Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 09:00:00 AM
I'd gone up to Gordon Bentley's Bear Paw Landing in Wabigoon, Ontario to hunt bears. The year was 1975.
Little did I know that Fred Bear had booked that very week with Gordy.
Fred had a habit of takin the people he worked with on special hunts... I guess it helped keep them motivated. It would me!
Anyway there was a whole group that showed up the first morning in camp.
I was out shooting my bow early that morning when I heard a boat coming across the lake... camp was on a peninsula of the lake that could only be accessed by boat.
There were four or five cabins nestled in the birch trees on the high ground above the lake.
A long set of steps led down to the boat landing area and I walked over to see who might be arriving.
The boat had already docked and one of the party was coming up the steps. The first thing I saw of that person was this gray fedora felt hat.
At that time, Fred Bear was the only one I knew of that wore that type hat. I was floored!
It was a dream come true and we'd spend a week in camp with Fred and his gang.
I don't remember everyone in the group by name. I know Dick Lattimer was one and I think Frank Scott was there too and there were a couple others that I'd read about in Fred's stories.
Pretty cool stuff.
One of the things I really wanted to check out was Fred's bow.
For years I'd suspected it was different than the production models.
In his photos, the bow was always laying against the animal he'd shot with the shelf side not visible.
If you looked real close, you could just make out something different about that area of the bow. I wanted to know how different it was.
Well, I got my chance that first day.
I found Fred to be a very friendly man. He seemed to be always smiling and answered any question he was asked in detail.
When I questioned him about his bow, he brought it out for me to see... AND SHOOT! Wow! I was stoked!!
That's when I saw that what I had suspected about his bow... the shelf was cut so low that it was impossible to put the arrow anywhere but on the knuckle of your bow hand.
(http://www.TradGang.com/upload/charlie/Fbearbow.jpg)
I shot the bow quite a while (even though I'm right handed) and asked a multitude of questions.
Stuff like, why he shot off his hand like that, why was the arrow plate padded out so far, why didn't he make them like that for production and finally, was there anyway to get one like it?
Post by: Tedd@work on December 19, 2005, 09:11:00 AM
Post by: Tedd@work on December 19, 2005, 09:16:00 AM
Too bad its a lefty.
Tedd
Post by: Tedd@work on December 19, 2005, 09:17:00 AM
Post by: ckruse on December 19, 2005, 09:23:00 AM
Post by: Rangeball on December 19, 2005, 09:36:00 AM
Post by: leftbow on December 19, 2005, 09:40:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 09:47:00 AM
(http://www.TradGang.com/upload/charlie/FredBearBS.jpg)
Post by: herb haines on December 19, 2005, 09:48:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 09:54:00 AM
1. since he'd started shooting in the self bow days he didn't want to change that part of his shooting.
2. Fred had been bothered by target panic in his younger days. He drew the arrow until the broadhead touched his knuckle assuring full draw.
Built in draw check!
3. He felt the bow pointed better.
He built out the arrow plate to accomodate the arrow spine he preferred. In other words he tuned the bow to the arrow, not the arrow to the bow.
Obviously he preferred an arrow that was somewhat underspined for the weight bow he was shooting.
A pretty common practice in those days.
And yes, he would build me a bow with a shelf like that. I still have the bow and the letter from Fred that goes with it.... and it ain't goin nowhere! :D
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 09:58:00 AM
Post by: tim-flood on December 19, 2005, 09:58:00 AM
Post by: Roughcountry on December 19, 2005, 10:02:00 AM
Post by: tmccall on December 19, 2005, 10:02:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 10:02:00 AM
Like a lot of "experienced" bowhunters, Fred was an avid fisherman.
One morning as Fred and a couple of friends were taking off in there boat they passed these two young guys who were fighting a big northern pike.
They didn't have a net, so Fred eased his boat alongside them and passed over his landing net, then backed off to watch.
He was pretty excited to be part of it and the boys were on cloud nine.
I snapped the picture from the bank above them which was right in camp.
