Undergrounders, we have lost us a good one.
Sadly, I have to report the passing of Upper Sacramento legend Joe Kimsey.
Joe Kimsey holds a nice bass he caught at Trout Lake. We will miss him.
Those who met Joe already hold a strong picture of him in their minds; he was a character whose wit never failed him – and whose charm never failed to make a strong impression.
For those who never met him, well, you missed your chance. In addition to being a character, Joe was a living connection to Upper Sacramento history, a man who – as a small boy – remembered when salmon and steelhead still swam in the McCloud and Upper Sacramento River.
He’s well known for his love of small streams and those big old Ted Fay Bomber style nymphs that he tied by the bazillions.
Until his illness forced a move to Redding, you could find him most days tying Bombers at the Ted Fay Fly Shop, which he’d sold to Bob Grace, but continued to hang out at because (as he told me) “That’s where all the girls are.”
I described going fly fishing with Joe in this post, which also tells the story of the first time I met Joe.
Many years ago, I was waiting for the Ted Fay Fly Shop to open, and when Joe walked up, I introduced myself and naively asked him if he was Ted Fay.
He looked at me for a second, and said – without a hitch – “Boy I sure hope not. He’s been dead better than ten years.”
That’s the kind of style only God gives you.
See you on the river, Joe.
I’m so sorry to see Joe go, but my memories of fishing stream “X” with him will last my lifetime…
Don(Quote)
So sad, a pasing of a legend. I am very fortunate to have met him once or twice at Ted Fay’s. This spring and summer I’ll use his bombers in his honor
Brian(Quote)
That is very sad news. When I was just getting into fly fishing I’d go in to Ted Fay often and Joe would be there, tying away, giving me a hard time. He actually took my dad and I out on the Upper Sac for a little tutorial the year my dad got into fly fishing. He was a really neat guy and he’ll be missed, for sure.
Bjorn(Quote)
His innate ability to make every woman fall in love with him, is leaving all of us ladies with a little piece of our heart missing today. May this sweet, sweet man rest in peace. Tight lines forever, Joe.
If there is a service that will be open to all, will you post it, Tom? Tnx. CC
shastacc(Quote)
Joe was a very special guy who loved fly fishing and loved women. My kind a guy….
He had a wonderful full life with more good days of fishing and more good friends than most.
My wife and I will miss him but it will never really feel like he is gone to us. In our hearts he will just be around the bend upstream from us knocking them dead.
Bill & Marilyn Kiene(Quote)
My first encounter with Joe was telephonic. I could understand about every third word – if that. I got the gist of what he was saying and made the trip up to Dunsmuir the following day where I met him at the shop. Turns out that while talking to me on the telephone he neglected to remove the pipe from his mouth . We had a good laugh at that! He was one of those rare special people and everyone who knew him will surely miss Joe, but be left with fond memories of the man.
Don (oldtrout)(Quote)
So sad to hear of Joe’s passing. I remember Tom, when you took me to the Ted Fay Shop to meet Bob and Joe….good memories! Thanks for introducing him to me. He will be missed but not forgotten……
Jim T.(Quote)
Sad to hear this. Joe was a really nice man. He left quite a legacy.
Alastair(Quote)
Sorry he’s gone. He was about as authentic a character as you’ll ever meet.
Smarter and Better Looking Brother(Quote)
The name Joe Kimsey is synonymous with the Upper Sac. One of those guys that made visiting Dunsmuir a special treat. I’d walk in to the shop with my 3 dogs in tow and he’d always be there in his red suspenders, with treats at the ready as the dogs ran rampant through the shop while neither he nor Bob Grace minded their reckless abandon one bit.
I’ll never forget when about 10 years ago he showed me how to tie one of Ted Fay’s famous Bomber series of flies. I fully expected him to pull out some esoteric, one of a kind chenille, since after all he was tying the legendary Bomber. What a surprise when instead he pulled out a huge skein of cheap yarn from some big box discounter. He proceeded to tie in a tail, a few wraps of yarn around the hook shank for the body, some saddle hackle and there it was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RdDJRUrLgY&feature=related
He will be missed.
Aram Aykanian(Quote)
Joe Kimsey crossed each of our paths and he will never be forgotten. He freely shared his knowledge of fishing the Upper Sac, the McCloud and other areas. He happily sat at his fly tying station and showed us how he tied his famous bombers while patiently answering all of our questions. Joe was, however, more than a skilled fisherman and fly tyer. Whether you saw Joe at the Ted Fay’s, on the street or on the river, he always knew your name and greeted you with a big smile. If you were a woman, you also got a big hug from Joe. I first visited the Upper Sac decades ago as a beginning fisherman with a Fenwick spin rod, a plastic bubble and a box of caddis flies although there were no caddis hatches on the water. Joe patiently answered my questions, pointed me to several good spots and made suggestions of technique. He also gave me some of his hand tied bombers to add to my box. With your help, I have come a long way, Joe. All of us have, but we could not have done it without your willingness to share you knowledge and your indomitable spirit.
