RED Fisher pass on at 92

[Craig McL]

I just found out aboute this on a nother chat line. I reember waching and lerning all about fishing from Red ! he will be mist  ( but not by the fish  :wink:  )

Craig


Monday, May 08, 2006 @ 09:00

MITCHELL’S BAY The lights are out at Scuttle-Butt Lodge.
Bernard Herbert (Red) Fisher, whose outdoor television show was seen weekly by millions of North Americans, died Friday night in Chatham.

Fisher, best known as “Red’’ and considered the father of Canadian television fishing shows, was 92.

 Fisher and his late wife, Lois, travelled the globe hunting and fishing with well-known sports celebrities including Fergie Jenkins of Chatham and the late Ted Williams.
A special feature of the weekly television show was a discussion on the world of outdoors from his Scuttle-Butt Lodge at Mitchell’s Bay.

Former Blenheim resident Bob Izumi, whose Real Fishing Show is seen around the world today, said Fisher was his inspiration.
“I used to sit in front of the TV every Saturday afternoon and watch Red interviewing guests at Scuttle-Butt Lodge,’’ Izumi said Sunday.

Izumi said he got his start in the television world shortly before Fisher’s program ended in the late 1980s.
“Red and I got together in 2004 and travelled to Ennadai Lake in Nunavut in the Northwest Territories to film a fishing show,’’ he said.

Izumi said after landing a huge pike, Fisher hung his rod and reel above the bar in the Ennadai Lake Lodge.
“It was the last time he ever fished,’’ he said.

Izumi said a replica of the pike Fisher landed was sold at a Fishing Forever dinner in Toronto for $22,000.
“The buyer returned the fish to our non-profit foundation and we often make it available for showing at special events,’’ he said.

Chatham businessman Bob Rule described Fisher as “one of a kind he was a very colourful individual who loved fishing and hunting.’’
Rule, owner of Maple City Marine Ltd. in Chatham, has a summer home at Mitchell’s Bay a few doors away from the old Scuttle-Butt Lodge.

“I watched many of his shows over the years,’’ recalled Rule.

“He was a pioneer when it came to fly-in fishing in Canada’s northland.’’

Bob Branquet, owner of Bob N’ Buoys Restaurant at Mitchell’s Bay, said he never met Fisher in person.
“But I knew him well from his television shows,’’ he said. “Like most people, I envied his lifestyle.’’