Remembering Dave Roberson

[Ron C]

Here are several links to help us celebrate the life of our dear friend and fellow trophy bass angler Dave Roberson:

HBC Mourns the Loss of "Orso Dave" Roberson

"Special Interview with David Roberson of Orso Swimbait Co."

Here is the link to Dave’s many YouTube videos. They are hilarious: Roberdave

Here is Dave's bio: OrsoSwimbaits.com

Dave Roberson (right) seen here with his team partner Rob Cummings after their second place finish at a July 2006 J&T Tackle night tournament at Lake Casitas. “Orso Daveâ€

[elfish16]

Ron,

Thanks for this awesome posting! The article you put up on the HBC website is perfect!!! Thanks a lot my friend!

Eric Elshere

[tunaman]

WOW... I'm still just blown away and can't believe this. Words are impossible to come by now, but here's a few of my favorite photos I dug up today to honor his memory:

Dave, never without a smile, fishing in his beloved HBC-1:


Dave chucking and winding his creation at HBC-1:


Dave fishing with tunaman the day after HBC:


Dave fooled yet another nice one that day on his Split-tail:


Dave and Rob, always smiling, at the Nutcase Bowling Classic:


Miss you brother!

Roger

[Ron C]

Thanks Rog - Great photos. You can see in his face how much he loved life. Man this really hurts.

Thanks again.

[CarolinaOutdoors]

On behalf of the family of Dave Roberson, they all appreciate the condolences. As a friend of Dave and the family, it has come as a complete shock to us all, including the Swimbait Nation.

The family has ask that instead of flowers or cards, please contribute to a Memorial Fund set up in Daves name for Warriors on the Water. This is a Military Appreciation Bass Tournament held each year in NC. It takes servicemen and women fishing a day plus has a great banquet. Dave was planning on attending this year.

Please send all contributions for Dave to:
Warriors on the Water
Att: Hal Abshire
509 Rabbit Run Lane
Cameron, NC 28326

A Memorial Service will be held Jan 7th at 11 am- Clements Funeral Home, 1105 Broad St, Durham NC

[KMAC]

I am really sad to hear about Dave's passing. Although I knew him briefly, I am grateful for having met him. He was a great ambassador for swimbait fishing and a real "stands behind his product" luremaker. A super "class" guy all the way !




Ken McDonald

[JeffJ]

Thanks Roger for sharing those pics. It's Dave doing what he loved to do! Now he is on the BIG pond sticking Donkeys all the time. He will be missed by us all.

[mark poulson]

Great pictures Roger. You really captured him.
Thanks.

[CarolinaOutdoors]

The date is Jan 9th, not 7th. Sorry for the typo.

[swim-bait com]

He'll be missed...

Dave spent weeks getting all his lures ready


Dave asked me to get zona to his booth... he had an ear to ear smile when I brought him over


tossing the 16" at casitas




and of course the head cam


thanks Dave

[BAMA Tiff]

Dave was a man that loved everything that he set his mind to do, but his love of the magic wand, was like it was a part of him.
I'm still stunned that he is gone. I am so glad we had a few text back and forth on Christmas. I know all you fishermen who knew him, who competed against him, and those who knew of those beautifully handmade orso swimbaits, will miss that big smile he had, his craziness at all times, the party boy who was always ready, that dang head cam that you never knew when he was going to catch you off guard, but most of all, a man who knew how to live every moment of his life to the fullest. Dave gave the world a light with personality.

The one image I remember, the beautiful sunset, with his back to the camera, colors that would let your mind go of all stresses and relieve you of things that had blogged you down, with that magic wand in his hand, with that orso swimbait flying way out, and that bass grabbing it with pure delite...Dave, I miss you...so glad you entered my life:D

Bama Tiff

The Casitas will be given a memory of Dave, 2010July11, and Ron C, thank you for casting one for me in memory of Dave.

If anyone would like to read a writing I did in memory of Dave, contact me and I will share.

Ron Cummings, if you can contact me, I would appreciate it.

