Yep we had to learn by trial and error we couldn't Goggle how to tie a knot ,how to cast, how to fish and there were no books written by self proclaimed so called pro's, guess thats why we still can catch a fish with out snag and drop or blitz's. We learned the hard way and after 50 years most of us are still learning.

[Marylee]

Marylee, hello. Glad you enjoyed the posts.

It was a pleasure to do the research on your Dad. It was inspired by talks with Finchaser, and some other folks here. I couldn't have done it without the stories they told me.

I truly regret that I didn't meet your Dad while he was alive, as he sounded like such a character.

I am happy to have been some small part of the memories. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have any other questions. Welcome!

My Dad was truly a unique individual with quite a way to turn a phrase...and he loved to fish! Thank you for the kind words. He inspired quite a few young people in life time, some of whom I am still in contact with today. One young man said to me...an hours worth of yard work for a life time if fishing knowledge and tackle! Nothing could have made me prouder of the Father I loved as much as a daughter could!

[7deadlyplugs]

My Dad was truly a unique individual with quite a way to turn a phrase...and he loved to fish! Thank you for the kind words. He inspired quite a few young people in life time, some of whom I am still in contact with today. One young man said to me...an hours worth of yard work for a life time if fishing knowledge and tackle! Nothing could have made me prouder of the Father I loved as much as a daughter could!

This is a rare find a man who would be so generous. The yard work is nothing compared to the knowledge. Beautiful.

[Marylee]

Wow Marylee you were lucky to have a Dad like that. Not a lot of people in my family fish, so I am the pioneer, learning as I go along. I read some of the posts you all put up here, and it seems that the times in the past were reallly great compared to what we have now. Thanks for sharing, this is a real nice thread.

This is a great thread!! Thank you for the kind words. My Dad was an avid fisherman and loved the ocean, lakes, streams and rivers of NJ. He spent many a day out on the water and as we grew older got the kids and grandkids of the neighborhood, as well as his own, into fishing. He doled out tackle to them like Halloween candy and I recently connected with some of them and they tell me he is the reason they love to fish today! I hope you love it and pass it on...there is nothing like a day of fishing!!

[baitstealer]

This is a great thread!! Thank you for the kind words. My Dad was an avid fisherman and loved the ocean, lakes, streams and rivers of NJ. He spent many a day out on the water and as we grew older got the kids and grandkids of the neighborhood, as well as his own, into fishing. He doled out tackle to them like Halloween candy and I recently connected with some of them and they tell me he is the reason they love to fish today! I hope you love it and pass it on...there is nothing like a day of fishing!!

Marylee it sounds like your Dad was a generous man, trying the best he could to ignite the spark that turns into a lifelong passion for fishing. And by your comments, he succeeded, as you related with the neighborhood kids who he got into fishing and are still into it. That must be a rewarding part of his legacy every time you get a compliment about the things he used to do.

Beautiful.

[DarkSkies]

Thank you for your moving testament to your Father, Marylee. From the memories you have shared here, I think you could say he was someone who was somewhat of a character. Getting kids to do yard work for him in return for fishing knowledge. I know of many children in this day and age who would not think of that as a fair deal. They are only motivated by green, and don't have the insight to be able to see the big picture.

However, as a child, I would have taken that deal any day. I had some older fishermen who took pity on us when we were younger and took us fishing as my Dad did not have time for it. On these trips my mind was like a sponge, soaking up every detail of their advice, thirsty for more.....

I thank you for being able to share your memories of your Dad with us in this thread.

That's what it's all about. When people are no longer with us, I like to continue to honor them by relating the memories we have. And I humbly thank you for your part in this.

[7deadlyplugs]

Russ Wilson is my Dad. It is so nice to see that people still remember him after all these years. Thank you for the "nomination" and the kind words and memories. Fishing was his love. I remember him taking me to school and there was a live well in the back of his VW minivan to keep his bait fresh, just in case those stripers were running.

Your father was a great man and a friend, he is truly missed

Marylee, hello. Glad you enjoyed the posts.

It was a pleasure to do the research on your Dad. It was inspired by talks with Finchaser, and some other folks here. I couldn't have done it without the stories they told me.

I truly regret that I didn't meet your Dad while he was alive, as he sounded like such a character.

I am happy to have been some small part of the memories. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have any other questions. Welcome!

Yep we had to learn by trial and error we couldn't Goggle how to tie a knot ,how to cast, how to fish and there were no books written by self proclaimed so called pro's, guess thats why we still can catch a fish with out snag and drop or blitz's. We learned the hard way and after 50 years most of us are still learning.

Thank you all for keeping his memory alive and doing what he loved... I miss my father every day and it is so nice to know that other do also. he loved and lived for fishing, after my Mom and his kids and grand kids. i remember growing up, he made his own weights, lures, flies and even his own rods...we all had our own tackle and when we were old enough our own row boat to fish on the Shark River...mostly though, we caught his bait, seining the Shark River for spearing or killies so he had live bait to fish with. The headstone is etched with a picture of him in his 18ft aluminum row boat fishing. He didn't limit himself to the river in that boat he went out the inlet to the ocean, never missing an opportunity to fish where they were running.

This is awesome thanks for sharing that. What a piece of history. You are truly lucky to have had a father like that and thank you for those great memories.