Amazing who you can meet fishing!

[geo g]

My house is surrounded by a bunch of man made lakes with a good population of bass and peacock bass.  I fish these lakes at least 5 days a week from the bank, and often see people fishing.  One old man comes with a chair and a fly rod and does quite well, pulling in bass of various size.  Few fish with a fly rod so he stands out among the masses.  He always shows up around 5 in the afternoon and fishes for an hour or two.  One day I was in the same area and started a conversation with him.  He told me he grew up on a country farm and learned to fly fish as a child with his older brother.  I told him I have a bass boat and if he would like to go out in the Everglades, he would clean-up on peacock and black bass out there.  He said that would be great, but he works 7 days a week, and only does this to relax from work when he can.

 

I was shocked because I'm 70 and he looked older then me, but is actually younger.  So I said, your still working?  What do you do?  He said, I'm a HEART SURGEON, and head of the Heart Transplant Unit at Cleveland Clinic, Florida.  I was floored that someone like him relaxes by bank fishing just like me.  He said he has an ocean boat, but he is selling it because every time he takes it out he gets beeped, and has to turn around and bring it back.  He is always on call, when a heart becomes available his team must respond.

 

When I got home I went on line and found out he has personally done over 1500 heart transplants over his career, not bad for a young man that began working his parents cattle ranch in rural Northwest Florida, went to Florida State, then Duke Medical School.  An amazing man, an amazing career, and down to earth talking about bass fishing, with little time to do anything else except fish our local lakes.  Everyday is life and death in his world.  I hope we have an opportunity to fish the glades together, the stories he must have to tell, and a chance for him to relax catching.  

 

It is an amazing day for me just talking bass with him, he truly loves our sport!

[Mike L]

It’s always a Great thing to make new friends regardless of how old we get. 
Especially ones that share the same interests. 
 

Just 2 guys fishin!
There’s nothing better. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[jbsoonerfan]

I met a guy at my local lake one day and we got to talking and he said he was a musician. Turns out it was Ryan Engleman of Turnpike Troubadours. Some guys may not know who they are, but pretty big in the Oklahoma music scene. Hopefully they make a comeback soon.

[Bluebasser86]

I met Brad Paisley when he came into Cabela's shopping before he played a show in KC. Big fan of his but we just talked fishing and I didn't even mention that I knew who he was until he was about to leave. He asked if I was going to his show and I told him I didn't have tickets. He said he'd leave some at will call for me if I wanted them. Not only did he do that, but they were second row right in front, couldn't believe it. 

[Big Hands]

I have a travel trailer that I keep at a local storage yard and one day as I was leaving,

 (there is a gate that you have to unlock and lock back up again on weekends) there were two young men putting an older Ranger with a Yamaha 150 into a stall right next to the gate. I talked to them about fishing for a little while before leaving, and went on my way. I always take note of when it's there and when it's gone as it's next to the road and I drive by it going back and forth to work. 

 

I was listening to a podcast a couple weeks ago, and a bunch of things suddenly all added up and I realized that the young man I talked to that day is Matty Wong, the recent Bassmaster Nations champion who earned himself a spot in the Elite tour for 2022 and a spot at the Classic. 

 

I have actually been watching his YT channel for a while, but still hadn't made the connection.

[Functional]

Not from fishing but similar story. 

 

Was at a shooting range and was tuning my gun when there was a guy a few benches over who couldn't any consistent shots and couldn't adjust his scope enough to hit where he was aiming. He asked the ROs for help and they all messed with it and said his scope and rings and rifle were just junk and to get a while new setup. Seemed kind of down and defeated. 

 

After they left him I stepped over and asked if he minded if I took a look. (Little background I was doing serious long range competitive shooting and built competition rifles in the side. Lathe,  chambering,  fitting barrels,  bedding, all of it) He said sure why not, started to tear his gun down and just put it all back together. When I got back to mounting the rings I realized one cross bolt was rotated 90 degrees and causing his scope to not sit true or have a great grip. Showed him and explained everything I was doing,  boresighted it and his first shot was 3-6" from his aiming point. Made an adjustment and he was dead center and shooting nice groups.

 

He was so appreciative, asked for my number and name to shoot with again. Well fast forward 5 days and the ups guy shows up with a brand new rifle case, shooting mat and range bag.  No idea why until he calls me and asks if it showed up today.  He researched me and had it all sent as a thank you, mind you he did not buy low end stuff. All total was at least a few hundred bucks. We talked and decided to go take a long range class together and been friends for over 10 years now. 

 

Did some research on him after that phone call and turns out he is a really big time lawyer in NYC, and I mean big.  Never would have known it by looking at him or talking to him. Great guy. 

[Jaderose]

People are people.  Whether they dump trashcans , do heart transplants, or headline stadium shows.  If they also fish, they can drink from my canteen any time.

[J Francho]

Back in the 90s, I stepped on Billy Corgan's foot at a Cocteau Twins show in Buffalo, lol. I've had plenty of run ins with musicians, being one myself. Mostly we talked shop or about other things. Sometimes touring stories are exchanged. 
 

