In 1992 Bill retired and moved to Stronach where he could wait for the salmon and trout to come to him each year. Well I immediately became suspicious of the old guy who would be waiting for me on shore when I would return from fishing so he could grill me for information; how many? How Big? Male or female? Where did you catch them? What did you catch them on? What color was the lure? I soon found out though, that it was worth giving up a little information to Bill because he had established a network of contacts, and could tell you where the fish were biting from the pier heads on Lake Michigan all the way to Tippy Dam on the Big Manistee River.

He could catch salmon like nobody I ever met and was gracious enough to teach me some of his tricks and show me how he made his own salmon lures that worked so well. I finally started catching some salmon but never as many as Bill... he always made it look so easy.

Bills love an enthusiasm for fishing was contagious, and he never seemed to let the negative aspects of fishing such as overcrowded hot spots and the occasional jerk they attracted bother him. Bill was at his best talking about fishing. He would get a twinkle in his eye and even his laugh would be different. When discussing some particularly good fishing bill would finish by saying Ohh Boy! followed by the laugh I mentioned.

Of course Bill was more that a fisherman he was a father, grandfather, husband, and to me and so may others he was a good friend. His sudden departure left us all wishing for one more fishing trip together.