Bobby Sands
Bobby Sands was a son of the South, a native of Mobile, AL, and a graduate of Southern Mississippi University. He was a cultured, Good Ole Boy in the best sense of the word. He loved the outdoors. He hunted and fished his entire life and not only mastered the various skills involved but was ingrained in the culture and traditions of being a sportsman. He had very high expectations for himself and did not suffer fools gladly.
He was an accomplished writer and storyteller. He could keep you spellbound for hours with the stories he told and how he told them. This skill was honed by a lifetime of reading the best of the famous outdoor writers. He died hours after being read some of these stories, which had so informed and influenced his life.
He was an evangelist for fly fishing. He knew how to do it and why you have to do it in a certain way. Many of us owe our addiction to fly fishing to him and his delight in its mysterious charm and elegance. In this regard, one of his eternal regrets is that though he hooked many Permit fish in his long flyfishing career, he never could land one. A close friend who has landed far more than 100 made sure he reminded Bobby of this failure. Bobby was never amused by such banter.
Bobby marched to the beat of his own drum. He had no time for pretenders who tried to make him conform to certain rules and regulations. Why would any sane person not want several boat trailers parked in their driveway, for instance? Or why would any golfer suggest that their pursuit of shooting par was more important than teaching someone new to fly fishing how to do it well? Living on the edge of a golf course gave him many opportunities to remind golfers that the Scots had something to do with fly fishing and not just golf. So why would a golf course not also serve as a practice green for fly casting? Such mysteries made it interesting to be his friend and be in his presence.
Behind every successful man, there is a woman. In Bobby’s case, there were two: Sherry, his wife, and Taylor, their daughter. He was devoted to them, though one can only imagine their challenges dealing with his enthusiasm and occasional lapses in social niceties. But they gave his life meaning and kept him grounded and somewhat civil.
Like most of the leading Southern men of history, loyalty was a significant trait in his life. He had life-long friends. And he had dogs. He spoiled them, of course, but they were devoted to him, except when he wanted them to do something they didn’t want to do. Then they simply ignored him. He was not a person you could ignore. Unless you were a dog.
He was quite a character, and, as the saying goes, they broke the mold when he was born.
He was the founder of the Cape Fear Flyfishers, and though he disagreed, it will always reflect his enthusiasm for the sport- it is his creation and his club. Watching him cast was a lesson in grace and elegance. He was good- very, very good. And, after a lifetime of fishing, he knew how to catch fish.
To honor his memory, take a slug of good Bourbon, take your fly rod out, and do some casting. He would appreciate that more than fancy words,
Bobby wrote three books about his life as a sportsman. All are available on Amazon at these links:
Racing Sunrises: Tales of Tarpon and Mooses and Green Trout and Stuff
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