I've talked to a few pro anglers at various tournaments, but those encounters were on the water or back at the hotel, and I didn't want to distract them too much. I don't think I ever encountered any real hero's while fishing tho. Certainly not like a heart transplant surgeon. That's pretty cool. 

[Junk Fisherman]

I'm sure a lot of guys in Michigan have these stories but a few years back KVD, Johnny Morris, and Martin Truex were fishing right next to me in Northern Michigan.  The pictures they took that day have ended up in multiple BPS catalogs.  I didn't recognize Truex since he didn't have his racing attire on.  The next day KVD was filming a show there.  

[Sam]

Last year while fishing a club tournament on Lake Gaston we ventured into a creek to fish the boat houses and docks.

 

We came across a guy working on a boat in a boat house and just asked him where the fish were. And he gave us some suggestions. I kept looking at the guy as for some reason, I had seen him before.

 

So I asked him what he did and I think I remember seeing him somewhere.

 

He smiled and introduced himself as Rick Morris, an Elite fisherman on the BASS circuit!

 

Yes, you have no idea who you will be running into while fishing.

[Boomstick]

On 12/1/2021 at 11:45 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

I met Brad Paisley when he came into Cabela's shopping before he played a show in KC. Big fan of his but we just talked fishing and I didn't even mention that I knew who he was until he was about to leave. He asked if I was going to his show and I told him I didn't have tickets. He said he'd leave some at will call for me if I wanted them. Not only did he do that, but they were second row right in front, couldn't believe it. 

Nice!

 

It reminds me when I had a guitar lesson when I was a teenager. Bruce Cockburn walks in to the store to buy strings and was playing a gig in town and my dad was there waiting and recognized him and they were talking and when I came out of my lesson I got to meet him and he gave us both tickets.

[OkiePapist]

I'll add a story as well, though mine isn't fishing related. I used to travel a lot, (240 segments a year), and at the time was still a smoker as was sitting in the DFW A Terminal Admirals Club enjoying a drink and a smoke while working. I don't remember exactly how it started but this old guy started up a conversation with me. I wasn't in the mood as I was doing some work and really just wanted to tune out, but I obliged him. He told me he was going to Indy for the 500 to represent at Veterans organization. 

 

He started telling me a fanciful story from his time in Vietnam, but I really started to this this guy was full of bull based upon the story he was telling me. It was quite fanciful and he was like Rambo in a way. Not braggart about it, but it was interesting. I relayed that my cousin was the highest ranking Marine killing in the Beirut in 1983. He inquired his name and goes on to tell me he met him while in special operations and advised on security there. Now I really thought this guy is full of it, but he was nice to talk to so we continued. 

 

The conversation ended when he had to leave. He got up and said he appreciated the chat. He reached out and said "I want you to have this" and handed me something and we wished each other well. When I looked at it briefly I recognized it as a challenge coin, but had to get back to some work. About 10 minutes later, I finally got the opportunity to look at it. Imagine my surprise when I saw the metal, recognized what was on it, and realized that this guy wasn't full of horse hockey, but really undersold himself. I had the true privilege of sitting down and enjoying a smoke and drink with an absolute American hero. His name was Staff Sargent Jon R. Cavaiani. I met him in May of 2013, just over a year before he passed. May God have mercy on his soul. Please take a minute to read about this hero. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_R._Cavaiani 

[ajschn06]

My favorite thing about fishing is getting away from people and that noone can come talk to me while I'm on my boat.... to each their own I guess...

[The Bassman]

Many years ago I was working for a contractor that was doing remodel work in McDonalds around Indy. I was painting the redone restrooms in one during business hours when a familiar face entered the store with his wife. He hadn't noticed the sign to use the porta johns outside so I had to direct him. Couldn't help but ask his wife who quickly interjected "Yes, he's Bart Starr". This was probably 10-15 yrs. after he'd retired but I get a kick out of telling people that I chased Bart Starr out of a bathroom.

[desmobob]

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

...I get a kick out of telling people that I chased Bart Starr out of a bathroom.

 

Great story!  He was my childhood football hero.

[fishhugger]

i fish at a neighborhood lake, and one benefit is all the people i meet there. they'll often ask if i've caught anything, etc... i also meet the occasional birder, painters, etc... and fishermen. it's a 7 acre lake, so very small, and when people are there, they're all in a good mood.

 

i felt that when i was surf fishing, that people aren't nearly as friendly in that environment. it's very noisy, dangerous (you can get swept out to sea), lots of sand and space. not conducive to talking or chatting, etc... 

[Dwight Hottle]

4 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Many years ago I was working for a contractor that was doing remodel work in McDonalds around Indy. I was painting the redone restrooms in one during business hours when a familiar face entered the store with his wife. He hadn't noticed the sign to use the porta johns outside so I had to direct him. Couldn't help but ask his wife who quickly interjected "Yes, he's Bart Starr". This was probably 10-15 yrs. after he'd retired but I get a kick out of telling people that I chased Bart Starr out of a bathroom.

