Guiding Has Created Great Friendships! I Lost One Today.
When I began my smallmouth bass guiding career in 1999, I was pursuing my dream to fish for a living. I bought my first jet boat and headed out on the water to learn how to fish. I had a web site built, started attending outdoor expos soon after and began developing an ever increasing clientele, many of which have become very close friends over the years.
I have gone on fishing trips with some. I have become business partners with one! I have had kids draw me pictures, and send me pictures of them with their "trophies". I've accompanied a few to medical centers with hooks dangling out of different areas of their bodies! I have even shared many personal beliefs and ideas with hundreds of conversations floating down one of our rivers in the boat or driving to and from the river in my truck. it never gets old!
One of those good friends, Glenn Paul, passed away yesterday. Glenn was known to needle me when I'd get frustrated, whether it be him getting snagged in a tree for the 33rd time of the day, or me hitting a rock with the boat, which I did on his last trip with me last year on the Delaware.
Glenn and his good fishing buddy, Bill Blankenbiller, were 2 of my longest tenured clients. They fished all 3 rivers with me, having some interesting memories from each. On our first trip, on the Susquehanna, my oil gage on my boat signaled I was out of oil I never heard the end of my lack of preparedness that day! Another fond memory I have of Glenn is that on their 75 bass day on the Susky years ago, he got his tube jig snagged. I popped the snag off and a bass slammed it instantly! I handed the rod back to him with the fish on. He looked perplexed. Same thing happened an hour later. He really looked perplexed! The third snag, I popped it off and a bass ate it again! I handed the rod to him. He yelled, "You"re doing that on purpose!" I tell that story a lot to this day.
Bill thought of the "fishing guide" on a sad day. I mean, losing his best fishing buddy......It's an honor. These guys I guide from year to year are not just clients, they're friends, part of my past. Glenn and I had some interesting conversations about Jesus, God and the Bible. There are a few angels being entertained today, I'm sure of it! Glenn, just take it easy on them, they already know what's in Romans 7! I'll miss him.
Good Fishin!
Blaine
I have gone on fishing trips with some. I have become business partners with one! I have had kids draw me pictures, and send me pictures of them with their "trophies". I've accompanied a few to medical centers with hooks dangling out of different areas of their bodies! I have even shared many personal beliefs and ideas with hundreds of conversations floating down one of our rivers in the boat or driving to and from the river in my truck. it never gets old!
One of those good friends, Glenn Paul, passed away yesterday. Glenn was known to needle me when I'd get frustrated, whether it be him getting snagged in a tree for the 33rd time of the day, or me hitting a rock with the boat, which I did on his last trip with me last year on the Delaware.
Glenn and his good fishing buddy, Bill Blankenbiller, were 2 of my longest tenured clients. They fished all 3 rivers with me, having some interesting memories from each. On our first trip, on the Susquehanna, my oil gage on my boat signaled I was out of oil I never heard the end of my lack of preparedness that day! Another fond memory I have of Glenn is that on their 75 bass day on the Susky years ago, he got his tube jig snagged. I popped the snag off and a bass slammed it instantly! I handed the rod back to him with the fish on. He looked perplexed. Same thing happened an hour later. He really looked perplexed! The third snag, I popped it off and a bass ate it again! I handed the rod to him. He yelled, "You"re doing that on purpose!" I tell that story a lot to this day.
Bill thought of the "fishing guide" on a sad day. I mean, losing his best fishing buddy......It's an honor. These guys I guide from year to year are not just clients, they're friends, part of my past. Glenn and I had some interesting conversations about Jesus, God and the Bible. There are a few angels being entertained today, I'm sure of it! Glenn, just take it easy on them, they already know what's in Romans 7! I'll miss him.
Good Fishin!
Blaine
Posted by Blaine Mengel at 3/24/2011 12:31 PM 
Categories: Bass Fishing
Tags: Delaware River Backwoods ANgler Glenn Paul smallmouth bass friends Romans 7
Categories: Bass Fishing
Tags: Delaware River Backwoods ANgler Glenn Paul smallmouth bass friends Romans 7
I am one of Glenn's daughters and this blog post was very touching for all of us. I especially liked your statement about my Dad taking it easy on the angels. Good luck with that! You really knew my Dad!
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Hi Kristin:
You're welcome! May God be with you and comfort you and yours in this time of loss! Knowing that your dad was welcomed into His glory is truly a comfort!
Kind regards,
Blaine
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