[tunaman]

Ron Cummings, if you can contact me, I would appreciate it.

I'm sure you meant Rob... not sure he's been hanging here for some time, as he is now married and has other interests, but I'm sure Eric or some others are still in touch and can direct him to this request? I'll try getting a hold of him myself, as I haven't had a chance to talk with him for quite some time - if I get a hold of him I'll let him know you are looking for him.

Roger

[BAMA Tiff]

Thanks Roger, I appreciate that. I did mean Rob. I was just exhausted...lol. Any of Dave's buddies can contact me.

I have enjoyed reading these posts, and seeing the pictures again that were lost due to a computer crashing.

Also, if there is a bait shop that has his orso swimbait for sale, I have wanted to have one for a while, I would like to purchase. I have many friends who bass fish, and one who is the President of the bass club in my hometown area, who also is my parents neighbor.

I normally don't put my email acct out there, I know none of them have my number either...but let me know if you need my email.

Thanks and I know Dave had respect for all his fishing buddies and competitors. He learned from each one of ya'll.

He is dearly missed!

Bama Tiff

[elfish16]

Bama Tiff,

I would like to see what you have written for Dave. If you can send that would be awesome!

Thanks,

Eric Elshere

[BAMA Tiff]

Hey Eric, I will be glad to share, I know it needs still alittle work, some of it I am just not feeling I got the right words, but I wrote it from the heart. Many of ya'll probably didn't even know that Dave was a great writer, he wrote from the heart also, he sent me many works, but with the crashing of that computer, I lost them...with regrets, I learned to back more stuff up now. Some made me cry, some made me laugh, and all I knew was Dave.

The signature name I use came in 2007, after getting to know Dave...he told me his love of his travels, the fishing, and his last base he was at before getting to know him...He was 32...and I loved how it flowed when I was writing. Since them almost everything I write, seems to go back to water. I now understand more why this is...it was because of Dave.


The Magic Want


(written in loving and adoring memory of Dave "Orso" Roberson)

The waters always call me, it doesn't matter how early in the day it is
So what if it is cold as crap, raining on top of that
I love to wear my flipflops when I'm fishing, regardless of the sun or clouds
I will bundle up to keep warm, or just wear my Oraso Tee, even my Camos those Big Bass seem to love,
My gear is always ready, my boat is always clean
I make sure the head cam has plenty of juice, got to catch not just bass, but a laugh or two
So here I am, at that magic waters place, where the bass know "Orso" is here
Now I am ready...are you?
Fly the magic wand...bait that line...of course with that big 8" orso bait...of course, the 12", 16" are super too
Hook that bass I will, and smile back at it...for he knew when he bit, it was that "Orso" bait once more
If it is raining, those bass seem to just beg to be caught, of course, a true bass fisherman, I am
Don't matter how wet or cold it is, I will go to those magical waters to try once more for
It's always a perfect day to fly that magic wand, for I love to be on the waters, if even to just think for a while
Many who know me, know where I love to stand, at the front of the boat, I am becoming as one
The waters, the sky, and those big beautiful bass...
I stand in awe, never worried if I don't catch one today, or tomorrow,
These waters I love so much, will know, I will be back soon
I let my magic wand fly, with the orso bait on, I smile and dream and think
And ...
Wonder, will this be the big one...
I feel a tug, and I get all silly, laughing and smiling, hooting, and hollering, the head cam going crazy too
It is all true bass fisherman, to catch that big one, don't you see...
How quickly the day ends, where did the time go, the sun is setting, what glorious colors
Golds, Reds, Yellows, Oranges, Blues, what God has granted once more,
These waters will always call me, I'm ready in a flash,
I hear all my buddies, hollering for me to join in, it's a great day to go for that big one
It is the thrill of a catch, and how our bait works, it's just the best time ever
If you understand how a Bass Fisherman feels, you know...
How the waters call to me, I know my time here is so short, so I live it to the fullest
And once I am gone from earth, I know, I will be fishing in the biggest Heaven's Lake of all
Where "Orso" will fly with my magic wand, and that big one will tug, and come up with a smile on.
So I will look forward to the day when I can holler from "Heaven's Lake",
"Hurry up guys, lets fly that magic wand some more, laugh, smile, and have fun."
That magic wand, that magic wand......