 

My brother & I met him at Hartsfield airport in Atlanta. We noticed him dressed in a suit & tie walking to his gate. He was very gracious and easy to talk to. 

[The Bassman]

5 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

My brother & I met him at Hartsfield airport in Atlanta. We noticed him dressed in a suit & tie walking to his gate. He was very gracious and easy to talk to. 

He razzed me by saying we would have had a big problem if a busload of boy scouts had pulled up.

[heavyduty]

6 hours ago, OkiePapist said:

I'll add a story as well, though mine isn't fishing related. I used to travel a lot, (240 segments a year), and at the time was still a smoker as was sitting in the DFW A Terminal Admirals Club enjoying a drink and a smoke while working. I don't remember exactly how it started but this old guy started up a conversation with me. I wasn't in the mood as I was doing some work and really just wanted to tune out, but I obliged him. He told me he was going to Indy for the 500 to represent at Veterans organization. 

 

He started telling me a fanciful story from his time in Vietnam, but I really started to this this guy was full of bull based upon the story he was telling me. It was quite fanciful and he was like Rambo in a way. Not braggart about it, but it was interesting. I relayed that my cousin was the highest ranking Marine killing in the Beirut in 1983. He inquired his name and goes on to tell me he met him while in special operations and advised on security there. Now I really thought this guy is full of it, but he was nice to talk to so we continued. 

 

The conversation ended when he had to leave. He got up and said he appreciated the chat. He reached out and said "I want you to have this" and handed me something and we wished each other well. When I looked at it briefly I recognized it as a challenge coin, but had to get back to some work. About 10 minutes later, I finally got the opportunity to look at it. Imagine my surprise when I saw the metal, recognized what was on it, and realized that this guy wasn't full of horse hockey, but really undersold himself. I had the true privilege of sitting down and enjoying a smoke and drink with an absolute American hero. His name was Staff Sargent Jon R. Cavaiani. I met him in May of 2013, just over a year before he passed. May God have mercy on his soul. Please take a minute to read about this hero. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_R._Cavaiani 

 

WOW!!

 

Geog, great story as well, very interesting thread!

[slonezp]

Just think what famous people you would have met if you were good looking ?

 

 

[the reel ess]

I read the book Monsters of River and Rock by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith. He told the story of fly fishing on a tropical island. He walked the beach and someone shouted from his balcony. It was none other than Robert Palmer.

[TnRiver46]

I think I’ve already told this story on here somewhere but why not do it again. I took two clients fly fishing way up into the mountains and on the ride back into civilization it somehow came up that I do a good Shaw grigsby impression. Well by golly they phoned him up and put me on the spot, I did a Shaw grigsby impression to Shaw grigsby over the phone. “Catchin’ big ole pigs!!!!!”

[cheezyridr]

3 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I read the book Monsters of River and Rock by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith. He told the story of fly fishing on a tropical island. He walked the beach and someone shouted from his balcony. It was none other than Robert Palmer.

 

back in the 80's i took my little brother to a music store with me while i looked at a guitar.  they were just finishing up a drum seminar with nicko mcbrain.  my litle brother was a huge iron maiden fan.  as all the drummers walked off, my little brother walked up to the kit just to look, cause, after all, nicko was playing on it. nicko saw him,  sat him down at the kit and gave him a lesson for about 30-40 minutes. eventually his staff drug him away. as we walked out that day, my brother was walking about 3' off the ground.  i said "so, mike...you gonna switch to drums now?" he looked at me and said hell no, but who in their right mind would say no to a free lesson from nicko?  hahahaha

 

i met vinnie moore in the same store. i was butchering a motley crue song, and he came over and taught me the right way to play it. 

[the reel ess]

On 12/3/2021 at 11:17 PM, cheezyridr said:

 

back in the 80's i took my little brother to a music store with me while i looked at a guitar.  they were just finishing up a drum seminar with nicko mcbrain.  my litle brother was a huge iron maiden fan.  as all the drummers walked off, my little brother walked up to the kit just to look, cause, after all, nicko was playing on it. nicko saw him,  sat him down at the kit and gave him a lesson for about 30-40 minutes. eventually his staff drug him away. as we walked out that day, my brother was walking about 3' off the ground.  i said "so, mike...you gonna switch to drums now?" he looked at me and said hell no, but who in their right mind would say no to a free lesson from nicko?  hahahaha

 

i met vinnie moore in the same store. i was butchering a motley crue song, and he came over and taught me the right way to play it. 

That's awesome because I've heard McBrain himself say that he wasn't always fun to be around in his drinking days.

[volzfan59]

When I lived in Nashville, I used to go Smallmouth fishing on Center Hill Lake. It was nothing to see Porter Wagoner, Little Jimmy Dickens and John Anderson on the water, especially on weekdays. Porter had a big houseboat at Sligo Boat Dock. They would stop and talk, ask you if you were "on 'em". Seemed to be really nice guys to me. I met Bob Seger standing in line one morning at McDonald's in east Nashville. Met several recording engineers and producers while trout fishing in the Caney Fork River, below Center Hill Dam.