Post by: leftbow on December 19, 2005, 10:10:00 AM
Post by: Jake on December 19, 2005, 10:39:00 AM
Post by: BillW on December 19, 2005, 10:55:00 AM
Thanks!
Bill
Post by: Tedd@work on December 19, 2005, 10:55:00 AM
Tedd
Post by: N.O.S.guy on December 19, 2005, 10:58:00 AM
My hats off to ya. You have done things in your life that I am still planning to do with mine. I truly wish that I could have meet someone as great as Fred Bear. I would have loved to have meet Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, or Earl Hoyt as well. Thanks for sharing those pictures and the story.
Post by: Littlefeather on December 19, 2005, 11:19:00 AM
Post by: luv2bowhunt on December 19, 2005, 11:31:00 AM
How bout some pics of that bow he built for ya Charlie :D
Kevin.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 12:05:00 PM
My close friend Gary Norris killed a bear the first night of hunting and spent many afternoons with just he and Fred in camp (I always hated him for that! ;) )... Fred was more interested in the fishing at that point in his life. Like he said, "I've killed a lot of black bears."
He did hunt a couple of evenings. More for the sake of the outfitter than anything else... so the guy could say that Fred had hunted from his camp, I'm sure.
Fred made what he called a "stalking blind". He built a ground blind of sorts and cleared a path to it from the downwind side.
He'd go off in the timber and dink around, then every once in a while he'd "stalk" the bait to see if anything was there.
I thought that was pretty cool.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 12:21:00 PM
He said I was a pretty good hand with it, but I think he was just being nice.
Tedd... I was shooting that bow in this story on the Articles and Stories forum.
The Bear and the Bouncing Bow (http://tradgang.com//noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000008)
Yeah, I think I shot it pretty good! ;)
Post by: OH at work on December 19, 2005, 12:30:00 PM
Do you remember what the draw weight of that bow was?
Joe
Post by: Madpigslayer on December 19, 2005, 12:32:00 PM
1)so you actually WERE young once!?? :)
2)how does the low cut shelf bow shoot compared to your other bows, worth it in your opinion???
...inquiring minds you know. thanks for sharing the story!
Post by: non-typical on December 19, 2005, 12:38:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 12:42:00 PM
(http://www.TradGang.com/upload/charlie/firstbear.jpg)
I'll have to dig out that bow... it's in storage right now. When I do I'll post some pics for ya.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 12:56:00 PM
Somewhere there's a picture of Earl and I with the trophies we were presented for being two of the three guys that killed deer that year (around 1964) in the St.Louis Bowhuntes club.
Great man!!
Oh at work... that bow was 65# and Fred would have been 75 or thereabouts.
Calvin... I think I was. But I could be hallucinatin!! :confused:
The shelf on that bow wasn't "exactly" like Freds but still pointed very naturally.
Todays bowyers have jumped on the low shelf band wagon... mostly thanks to Fred Asbells articles... and I think that's a good thing.
Post by: OH at work on December 19, 2005, 01:16:00 PM
I only had the chance to meet Fred one time in the early 70's when he came and gave a talk at our small town. He really had some good stories to tell!!!
Joe
Post by: Carcajou on December 19, 2005, 02:05:00 PM
You Da Man! You never cease to amaze me with your stories and history.....a very lucky man indeed!
What an experience!
Post by: Ray Lyon on December 19, 2005, 02:29:00 PM
Post by: KodiakMagnum on December 19, 2005, 03:14:00 PM
Post by: TexMex on December 19, 2005, 04:24:00 PM
Post by: PAPALAPIN on December 19, 2005, 04:38:00 PM
Them must be some old pictures. Yer hair still has color to it, and yer waistline don't look so big.
Great pictures, and I'll bet, great memories.
TO ALL YOU JEALOUS GUYS
Don't dispair about not being able to hunt with Fred Bear, Earl Hoyt, and now Jack Howard is gone. There are still a few TRADITIONAL ICONS around. CHARLIE LAMB for one. Invite him on a hunt, he might just take you up on it.