written 2010Jan07

writter's signature: AlaskaDave32

[CarolinaOutdoors]

Bama Tiff, that is an awesome memorial of Dave. True to Dave it is. Can I get your real name and info? And permission to use the poem? Daves brother Grant is keeping Orso Swimbait website operating as a place for all to remember Dave. I'm helping him with this. The poem would make a great addition to the site.

Please send info to fishgetter@carolinaoutdoors.net

[BAMA Tiff]

Dave's brother, Grant and friend, "fishgetter" are working to keep Dave's Orso Swimbait site going. Any of you who knew Dave, met him, or heard of him, used/purchased his great Orso Swimbaits, please go to Dave's website.

www.orsoswimbaits.com

There is a blog and comment section. I know that Grant and "fishgetter" would love to read any fish stories. If anyone has any images that the family might not have, please also forward to Grant.

Thank You,

BAMA Tiff

[BAMA Tiff]

Correction on website address on Rob C's message:

www.orsoswimbaits.com

Thank you,

BAMA Tiff

[swim-bait com]

The one image I remember, the beautiful sunset, with his back to the camera, colors that would let your mind go of all stresses and relieve you of things that had blogged you down, with that magic wand in his hand, with that orso swimbait flying way out, and that bass grabbing it with pure delite...Dave, I miss you...so glad you entered my life:D

.

[BAMA Tiff]

Thank you so much ! I was so glad to see the images from the show where he met Zona. He sent me the 2 1st images, he was so excited about doing that show, and then how well his orso swimbaits were accepted, then when Zona came to his booth, he was like one of his orso's catching that bass.
I love this sunset image, it was so Dave, he loved the sunrise, he loved the sunset. One of the things always telling me about how his mind cleared...even if he was with another fisherman buddy, he seemed to be regevunated for the days ahead. Only those that understand this, understand that sometimes one must become one with nature, water, sky.
He sent an image with him fishing, he still had that sweatsuit on, but had his flipflops on, I still smile when I think of that image. Dave and Orso had so many wonderful times on the water.
Thanks to all who knew him, accepted him, understood him...knew he was such a good man, really tenderhearted, but so strong-willed...our lives will always be touched by Dave!

I would love to see any images of Dave. I lost all of mine due to computer crash, but it is like each is etched in my mind.

Smiles brighten each of us, even when we are at our lowest, Dave always shared his smile with others, and his knowledge of life.

BAMA Tiff

[LimitedOut]

It's difficult to imagine that Dave won't be coming around the next point with his trolling motor on high and the split tail being fired off the next time I'm at Casitas. I didn't speak to him much, but ran into him at the lake frequently. I just happened to come across this news and couldn't believe what I was reading. I'll put down the fairy wands and pick up the big stick in his honor the next time I'm on the dead sea...

[BAMA Tiff]

Oh, yes, get that big stick...but let the magic of it do it's thing. I did find one place in California that had the Orso Swimbaits, the 8" one, I ordered one, and can't wait for it to come.
Dave loved that deep dead sea at the Casitas. He loved to go out on those waters, he said once, just don't ever fall overboard, they would never find you:D He is right on that statement, as I am sure you know the story of the Casitas.
Dave touched many lives, and will continue to touch because he had stories to tell, his Orso Swimbaits were unbelievable, and us in the south just couldn't believe that a 12" or 16" split tail could catch...but it does!!!
I'd love to see an image of where you love to fish on the Casitas...

I am sorry that you didn't know sooner. Everyone is finding out slowly. If you wish to go to his site, his brother, Grant(who favors him so much) is keeping the site going, I am sure he would love to hear from you. www.orsoswimbaits.com

Thank you!

BAMA Tiff