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Geezer Patrol

About 40 years ago when I first started working in the fishing tackle business in Sacramento (1965) at Sports Unlimited on Arden Way I met this bunch of local fly fisherman. They are part of the group that started the first fly fishing club in California, the California Fly Fisherman Unlimited, in Sacramento. They all fly fished before WWII and have seen the sport really change in the past 60 years. They are all proud members of the "Great Generation". If it was not for these guys I would have never made it in the fly fishing business. They all helped me one way or another.


Pictured left to right:

Henry Starr sold heavy equipment for Morgan Equipment Company. (lent me money to start my fly shop).

Joe Patterson or the "Sizrbill" worked for the DF&G, Broadway Bait, Ithaca Gun Company and Cortland Line Company. (was my Cortland Line Rep and kept me from buying the wrong stuff).

Joe Shirshac was a firefighter for the City of Sacramento. (has worked for me at the shop for many years)

Bill Kiene (me) "Boca Grande"

Chuck Campana worked for the CA Department of Boating and Waterways. (has worked for me at the shop for many years)

George Martin (late) was a journeyman glazer. (built all the fixtures in my fly shop)

Walt Bennett was a master baker and worked for both Fenwick and Sage Rod Companies. (taught fly casting for me years ago and always told me I needed more inventory)
Neil Hansen was in the US Merchant Marine as a young man and also worked on the blister rust control for the US Forest Service in the Sierras 'way back when'. Neil was one of the founding members of the California Fly Fishers Unlimited in Sacramento and has been fly fishing for many years. One of Neil's favorite streams in Nor Cal is the Pit River which he introduced me to many years ago. Neil took care of my book keeping when my business was getting started in 1975. Bob Giannoni (above left) was another big help to me. Bob ran the Fenwick Fly Fishing School program back in the '70s for Don Green. Bob advised me a lot about all aspects of fly fishing and fly casting. Bob taught my "one day fly fishing schools" locally on Saturdays for years. He is a "big wheel" with the CA Highway Patrol now.

Al Perryman (No picture available) was another very important person in my career. He was a world class fly fisher many years ago. Al worked for Fenwick Rod Company, ran the Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools and guided in Alaska. Al moved from Sacramento and guided on the Upper Rogue and Williamson River and then went to work for one of his clients in an aggregate business near Medford, OR.


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