Yea, I remember that show of his. I think it was a bit before that when I watched Porky&Ponse(Ponze?). They shot some film near my hometown.
That's when I found that they would shoot for days to get a 1/2 hr. to show. lol Mike
I would add Harold Ensley to the list also. The Sportsman Friend. Grew up watching all of them back in KC. Brings back good memories.
Gone fishin', instead, of just, a wishin!!
God does not subtract from one's allotted time on earth those hours spent fishing...
I didn't know he ever fished bass tourneys. I had the opportunity to meet him in the 70's when he trout fished on Taneycomo with Charlie Campbell. Very likable fellow. The fishing trip was eventually aired .
I watched him all the time when I was a kid -- to the point where my best friend's father would call me "Virgil." And yep, I had the Johnson reel, too. As I recall, it was pretty decent for a spincaster.
- LOZcrappie (Scott)
I would not exchange my leisure hours for all the wealth in the world. --Comte de Mirabeau (1749-1791)
The summer that I met Virgil is a summer that I will never forget. I was Seventeen and the first time away from home in NWT.I got the job guiding by applying by mail. I had
Never used a jig before but like I said at the start Virgil did not even have a tackle box with him, just a couple of cardboard pallets of marabou jigs and jar of white pork rinds. No live bate was allowed. He mostly fished straight down over reefs, which was difficult because we had no depth finder, but we caught a pile of fish. I can remember releasing 3 trout between 20 and 30 lbs with in the span of about a hour. The week after He left I took that Johnson reel and some jigs and techniques that he gave me and caught a 27-1/2 lb trout and released it.
Ken
Old Virgil, he was the man. Catching one of his shows as a kid was the bomb,
couldn't wait to hit the pond after seeing his show and try what he did.
From the lakes of northern Canada
To the Gulf of Mexico.
Wherever fish are biting
That's where we're going to go.
There's a lot of exciting country
Just waiting to be explored.
So join us now in the great outdoors,
The World of Virgil Ward
Yes, a pioneer in the world of television sport fishing.
Hope I live to 93 and fish up to a couple a weeks before I die like Ole Virgil.
September 13, 2004 is a not so well known date of the loss of the fishing legend.
We should put that date in our calendars and toast a legend.
I wonder what ole Greg Ward is up to.
G.
Standing in the Gap
Yep, I remember old Virgil (who are you calling old PawPaw), but my favorite was Gadabout Gaddis. He reminded me so much of my father-in-law. They even kinda looked alike. FIL in now 94 and still remember very well his days fishing. Because of Gadabout my FIL took up flyrodding and so did my MIL who has gone on to the happy fishing grounds. Those two sure were a pair. Every time he sees me with a rod or getting the boat ready I have to endure at least 1/2 hour of fishing tales, which is all my pleasure. In fact the old codger is coming over tomorrow to stay a few days with us, again all my pleasure. Oh, and by the way he was a Johnson Century man for many years and still talks of them.
"G" Gone but not forgotten!!