The world of Virgil Ward (fishing show)

[farmpond1]

Does anyone remember Virgil Ward? I cut my teeth watching his fishing shows. I loved watching him dunk some jig or worm in that aquarium tank of his. His may not have been the very first fishing show but I'll wager it was one of them.

[fishizzle]

Must have been when tvs had tubes.  never hear of him

[Wayne P.]

I remember him as well as Gadabout Gaddis before him

[swilly78]

Never seen his show, but ive seen some impressive stringers from his early tournys in the 1950's.  I believe he was the first tv "superstar" fisherman.

[noway]

More on Virgil Ward.

[ftp]http://www.geocities.com/dansfishntales/virgilward/[/ftp]

[cart7t]

At one time his was the only TV fishing show on in my area.

He designed and built the beetle spin and owned Bass Buster Bait company before Johnson reels bought he and his son out.  His son Bill and Grandson Greg both competed for a short while on the BASS trail in the early 70's.  

A true pioneer in the bass fishing world.  All TV fishing hosts owe him a debt of gratitude.

[firefightn15]

A few months ago someone did a thread on favorite fishing shows and after several posts I was the only one to bring up Virgil Ward.  He was my fishing hero as a kid.  I just figured no one cared for him.

[Shad_Master]

I remember Virgil - also used to watch Tom Mann's show when we could get it and watched just about all of Jerry McKinnis' shows.  These guys were the pioneers.

[farmpond1]

A few months ago someone did a thread on favorite fishing shows and after several posts I was the only one to bring up Virgil Ward. He was my fishing hero as a kid. I just figured no one cared for him.

No, I definitely remember him-though my recollections are dimming as time meanders on.  He did, I think, a lot of shows on walleye fishing which, for an early-teen farmboy from Central Illinois, seemed impossibly out of reach.  But he did spark my imagination.

[NBR]

Virgil Ward, Jerry McKinis and Joe Fosse(sp) all pioneers.

I heard Fosse speak one time. He claimed to be a 5 time US Army fighter pilot and a 1 time Japanese ace. As I recall he shot down 25 Jap planes in WWII which made him the 5 times US ace. He crashed 3 US planes and was shot down 2 times which made him a Japanese ace.

I also recall him saying it took 5 days to produce enough footage for a 30 minute show.

[Crestliner2008]

I sure do remember VW and yes, it was on TV with a tube....all 14" of it! Gadabout Gaddis too....as a mater of fact, I have 1/2 doz. of his original wood fishing lures in their boxes! Probably not worth much, as they are not "name" brand lures per se, but I hang onto them, for sentimental reasons if nothing else. If I live long enough, maybe my grandson will be pleased with them. ;D

[firefightn15]

I was a little kid in the early and mid seventies when I watched.  Does anyone know about which years he was on?

[Shad_Master]

I can't remember the exact years any of these guys were on - but we got our first television in about 1957 and it seems like I first started watching fishing shows in the early to mid 60's.  Been watchin 'em ever since - just ask my wife

[CWB]

Good old Virgil.

One of TV's pioneers.

Beetlespins, BassBuster Spinnerbaits....

Ah the memories. Am I that old?

[Rob G.]

Virgil was great!  A friend of mine who is an outdoor writer produced a video biography about Virgil, it is a good show and I occassionally catch it being rerun.  Hats off to Virgil!