Bob Pond

[notime]

I just read in this weeks issue of The Fisherman mag that Bob Pond passed away recently. He was my first fishing hero and I had the pleasure of meeting him many years ago. He gave me a tour of his shop and we had a very nice discussion about various issues. I was in business school at the time and was surprised at how small his operation was compared to what I had expected. The whole place was so simple and more like a garage than a factory. In my mind Atom lures was at the top of the field and I just assumed it would be some big fancy factory. I think the factory probably reflected Bob as a person, not a lot of flash but lots of substance. He was such a nice person and did so much for the fishery. I didn't know him well, but he seemed like one of those guys everyone liked & respected.

[Onshore]

Bob died last month at 93 years. He was a gentlemen and one of the first Striped Bass conservationist-pushing Maryland to clean up their act in the Chesapeake and to build a Striper Hatchery but best known for his Striper Atom, of course.

[Chuckster]

Sad news... Bob was a good friend of my brother Marty and they shared an absolute fascination with lure collecting.

I enjoyed hanging with Bob at my brother's booth during the MSBA meetings and lure shows... a true gentleman.

[north coast]

He was one of the first "Names" in fishing I became aquainted with.
Has there ever,before or since, been a lure that has taken as many bass as the atom popper? still my "go to" popper after 40+years.
RIP Bob

[castaway]

Sorry to hear of Bob's passing. I came in touch with this remarkable guy, family and friends when he would charter the "whitecap" out of Rock Harbor with "the bay boss", Phil Schwind in the early 1960's I was the mate. One day I remember in particular... when we cleared the jetty the SW wind was whipping up already and it was only the start of the 8 hr trip. (The wind never kept Phil in the harbor). Bob and his crew, of course, always brought a never ending bag of plugs and they were not only good casters but lucky too. That day looked like a loser until we pulled in close to shore(mostly to get out of the wind and wait for the tide) Out came a bunch of good sized poppers and lo and behold we were into a bunch of nice 15-20lb fish. White water flying everywhere as the fish busted on those plugs in 5 ft of water.
That's how I'll remember Bob... not only a great fisherman but a genuine nice guy who cared about the resource well before most!
Tight lines Bob!