Edit

[solopaddler]

Deleted

Edited May 30, 2012 by solopaddler

[kickingfrog]

That's quite an experiance.

 

btw, In '83 I had to be home by dark.

[danbouck]

Thanks Solo, I really enjoyed that!

[solopaddler]

Glad you enjoyed the tale. These days I feel more and more like grampa Simpson when I start to ramble.

[mercman]

Great read Mike.Quite a story.

[atvaholic]

Great story solo! A good read for sure.

[woodenboater]

Awesome experience you had and so very, very lucky to have met him. I can picture him as you presented the trout to him on your return with the waterlogged cedar /canvas sponge. Now I'm going to have to guess which small body of water that was, there are a couple that I've been on that *could* be the one

 

Yano, I would love to collect all the great anecdotes/ stories here so I have something to read during the winter <ducks quickly>, this ever crossed the minds of TPTB ?

[SirCranksalot]

Glad you enjoyed the tale. These days I feel more and more like grampa Simpson when I start to ramble.

 

 

Sounds more like Hank Snow.....been everywhere!

[John Bacon]

I met him the same year as you did. I spent a couple of weeks at the Scarborough outdoor education camp in Kearny. He cam out to speak to us a couple of times. I didn't appreciate the experience as much as I should have.

 

I also canoed Butt Lake in Algonquin Park that year... I believe the lake has since been renamed to Ralph Bice Lake.

[blaque]

Great narrative.....it had me trying to picture Ralph while reading ur story and i come up with a thin old man with a flat top buzz cut, red flannel shirt and thick black framed glasses.

 

"my buddies gremlin" LOL

[mirogak]

Narrated like a movie. Nice story, great penmanship there, Mike. It's the experiences that fill our lives and the only meaningful things we leave behind.

[highdrifter]

Great read bud. You got me stoked for opener!!

[Skud]

Great read Mike.

[trophypikehunter]

In the early 90's I was at a friends cottage in Burks Falls and his Grandfather took us to meet an older gentlemen. We sat and listened as the two exchanged story's and spoke about Algonquin Park as we where taking a trip the following day. The next day at the park my friends grandfather pointed to a picture at the Algonquin Park Visitor Center and said theres the man we met yesturday, it was Ralph Bice apparently he helped cut the ribbon at the visitor center a few years before. We actually had a second visit with Mr.Bice and chatted for anhour. After I went down to the local store and bought his most recent copy of his book "Along The Trail In Algonquin Park" and wouldnt you know Mr.Bice hand signed all the copys in that store. Truly a legend..

Edited April 18, 2012 by trophypikehunter

[Musky or Specks]

Hey Grandpa Solo can you tell us about the time you met Queen Victoria? LOL.Your like our very own subreddit r/mikesfishingporn. Thanks Mike that was a nice vignette of the man. My Algonquin mentor was my football coach who ran Camp Voyageur on Round Lake and he use to talk about Ralph all the time. Man the park sure was different back then. When I started going up in 79 there was no smallmouth in Round lake and we could catch specks right of the dock at the camp.

Edited April 18, 2012 by Musky or Specks

[solopaddler]

Awesome experience you had and so very, very lucky to have met him. I can picture him as you presented the trout to him on your return with the waterlogged cedar /canvas sponge. Now I'm going to have to guess which small body of water that was, there are a couple that I've been on that *could* be the one

 

Yano, I would love to collect all the great anecdotes/ stories here so I have something to read during the winter <ducks quickly>, this ever crossed the minds of TPTB ?

 

 

It's been a looong time. The lake could very well be cleaned out by now anyway.

 

What's TBTB?

 

Regardless everything's there for you to collect and archive. You can use the advanced search feature to find most anything.

 

I met him the same year as you did. I spent a couple of weeks at the Scarborough outdoor education camp in Kearny. He cam out to speak to us a couple of times. I didn't appreciate the experience as much as I should have.

 

I also canoed Butt Lake in Algonquin Park that year... I believe the lake has since been renamed to Ralph Bice Lake.

 

It truly is a small world isn't it?

 

 

Great narrative.....it had me trying to picture Ralph while reading ur story and i come up with a thin old man with a flat top buzz cut, red flannel shirt and thick black framed glasses.

 

"my buddies gremlin" LOL

 

You pretty much just described Burgess Meredith in Grumpy Old Men LOL!

 

Seriously though you're almost dead on minus the glasses. I even think he was wearing a flannel shirt.

