THE END OF AN ERA FOR ONE OF THE GREAT LURE MAKERS...OLD SHIP

January 20, 2016

This is a notice to all of my friends here on crappie dot com. I just received word that one of our own jig tiers and soft plastic makers will be stopping production by March of this year. This individual had been in the lure making business for over 60 years and I noticed he had not been posting photos of new innovations as much as before. The truth is that father time cannot be cheated and he comes to get everyone sooner or later. I do know that he will still be making lures for himself and some very close friends but the business side will be closing.

Arthur - it -is has a way of letting you know to slow down before you burn yourself badly or tie your finger to a jig hook and have to fish yourself. LOL Thanks to all of you for your suggestions over the many years here on CDC but "Old Ship" is closing the business side of life in order to devote more time to my assistant pastor duties, the wife, family and six grandchildren. I AM NOT LEAVING CDC! ......just the business side of luresbycarter

Well ship it was a good run buddy 60 years is a long time. Take a break you deserve it.

Congrats to you. I have learned a lot from your posts.

I hope that you will continue to make stuff for all your buddies and everybody else . I enjoyed reading your post so you better get on here and start posting I will probably pull the plug myself in the next couple years I figure when I turn 70 is not that far away what am I going to do with all this junk that I got laying around here Mike you know I'll probably find some young feller that just starting out and I'm going to tell him to bring his pickup over and I'll load you up. like I did make an stuff for ever since I was about 13 years old I will be 69 this coming April so that somebody years messing around with fishing tackle have a good day Mike don't run away , and find you and I hope that you will always be part of this community .


bob.

This hobby is hard to walk away from, but there comes a time when family should set first in the order of things. Hat's off to your future Mike!

I wouldn't just get rid of everything though. You will not quit fishing and you will need to keep yourself stocked with those baits you've perfected over time. Don't become a stranger here.

Congrats on a great run, Enjoy life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well everyone, Lord willing I will be making my own baits until the day I fly away to heaven. I have just shut down the business. I am not shutting down life itself. I will still teach young pups what I know and will still check in on CDC. Someone has to keep "G" and Bob in formation. LOL

At my age, (15 years from 85) and trying to keep up with all the innovations, it is a bit time comsuming. I just want more time to fish my products for myself and enjoy life.
Attachment 226743

Bob, are you in the travel agency business too? I saw this of Facebook....

BOB'S JIGS
Travel Agent Service
bobsjigs.com

Congrats Mike!!! Enjoy the retired side (more time to sneak of and go fishing), but DON'T be a stranger here!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fatman

Congrats Mike!!! Enjoy the retired side (more time to sneak of and go fishing), but DON'T be a stranger here!!

---

X2!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fatman

Congrats Mike!!! Enjoy the retired side (more time to sneak of and go fishing), but DON'T be a stranger here!!

---

X3 !!!

Yes sir that's to you and others that have shared with us young fellas your gifts and talents. Please stay with us and feel free to comment on my posts. I can use all the critique I can get.

X4
Mike,
Being happy is what counts. Good Luck Mike, check back often.

Mike I have a little surprise for you for the rest of your life you may have any plastic bait or jig on my website absolutely free just let me know and we will send it to you anytime you need anything.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snake River

Mike I have a little surprise for you for the rest of your life you may have any plastic bait or jig on my website absolutely free just let me know and we will send it to you anytime you need anything.

---

Now that's a true friend. Very nice Bob.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fatman

Congrats Mike!!! Enjoy the retired side (more time to sneak of and go fishing), but DON'T be a stranger here!!

---

yep times two what fatman says, you have always been a great poster & info source not to mention the many fine plastics (& spoon ) you sold me,jax

Nothing wrong with taking some time to kick back and enjoy what God has given you. I know the grandkids will enjoy all the time you have for them. Congrats Mike!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snake River

Mike I have a little surprise for you for the rest of your life you may have any plastic bait or jig on my website absolutely free just let me know and we will send it to you anytime you need anything.

---

Oh my Lord. Thank you Bob. I absolutely love those black body and lime chartreuse solid tube baits you make for me. I use about 20 each month. That will be more than enough my mentor. Thank you again

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jaxsprat

yep times two what fatman says, you have always been a great poster & info source not to mention the many fine plastics (& spoon ) you sold me,jax

---

Thank you my friend.

