Life at Lake X in the '60s

[FMP]

Great loss

[lilabner]

Big loss for the OFF boys. I remember meeting him at Lake X somewhere around 59-60. He always had that grin. Loved his fighter jet days too. Always looked forward to seeing him and hearing stories.

[JP Love]

Rest in Peace—Steve

Thank's MR. Lanham.........Your friend Steve was a great communicator .....
T

[22R]

RIP Sir. I enjoyed your post immensely.

22R

[lilabner]

Just spoke with Dave Craig. He said he just turned 92. Also told me Carl Moesly passed away on 12/28/18 at the age of 97. He was such an amazing man. He wrote a book on his WWII exploits, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. For those who don't know, he was Arthur Vining Davis's (ALCOA Aluminum) personal pilot before he got in the boat business. when Carl had to retire because of his eyes, Davis admired him so much he bought him a boat company. American Marc, which Carl later turned into Sea Craft. His 21 Sea Craft opened up a new world of performance. Even the CIA used them for raids on Cuba and Lake Tanganyika in Africa. RIP Carl.

[LakeFever]

Wow this thread is incredible my first time seeing it. I can tell quite easily the world is a little less today losing a man such as this. My condolences to his friends and family and my thanks for these amazing stories that live on for lucky dudes like me and you.

[Lake X Kid]

Without turning around he pointed to the fishing destination. My favorite was operating full throttle, with those 20 horses pushing the little open skiff, as fast as it will go. On land I am at the young age of still peddling a bicycle, but on water its speed and the wind giving one a since of traveling freedom. And also to have direct control of engine horsepower, at my elementary whim is thrilling.

His hand by his side is, moving slowly up and down, not unlike a graceful swan’s wings in flight. This is a signal to start slowing down. He is still in the bow facing forward, and not looking stern. Like a predator he is eyeing the fishing spot he wants us to fish at. I start to slow the boat off plane, and I better not come in to hot. If I come in to fast, not only will he gesture more with his hand, but heaven forbid he turns around and gives me that upset facial expression.

My dad takes his fishing serious. It was one (if not the top) pleasure throughout his life. I witness a man who seemed to relish the outdoor challenge, among God’s soothing landscape. Working a top water lure, to see or feel (which ever comes first) a bass striking the plug and then jumping out of the water to get rid of the artificial lure. He taught me how to present a lure, at the target spot without spooking the fish, and reeling it in as real live bait. He always had a Rapala top-water lure in his tackle box, because at Lake X and in my adulthood too, that was my lure of choice. And later in life when I came home to visit mom and him, and he would invariably want to go fishing and I wanted to use the Rapala.

I would approach after already turning the engine off, and then we would glide at the appropriate idle speed to the fishing hole and stop. Dad likes to sneak up on the target fish. (In my elementary age of fishing at Lake X, this predated fish finders and us using an electric trolling motor). Do not make foot noises in the boat, because the hull vibration will alert the fish. Another one of dad’s fishing etiquettes. We did a lot of fishing in 4 to 8 feet of water depth. In fact dad said very little when we fished. His was a concentration that probably was, a temporal escape from work and a family with four kids.

This was quality time on the lake with him doing what he love doing, and me operating the boat. He told me the boat steers from the back and the car from the front. I learned to maneuver a boat quietly between lily pads and around cypress trees I also was steering the family station wagon, sitting on dad’s lap (as my siblings also subsequently did too) so I could see over the car’s dashboard. Thanks dad for those early experiences. I take this liberty to share episodes on the lake, with my mentor and friend.

P.S. My dad passed away at a Bass tournament (back in the 1990's) as a Mercury employee.

[Lake X Kid]

Meeting at a boat race in England.
Prince Phillip (Duke of Edinburgh) has a conversation with Roy Ridgell (Mercury European Race Manager).

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[FUJIMO]

[Mark Poole ModVP]

Nothing like landing a Florida bucket mouth bass. I used to fish for them in the St. Johns when I lived there.

[velox]

I am very sorry to hear of Steve’s passing. He had been very ill and through inner strength made several OFF reunions the past several years. I first met Steve in the early 1960s. He and I along with his brother finished within a few seconds in the Gold Coast Marathon.
once OFF started be became very good friends and my wife Bonny became good friends with his wife Iris. Steve was a man of honesty and sincerity . I feel lucky to have known him.

[Capt.Insane-o]

I bought on of those 1961 6hp from John Schubert a few years ago. Super awesome little motor.

[GENE LANHAM]

I bought on of those 1961 6hp from John Schubert a few years ago. Super awesome little motor.

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