You’ll be missed by all of us, Joe, but will never be forgotten. You have given us so much knowledge, spirit and love. Thank you for just being you.
Marlene Furtado(Quote)
God, I will miss him. Crusty to a fault, but always a Gentleman to my Beloved. Lynn always kept a ‘Hussy Red” lipstick with her and always gave him a smooch on the bald head. He wouldn’t wash it off for days. That last kiss was when he was in Redding. The nurses, Bob and his kind wife got a hoot out of it.
I have some great pics of Joe at Stream X the Fall before his stroke; I could never decide which was more beautiful; that pretty little brown or Joe’s crooked smile. Now I know…
Leonard Baker(Quote)
Old Joe will be missed. I had the good fortune of meeting him a few times at the shop. His generosity led me to a nice hole that produced one of my best days ever on the Upper Sac. Fish on Joe!
Flyfishpapa(Quote)
I met Joe Kimsey one time. I went to the upper sac. about 5 years ago, I was still a bit new to flyfishing. I figured it would be like the typical sierra freestoner where just get a decent drift with a big bushy dry and it would be fish on all day !!! Boy was I wrong, After nearly 2 days of hard fishing I had 1 15 inch bow to hand on a prince nymph. So I took my sorry butt into Ted Fayes in waders and muddy boots. Told Joe I was having a tough time. First he pulled me about a dozen fly’s, Some bombers of course, Wich I still have one from that day and I think I’ll retire it ! Then he took me aside and gave me a one on one 15 minute letchure on short line pocket water nymphing the upper sac. I’ll never forget that conversation. I didn’t know who he was at the time but I soon learned he was a legend. I was in the presence of greatness and didn’t even know it. I went back several times but never saw him again. It’s a sad loose but I’m sure he’s fishin some bueatiful pocket water right now ! Oh and I went and got me some trout the next day.
shon(Quote)
They really DON’T make them like that anymore. Its a shame to lose one the originals.
A treasured memory was seeing Joe tie various Bombers the night before an Upper Sac. opening. He loved to expound about the history behind the choice of materials, the hump-back shape (came from the Indians) and the special circumstances when you should fish each one.
Who’s getting the carpet used for the Cro Fly?
Sully(Quote)
Sorry to hear about Joe. What a character he was. Enjoyed talking with him when we stopped in to Ted Fay’s on our trips to the area to buy flies.
Diane(Quote)
Uncle Joe was one of a kind, he left us with a lot of great memories and laughter. Thank you all for the great stories you are sharing they are awesome… Also on someone’s comment that he will be buried with his red suspenders, he is, all decked out in his fishing gear. There will be a celebration of life soon most likely on the first day of fishing season in the afternoon. Uncle Joe is now fishing his way through heaven=)
Val (Jo)(Quote)
Sevices were held for Joseph Ellsworth Kimsey-Uncle Joe- today at the Mount Shasta Memorial park. Attending were family, friends, guides and the United States Air Force Honor guard. The sun came out as we rememberd a Guy that needed little and had everything….Yes! Joe was buried with his Red Suspenders , A ball cap he held in his lap and a guide shirt saying.. Joe Kimsey Master Fly Tyer…….I miss my friend
Couching Tiger(Quote)
We fished with Joe since times when Ted Fay was still alive. Throughout the 40+ years we knew him he was always the same friendly guy with a hearty hello for anyone coming into his shop. From the day I came in with my best fishing buddy, who called me “Ponz” it changed to “What’s up Ponz” when I came into the shop. Early on, Carol wanted to learn how to fly fish, and almost gave it up when I tried to teach her how. However, she took to it very quickly under Joe’s gentle and humorous teaching style. No matter how long I fish, there will be things to learn from Joe, and memories of him about fishing, and about how to look at life. — Ponz
Besides being a wonderful fisherman and guide Joe was a steadfast and entertaining friend. Joe often came to our home for dinner and we never tired of hearing about his adventures in the Air Force, hunting and fishing stories, and stories of his growing up in lovely Siskiyou county. Other wonderful memories of Joe include dry burnt toast, food smothered in ketchup and more recently, pepper, and his excitement when a cougar crossed in front of the truck on our way to X fishing spot. Another memorable time with Joe was camping together and waking up to see a four point gorgeous buck right near our camp site. Joe really wanted his gun then. We will treasure all these memories of Joe. — Carol
Carol and the Ponz(Quote)