Saying Good-Bye to Billy Pate; "The Pocket"

 

Billy Pates boat as his ashes are placed on the Down Tide at "The Pocket"

From the Editor; Gary A. Anderson:

Yesterday, 05/21/2011, Billy Pate, with close friends, family and fly reel, were laid to rest in “The Pocket,” one of the most desirable places to fish at Buchanan Bank, on the edge of the Back Country. A tarpon-rich area of flats and channels that stretches out for more than 20 miles before the open sea is reached, with a

cull-d-sac of about 30 X 30 feet, where for some unknown reason tarpon migrate there and follow the turn around to head another direction; coined “The Pocket.” On April 18th, 2011, saltwater fly fishing lost a pioneer, Billy Pate, a big game fisherman, with a passion for life, “The Pocket,” Billfish and Tarpon. His record 188-pound tarpon on 16 # test, was in the books for over 20 years and many more accomplishments in the billfish arena, including the first blue marlin landed on a fly! He also, collaborated with Ted Jurasick, to create the first anti-reverse reel. Billy was also a conservationist and fly fishing advocate and was one of the founding members of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. It’s the place where Billy Pate used to camp for years. The Pocket is legendary, a place where etiquette was learned the hard way, giving way to first come, first serve but stay to your claim as claim jumpers, in a polite gesture now days, gives way to new occupants. Billy Pate rests now where he fished with many of his own from previous years; Jack Brothers, Jimmie Albright and Cecil Keith too name a few, together again with a Pocket full of memories and some Tarpon, too...

 The Billy Pate Reel, too is a rest as it is cast into "The Pocket."

Old friend, Dr. Stanley Sherman reflecting thoughts of 'Days gone by'.

Genesis3:19b " for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
'I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee' (Ezekiel 27:18).
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust 

 Billy, Rolling Down Tide!

BY GREG POLAND

Entire Story may be found here.