Post by Woody Williams on Apr 23, 2006 8:08:38 GMT -5
Old fisherman would love to reel buddies into his boat
By STEVE FORD, Staff writer
April 23, 2006
Fishing buddies are a precious commodity.
They're there to share the work and the fun that follows, a willing ear or voice to fill in the inevitable downtime when fishing is closer to its name than what we're all after: catching.
I've had fishing buddies die, move and lose interest. It's all tough to deal with.
It's a condition Gene Gross, 82, shares. He's in good health, still loves to fish, but can't find anybody he can share time with on the water. When his latest fishing buddy got to the point where he couldn't get in and out of a boat, Gross called me since I've known the family since I went through school with his kids.
"I was just wanting to see if I might be able to find somebody in the same situation I'm in," said Gross. "There's got to be other people out there who would like to find somebody to fish with."
"You're not the first to have the idea, Gene," I told him, "but that doesn't make it a bad one. Here's how it went the first time I heard about it."
I told him about the original call I got from the late Otis Benham about 10 years ago when he had exactly the same problem. Benham wanted to start a club to create a pool of potential fishing buddies.
With my help he put the idea out there and had an initial meeting at his business. Then he took over and it went well.
The column also landed on the Scripps Howard wire and Benham had more replies than he ever dreamed from all over the Midwest. There was even a marriage offer from the St. Louis area that came with a boat and motor. Benham did not request a picture of the boat and motor, though. Already married.
Gross isn't looking for a woman, either, since he and June have been married almost 58 years, but he would like somebody for the other end of his 10-foot boat.
"My little boat just works better with two people in it," said Gross. "One guy's too heavy for the front or back and it just seems awkward in the middle by yourself.
"But I don't care what we fish out of, so long as we go. I like my little boat for fishing small places, but I'll fish out of anything, anywhere."
Gross, a semi-retired bass fisherman, said he prefers crappie and bluegill now, but really isn't that particular. He could also use a few new spots.
"I used to have a lot of friends with ponds, but as I lost those friends, I lost the spots," he said. "I'm down to three.
"But it's not just that. At my age, you shouldn't go by yourself, but it's also nice to have someone else along to share the fellowship of fishing."
Benham had fishing buddies, one of whom was Gross, until he died about a year ago. Now another man would like the same thing for all the good years he has left.
It's not much to ask. So I told him I'd put the idea out there again with his phone number (812) 437-9889 and mine (812) 464-7511.
Call if you're interested. Then we'll meet and buddy up.
By STEVE FORD, Staff writer
April 23, 2006
Fishing buddies are a precious commodity.
They're there to share the work and the fun that follows, a willing ear or voice to fill in the inevitable downtime when fishing is closer to its name than what we're all after: catching.
I've had fishing buddies die, move and lose interest. It's all tough to deal with.
It's a condition Gene Gross, 82, shares. He's in good health, still loves to fish, but can't find anybody he can share time with on the water. When his latest fishing buddy got to the point where he couldn't get in and out of a boat, Gross called me since I've known the family since I went through school with his kids.
"I was just wanting to see if I might be able to find somebody in the same situation I'm in," said Gross. "There's got to be other people out there who would like to find somebody to fish with."
"You're not the first to have the idea, Gene," I told him, "but that doesn't make it a bad one. Here's how it went the first time I heard about it."
I told him about the original call I got from the late Otis Benham about 10 years ago when he had exactly the same problem. Benham wanted to start a club to create a pool of potential fishing buddies.
With my help he put the idea out there and had an initial meeting at his business. Then he took over and it went well.
The column also landed on the Scripps Howard wire and Benham had more replies than he ever dreamed from all over the Midwest. There was even a marriage offer from the St. Louis area that came with a boat and motor. Benham did not request a picture of the boat and motor, though. Already married.
Gross isn't looking for a woman, either, since he and June have been married almost 58 years, but he would like somebody for the other end of his 10-foot boat.
"My little boat just works better with two people in it," said Gross. "One guy's too heavy for the front or back and it just seems awkward in the middle by yourself.
"But I don't care what we fish out of, so long as we go. I like my little boat for fishing small places, but I'll fish out of anything, anywhere."
Gross, a semi-retired bass fisherman, said he prefers crappie and bluegill now, but really isn't that particular. He could also use a few new spots.
"I used to have a lot of friends with ponds, but as I lost those friends, I lost the spots," he said. "I'm down to three.
"But it's not just that. At my age, you shouldn't go by yourself, but it's also nice to have someone else along to share the fellowship of fishing."
Benham had fishing buddies, one of whom was Gross, until he died about a year ago. Now another man would like the same thing for all the good years he has left.
It's not much to ask. So I told him I'd put the idea out there again with his phone number (812) 437-9889 and mine (812) 464-7511.
Call if you're interested. Then we'll meet and buddy up.