Post by: Mudfeather on December 19, 2005, 05:02:00 PM
Charlie, The next time........and Lord I do hope there is a next time.......we get to hunt together :wavey:
Post by: Peckerwood on December 19, 2005, 05:05:00 PM
Thanks for sharing and keep'em coming.
Bill
Post by: Randy Morin on December 19, 2005, 05:09:00 PM
:thumbsup: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Post by: Frank V on December 19, 2005, 05:25:00 PM
Post by: Traxx on December 19, 2005, 05:45:00 PM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 06:05:00 PM
Of course Fred had his own personal left hand compound. You know what? The shelf was cut down on that bow just like his recurve. Shootin off his finger with a compound bow... kinda funny.
MAN!! I wonder where THAT bow went!
Fred was shooting a few shots with that compound and he'd raise the bow and draw just like with his recurve.
He'd just about jump out of his skin when the thing rolled over. He'd shoot and shake his head.
I asked him what he thought and he said, he had to shoot it for the promotion, but that when the wheels rolled over it really blew his aiming.
"I really don't like this thing", is what he told me.
Go figure! ;)
Post by: Butts2 on December 19, 2005, 06:10:00 PM
thanks
more more more
yes I am greedy
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 06:12:00 PM
I don't have a pic of it myself or I show it.
Anyone got a catalog collection?
Post by: Ray Lyon on December 19, 2005, 06:27:00 PM
The rest is history.
Post by: Meathook on December 19, 2005, 06:54:00 PM
Probably sounded like this:
"You'll never guess who was in camp with us this week, Thats right THE Charlie Lamb. Whoda thunk a little bowyer like me would get a chance to hunt with a guy like him."
!["[tunglaff]"]("graemlins/tunglaff.gif" "\"\"")
Post by: Huntrdfk on December 19, 2005, 07:05:00 PM
David
Post by: Timo on December 19, 2005, 07:32:00 PM
The first trad related pic I ever remember seeing was that of Fred draggin out a big ole michigan whitetail!
I still see that image in my head!
Post by: Mark U on December 19, 2005, 07:42:00 PM
Yer a lucky dog, Charlie.
Post by: Mike Bolin on December 19, 2005, 07:48:00 PM
Post by: [email protected] on December 19, 2005, 07:48:00 PM
Thanks so much for sharing! It's a pretty cool piece of history.
Bob
Post by: woodsman on December 19, 2005, 08:01:00 PM
I recently came in posession of an old Bear recurve. The fellow that had owned it said he had the opportunity to meet and shoot with Fred Bear. He told me of Fred's personal bow and how it was modified. He bought this bow new and modified it exactly like Fred's bow. It is a mint 1959 Bear Grizzly, painted camo.
It's special to hunt with this bow simply due to the history connected to Fred and a life-time of bowhunting by it's previous owner.
Hearing your story adds even more credability to it's history cause I had never heard anyone else speak of Fred's special modification.
Thanks Charlie
Chris
Post by: John/Alaska on December 19, 2005, 08:48:00 PM
Post by: Glenn29 on December 19, 2005, 09:27:00 PM
Mr. Lamb thank you very much for sharing your memories :thumbsup:
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 09:54:00 PM
I loved Fred's hat... as many do/did. Something I noticed that I hadn't paid much attention to was a little sprig of leaves with a couple of berries tucked into the hat band.
I didn't think much about it the first day, other than I thought it was kinda neat.
Then the second day I noticed that Fred had changed the sprig for a small feather.
On the third it was something different and by now my curiosity was running wild... so I asked him. "What's up with that?"
Fred told me that each day he'd stop and pick some little something that caught his eye and put it in his hat band.
It reminded him to slow down and pay attention to the little things around him.
I adopted the habit as my own that day and have kept it. Ya know what? It works.
Fred wasn't so much the killer/hunter as he was a student of nature and the world around him.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 09:58:00 PM
I guess I've worn "the hat" since I was about 18.
