No one gets out of this alive. Tell those you love that you do and fish often because it helps put everything in perspective. Jim probably had some great memories of good times and good friends and we should all find comfort in that when we are faced with the passing of someone we know whoever it may be. A life lived uncommonly is a life well lived.
NFR Has anyone heard from Old Man Jim? Update: RIP OMJ. Give ‘em hell wherever you are!
- Thread starter Xoxo
- Start date
Non-fishing related
JACKspASS
Life of the Party
RIP Old Man, the guy flat out fished a ton of skinny water. The Sky, Stilly, Sauk and many more headwaters were frequented by him in the glory days. I'm pretty sure he fished every blue line associated with these streams and then some. My favorite was when some newb would ask where to go, he would always tell them to get off their ass, get a map, and start casting. He was also very forthcoming with information and even locations. Dang, he will be missed
FinLuver
Native Oregonian…1846
Archie Bunker
“Stifle it Edit’…!”
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He was authentic, which is the hardest thing to be on the internet. And he was old for just about longer than I’ve been alive. You did good, Jim, RIP.
Been a busy weekend so I'm late. I'm not one to really do this kind of thing and it's out of my comfort zone, but here goes.
Jim didn't particularly like me (and that goes back to our first interactions 20ish years ago), and in his own authentic way, he made sure to remind me about it. I respect and appreciate that as it's more common these days to hide behind the internet or be passive aggressive. Nobody can be everything to everyone, and neither myself or Old Man are any exceptions.
When we founded this forum here, I came up with the "Forum Legend" badge to recognize him for his 2+ decades, and many tens of thousands of posts he contributed to the community. He of course bitched about it and just wanted his old post count back, but I told him to deal with it and accept the honor
Countless members and lurkers benefited from his pointing at the blue lines on the Gazetteer, and I doubt many will ever match what he did to get folks out to finding their own little pieces of Western WA streams.
Jim didn't particularly like me (and that goes back to our first interactions 20ish years ago), and in his own authentic way, he made sure to remind me about it. I respect and appreciate that as it's more common these days to hide behind the internet or be passive aggressive. Nobody can be everything to everyone, and neither myself or Old Man are any exceptions.
When we founded this forum here, I came up with the "Forum Legend" badge to recognize him for his 2+ decades, and many tens of thousands of posts he contributed to the community. He of course bitched about it and just wanted his old post count back, but I told him to deal with it and accept the honor
Countless members and lurkers benefited from his pointing at the blue lines on the Gazetteer, and I doubt many will ever match what he did to get folks out to finding their own little pieces of Western WA streams.
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Xoxo
…
Was it this one Andy? I don’t know why i can’t stop thinking about Old Man. He and I did email each other fairly often at both sites when I was active and he initiated as many as I did. But i never met him and I doubt he would have accommodated me if i asked.He is my dad’s age and he also reminded me of my long time, 90 year old friend Chuck who died during Covid. I’ve been worried about OMJ since he started posting about falling.RIP Jim. Like most here we never met in person but you were someone whose presence on here I always valued and enjoyed.
I thought about trying to find you in Butte on one of my MT trips and seeing if you’d go fishing with us. But you’d probably have just yelled at me to get off your porch.
I don’t have access to search the old site, but there was a post Jim put up once about all the people in this community that had helped him, sending him flies and lines, etc… it was kind of a sweet post and was a departure from his typical curmudgeonly ones. I remember reading it at the time and wondering if he was dying and it was his way of saying goodbye. But no, he carried on with us for several more years! He was just being nice.
I hope someone can send Jim’s family the link to this thread, I think they might like reading it and seeing how liked he was and how many lives he touched.
Andy
When someone is gone you just want to gather with folks who also feel that same loss. So it’s nice to be here. But I’ll quit bumping it soon. The past two days I’ve been reading the old forum because it’s been fun reading his comments. And there are SO many! I loved seeing that he still has the most messages (over 35K) even after he has been mostly gone from that place for over a year. I hope it stays that way forever. (Sadly, that place is SO not the same!).
Flies and fishing
I while ago I posted that I was thinking of giving this all up, the fly fishing and the tying up of flies because of my shakes and trouble of rigging up. Well since then I have received many replies about not to because I'm the Old MAn and I would be missed. Well I don't think that I would be...
www.washingtonflyfishing.com
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kerrys
Ignored Member
I have resisted posting about Jim’s passing. Evan had it right, ‘Forum Legend‘. What do you say? I’ll miss Old Man’s down to earth, direct posts. There are no comparisons, only Old Man can be Old Man. Rest in peace Jim. Go fishing. The rest of us will carry on from here. If you need flies I think you have some tiers sharing your water that can help you out.
I have been thinking about Jim’s Gazetteer. That book of maps, or books if there are more than one, needs to be in a museum.
As they say; gone but not forgotten.
I have been thinking about Jim’s Gazetteer. That book of maps, or books if there are more than one, needs to be in a museum.
As they say; gone but not forgotten.
Wishing and praying for peace for his family (and those of us left behind that cared about him and cherished his style). Rest in Peace OMJ.
OMJ shared knowledge, provided knowledge and sharp replies, knowledge gained from a fishing life filled with adventure.
Tight lines OMJ
OMJ shared knowledge, provided knowledge and sharp replies, knowledge gained from a fishing life filled with adventure.
Tight lines OMJ
^^^
Like the many who've posted I enjoyed reading his thoughts. Years ago his avatar appeared to show him sitting at an electric piano or synth and I wondered if he was a musician, what kind of music he liked, and played(?). I admired and share his love for finding, exploring, and fishing Blue Lines. However I am not as forthcoming with identifying my favorite WA waters as Jim was (after he moved to MT). Another thing about Jim, though he was direct, he pretty much stayed above the fray of controversies here, and the recurring circular firing squad on the other forum. I will miss him. Rest in Peace Jim.
For those of us in the fourth quarter, some perhaps late in the fourth quarter, the death of friends comes at a sadly increasing rate. Getting news of someone now gone whom we can still remember in their prime becomes the norm, not the rarity. Let's use our rememberance of Jim as a reminder to reach out to those we're fond of and yet never seem to find the time.
Capt Insano Emeritis
Legend
Just a passing thought that gives me pause enough to post here. I talked quite a bit to Jim. Mainly explaining what I meant by something. Always friendly. I have gifted many old fisherman in twilight years , paintings shipped and a boo fly rod. Makes me wonder. Jim was excited about getting the rod back restored and was ready to toss at a riffle and pool. Wish I had sent it earlier.
So true.For those of us in the fourth quarter, some perhaps late in the fourth quarter, the death of friends comes at a sadly increasing rate. Getting news of someone now gone whom we can still remember in their prime becomes the norm, not the rarity. Let's use our rememberance of Jim as a reminder to reach out to those we're fond of and yet never seem to find the time.