Mike at least I have one thing from you that I cherish very much. You made a CD a while back and you sent me one. I look at it often. Thank you very much for the time you have spent on crappie.com. You may have more time to be more inventive. God will be talking to you more. All you have to do is take time to listen. May God bless you in your future
endeavors.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scoot

Mike at least I have one thing from you that I cherish very much. You made a CD a while back and you sent me one. I look at it often. Thank you very much for the time you have spent on crappie.com. You may have more time to be more inventive. God will be talking to you more. All you have to do is take time to listen. May God bless you in your future
endeavors.

---

Thank you Scoot. God is not finished with me yet. I will still be trying to encourage someone along the way. We are just closing one chapter in my life and looking with confidence to finish the rest of the story.

Attachment 226963

Enjoy your retirement . :fish:fish

I completely understand how time has a way of creeping up on a man... and also that whatever less amount of energy or physical ability one has in his senior years; he has to be able to re-apportion it according to his diminishing abilities and limitations with failing eyesight, arthritis, stamina and many other age related onsets that I see and feel coming on myself. Are you sure you're not just quitting so you can devote more time to your Assistant Pastor duties and your recently new found hobby: art, painting and expressionism???

I'm sure you have made the decision that you feel is right in your own spirit, heart and mind and I certainly respect and appreciate your decision(s) my friend.

May God Bless You & Yours.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Special K

I completely understand how time has a way of creeping up on a man... and also that whatever less amount of energy or physical ability one has in his senior years; he has to be able to re-apportion it according to his diminishing abilities and limitations with failing eyesight, arthritis, stamina and many other age related onsets that I see and feel coming on myself. Are you sure you're not just quitting so you can devote more time to your Assistant Pastor duties and your recently new found hobby: art, painting and expressionism???

I'm sure you have made the decision that you feel is right in your own spirit, heart and mind and I certainly respect and appreciate your decision(s) my friend.

May God Bless You & Yours.

---

Wayne, you know me well. Everyone has 24 hours is a day. It is what you do with them that determines your life. To me life and success is the progressive realization of one's own goals. It is your attitude that determines your altitude. There are a lot of demands on my time now and I am also at that age where I want to reserve a few precious moments for myself for the progressive realization of my own goals. I will still be of service to my church and the community. I will still find family time for the wife, children and grandchildren. I will still be making lures for myself and a few close friends. I will still check in on crappie dot com daily. I will still time to attempt to paint a little. I am not giving up on life Wayne but trying to find a few more minutes in that 24 hour day to go fishing, wash and wax a truck, grow tomatoes, read and sleep just a little more. To do that I have to modify how much time is spent updating websites, creating millions of lures in my mind but only 25 or so a day, worrying about death and taxes, trying to post on many fishing websites just to get my name out there, honoring so many requests for speaking engagements or writing articles for magazines etc. There comes a time when you need your sleep and need more fishing exercise. It is great for your heart and your mind. JFK said "We choose to go to the moon." I say..."I choose to go to the peaceful waters with a rod and a reel in my hand and teach red wigglers how to swim into the fishes mouths so they can eat them and I can create more work for myself by having to filet the fish after they have taken a bath in the spa skillet named Lake Crisco ...." Get the picture? LOL Stay blessed my friend.

God Bless Ship!!

Thanks for your help over the years have a great retirement ����

You've had a good run Mike. Enjoy the other things that your heart is steering you towards. Everything for a reason.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skeetbum

You've had a good run Mike. Enjoy the other things that your heart is steering you towards. Everything for a reason.

---

Hey my friend,

15 years ago I retired from being a school principal
Last month I retired from making lures
15 years from now at age 85 I will ask the good Lord for another five years on planet earth.

In the meantime.....It is time to go fishing a little bit more....

Attachment 227216

Hope you are not going to far, you will be missed!

Mike you're going to be here for another hundred years we have to have somebody here to teach all the young whippersnappers how to make jigs.

I retired over 16 years ago I thought I was through working boy did I get fooled.

Stay well and enjoy yourself.