 

And hey, when you're 18 years old in 1983 a Gremlin is the equivolent of a fully loaded Tahoe LOL!

 

 

In the early 90's I was at a friends cottage in Burks Falls and his Grandfather took us to meet an older gentlemen. We sat and listened as the two exchanged story's and spoke about Algonquin Park as we where taking a trip the following day. The next day at the park my friends grandfather pointed to a picture at the Algonquin Park Visitor Center and said theres the man we met yesturday, it was Ralph Bice apparently he helped cut the ribbon at the visitor center a few years before. We actually had a second visit with Mr.Bice and chatted for anhour. After I went down to the local store and bought his most recent copy of his book "Along The Trail In Algonquin Park" and wouldnt you know Mr.Bice hand signed all the copys in that store. Truly a legend..

 

Nice story. Your friends grandad sounds like an interesting guy too.

Edited April 18, 2012 by solopaddler

[solopaddler]

Hey Grandpa Solo can you tell us about the time you met Queen Victoria? LOL.Your like our very own subreddit r/mikesfishingporn. Thanks Mike that was a nice vignette of the man. My Algonquin mentor was my football coach who ran Camp Voyageur on Round Lake and he use to talk about Ralph all the time. Man the park sure was different back then. When I started going up in 79 there was no smallmouth in Round lake and we could catch specks right of the dock at the camp.

 

HAHA! You're right times sure have changed havn't they?

 

At some point we're going to have get out together and chase some trout.

[Spiel]

Great story Mike.

[Rod Caster]

Great story. "Attacked by Wolves on the Nipissing" ... That must have been one heck of story and it must have given you young guys a bit of a scare!

 

I'm going to ask my Dad about Ralph, he's a seasoned Algonquin portager and must have some accounts of Ralphs life.

 

Btw, 1983, I was litterally still wet behind the ears...

[solopaddler]

That's quite an experiance.

 

btw, In '83 I had to be home by dark.

 

 

Great story. "Attacked by Wolves on the Nipissing" ... That must have been one heck of story and it must have given you young guys a bit of a scare!

 

I'm going to ask my Dad about Ralph, he's a seasoned Algonquin portager and must have some accounts of Ralphs life.

 

Btw, 1983, I was litterally still wet behind the ears...

 

 

Okay that's enough, I get the point LOL!

 

Yeah I'm getting older, but I'm still in my prime.

 

 

 

 

The wolf story was interesting but not scary. Ralph was a true story teller. I believe he'd have quite happily prattled on all day long if we'd cared to listen. Wish I'd have spent more time with him...

[Fish4Eyes]

Good read Mike, thanks for sharing.

[DanD]

Great story Mike, always enjoy your posts.

 

This one brought back some of my memories of people I met as a kid and only realized after they passed away what I missed by not keeping in touch with them.

One man especially was our neighbor when we lived on the farm out near Delaware. The farm backed onto the Thames River and there were miles and miles of trails alone the river’s edge. There was nothing better then going horseback riding though these trails with him; listening to all his stories of his adventures when he was young.

Even thou I was only 12 then (1972) I knew a lot of the tails he told were exaggerated ones; but it didn’t matter they were good stories.

We’d take our poles with us and a saddle bag with tackle; ride for a while, stopping at the different spots that looked like it might hold fish. Make a few casts and then move on if there was nothing hitting. We’d be gone all day but it only felt like an hour or so; only realizing how late it was when Mom would meet me at the door asking where the hell I was all day. All I’d have to say was, I was with Jim and it be OK.

 

Thanks Mike.

 

Dan.

Edited April 18, 2012 by DanD

[I'mHooked]

Okay that's enough, I get the point LOL!

 

 

No it's not...Didn't start high school until '84!

 

great read Mike, and great memory to have.

[kickingfrog]

Okay that's enough, I get the point LOL!

 

Yeah I'm getting older, but I'm still in my prime.

 

 

 

 

If we promise to remind you about taking your pills will you tell us another story gramps?

[Nipfisher]

Last year I posted about losing my grandfather. Will be a year in August. He too was 97 when he passed and the story of Ralph Bice reminds me of him. Thanks for that Mike.

 

I remember challenging my grandpa as we drove up Hwy 11 from Kenogami to Temagami. He had fished pretty much every lake and chain along the highway. He was able to tell me what species of fish was in each chain, how they caught them, who he was with, and when. The stories NEVER changed no maatter how much time had passed since I asked him last.