03-04-2014, 06:50 AM
Jim,
Dirk was my long time fishing buddy and a great friend. He was without a doubt one of the all-around best fisherman / outdoorsmen in this State and an even better father and husband to his family. That man could literally pull fish out of a pot-hole - I'm sure you noticed his fishing skills and how those skills also passed on to his children. He knew how to fish and had the patience and skills to hook just about anything.
Sadly, his cancer (started as skin cancer) was very aggressive; he fought it all the way to the end in a very courageous battle.
During our many fishing trips, we tried to hit the gorge a few times a year (usually on labor day holiday weekends due to our work constraints) jigging for the big lakers. As you know, a lot of boat traffic and noise is just not ideal for catching for the big ones - we struggled landing the really big ones. Three years ago we finally landed a couple of large lakers and from that day on Dirk got the Big Mac Fever Bug! Sadly, I was never able to get back up there again with him to fish for the big ones.
I can't even begin to express how much appreciation I have for you. Dirk was so happy to not only catch a big 40 LB'er, but the many others large lakers he, his son and daughter were also able to catch under you guidance. You helped my friend complete one of his big wishes and gave him one the most memorable and enjoyable (bucket list) fishing experiences of his life. Who knew then it would be his last fishing trip to the Gorge. I've attached a Photo of the first big Laker we caught (jigging in antelope) that initially gave him Mac fever - a bug that never goes away[
].
Thank You !!!
The Lord landed a really good one in Dirk. Our fishing and outdoorsmen community lost one of the great ones. RIP my friend. Till we fish again.
[signature]
Dirk was my long time fishing buddy and a great friend. He was without a doubt one of the all-around best fisherman / outdoorsmen in this State and an even better father and husband to his family. That man could literally pull fish out of a pot-hole - I'm sure you noticed his fishing skills and how those skills also passed on to his children. He knew how to fish and had the patience and skills to hook just about anything.
Sadly, his cancer (started as skin cancer) was very aggressive; he fought it all the way to the end in a very courageous battle.
During our many fishing trips, we tried to hit the gorge a few times a year (usually on labor day holiday weekends due to our work constraints) jigging for the big lakers. As you know, a lot of boat traffic and noise is just not ideal for catching for the big ones - we struggled landing the really big ones. Three years ago we finally landed a couple of large lakers and from that day on Dirk got the Big Mac Fever Bug! Sadly, I was never able to get back up there again with him to fish for the big ones.
I can't even begin to express how much appreciation I have for you. Dirk was so happy to not only catch a big 40 LB'er, but the many others large lakers he, his son and daughter were also able to catch under you guidance. You helped my friend complete one of his big wishes and gave him one the most memorable and enjoyable (bucket list) fishing experiences of his life. Who knew then it would be his last fishing trip to the Gorge. I've attached a Photo of the first big Laker we caught (jigging in antelope) that initially gave him Mac fever - a bug that never goes away[
]. Thank You !!!
The Lord landed a really good one in Dirk. Our fishing and outdoorsmen community lost one of the great ones. RIP my friend. Till we fish again.
[signature]