What ever happened to...

[Tim Meyer So cal..]

Been awhile for me, as we have moved again, and this time to temecula (20 minutes to Diamond Valley). But I have an "old timer" observation.

Is it just me, or have we moved on to other things, or are some of us just not as active in the fishing circuits as before. Being a West Coast Bass guy, when I can remember entering the partner draw with all of the excitement, to today, where the circuits ( to me) have changed drastically, and the commraderie dosen't feel the same. Here is a quick list off the top of my head, these are all guys who I consider friends and they, like me are not "around" anymore.

Jiggs Benn, Phil Strader, Bill Lankford, Bob Myskey, Danny Miller, Pat, Dean, Ron Mero, John Staats, Ben Williams, Jodie White, Jerry Tilton, Cerie Orlando, Dave Kryszak, John Harper, Bill Durbin, Lynn Dillon, Steve Eheler, Darrell Haygood, Jim Miller, Jim & Randy and a host other other really good fisherman

I'm 44 an I feel like an old timer, what happened?? I sure do miss the excitement and friendship, maybe its just me??

[Long Nguyen]

Tim-

I think most of these guys are still fishing to some degree. Some have ran into health problems and as a result have placed limitations on their fishing.

I know Ben Williams doesn't fish competively anymore. When he's not guiding duck hunters he's probably fishing the Pacific Ocean down in Mexico.

John Harper is the reigning Angler of the Year in the Angler's Choice Pro Ams. He won his first boat this year by clenching a victory on the delta. His traveling buddy from the West Coast Bass days, Ceire Orlando, fishes competively for cheeseburgers only.

Bob Myskey guides at Clear Lake and I've seen his name in the Pro Am stats.

Just look a little harder...most of these guys are still around.

Long

[sTony]

Jiggs, Phil, Bill, Bob, Jodie, Jerry, John and Lynn are all still fishing alot. Danny Miller and Dean Sault had some health concerns but actually might even fish together a bit in the coming season. Pat got deep into his love of hot rods but still posts from time to time as do several of the names I've already mentioned.

Durbin is working as a guide on the Delta also. I hear from Steve from time to time and he still sneaks out into tournament on occasion. Darrell is a guy that gets so darned busy we never know when he's going to pop up but it's usually at a tournament like Everstart, now the Stren Series.

I guess it boils down to some guys come and go and sometimes jump back in again. We didn't see Russ Meyer at tournaments for a chunk of time and now he's back to his winning ways.

Hope you are doing well and can get out to Diamond Valley for some serious fun. The fishing there is remarkable and the people are great also.

sTony

[MN]

Yea Tim that was the last tournament's i fished also.The last two i fished was with this guy named Mike Vanwagenen I swear he had fish blood in him man that guy would fish anywhere anytime you name it.We used to use my dad's boat(78 Eldocraft)and then we would barrow his Mercury Zephyr and a rental hitch.The last one i fished we ran down to Castaic,barrowd money from pop for the entry fee,and to this day i remember him taking of wide open of course and that poor old little boat was banging so hard it broke the paper graph right of the mounts.

And one tournament at San Antonio we forgot the plg and about an hour or so i noticed water in the floorboard.I thought to myself what in the hell have i gotten myself into here

Well I went and got a job and now i hear he is running a boat shop up around Sacramento.If anyone see's him tell him Mike and Al Nance say hi.

[Phil]

DID'NR TILTON JUST WIN AT SHASTA