It's my constant hunting companion and keeps the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my neck.
The fact that Fred wore one like my grandad made the hat just that much cooler.
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on December 19, 2005, 10:23:00 PM
Post by: Hutch on December 19, 2005, 10:23:00 PM
I would love to hear some of these stories first hand, person to person over a camp fire sometime, and ya know, we don't live all that far apart.
Your welcome around my camp anytime sir.
Hutch
Post by: IB on December 19, 2005, 11:07:00 PM
I KNOW THOSE GUYS WITH THE BEAR !! One Looks older NOW
Post by: Woodduck on December 19, 2005, 11:37:00 PM
'For really' thanks, Charlie, and guys. It's nice to hear the REAL inside stuff. Fred's promotional team fooled me into buying that 'Alaskan' compound. I saw in the picture that it was the one Fred was shooting...gosh, I'm gullible :o
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 11:54:00 PM
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/Fredbearcompound.jpg)
Thanks much Ken! :thumbsup:
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 19, 2005, 11:55:00 PM
Woodduck... Have you still got that Alaskan? I know a guy who'd be tickled to have it!
Post by: Joseph on December 20, 2005, 01:18:00 AM
Post by: Guru on December 20, 2005, 05:34:00 AM
Post by: the Ferret on December 20, 2005, 07:11:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:What a great tip!
Fred told me that each day he'd stop and pick some little something that caught his eye and put it in his hat band.It reminded him to slow down and pay attention to the little things around him.
I met Fred 3 times over the years and what impressed me most about the man was how easy he was to talk to and how "normal" he was for a "supestar hero". Really just another bowhunter when it came right down to it. Easy to smile and quick to laugh. And I remember his hands were huge! The most humble man I've ever met. Frank Scott was the same way.
Never got to hunt with him though. That would have been awesome! Charlie that has to be one of the best memories a trad bowhunter could ever have you lucky dog!
Post by: Earl E. Nov...mber on December 20, 2005, 07:22:00 AM
I have an Alaskan that could use a new home.. I am easy..
Post by: PAPALAPIN on December 20, 2005, 08:17:00 AM
What impressed me the most was his size. I had always seen him in pictures standing next to a 12' bear mount, with the bears paws hanging down to right about Fred's head. It made him look like a man of smaller stature, thin and wirey looking. Boy was that a misconception. I am 5'10" and the top of my head came to below his shoulder. He was a man's man.
He was also genuinelly one of the nicest guys you could ever want to meet. The kind that you just can't picture getting mad, about anything.
CHARLIE, you are a luckey man for your experiences, and we are all luckey to have you to pass on the stories. As someone said before, you "SHOULD" write a book. Even a novel. Real life experiences like yours are what great fictions are based on.
Post by: cjones on December 20, 2005, 08:28:00 AM
It would be great if we could talk that lil Ferret fellar into writing a book too. Lord knows i have mentioned it to him a bunch but i can't get him to do it. I would love to have a copy of both of em.
Post by: herb haines on December 20, 2005, 09:39:00 AM
Post by: Charlie Lamb on December 20, 2005, 09:45:00 AM
I've got one more "tidbit"... ok, maybe two, but I "have to" leave town in a couple of minutes on another hunting trip. I'll be back Friday late.
Ken... I'll drop a note to ya. I've got an old and dear friend that would drop his teeth if I could put him in that Alaskan... and he'd use it too!
Stay out of trouble and have a good time... can you do both at the same time? :confused: :thumbsup:
Post by: rabbitman on December 20, 2005, 09:45:00 AM
Post by: Woodduck on December 20, 2005, 11:24:00 AM
It was a good 'finger' shootin'compound. I should of told Fred about it. He came to a shoot in Grifton, NC and I met him but too awestruck to open my mouth about the Alaskan...Fred did tell me to "Pick a spot!"
Post by: Goose on December 20, 2005, 11:35:00 AM
Another thanks for sharing this with us.
Goose
Post by: alaskabowhunter on December 20, 2005, 12:20:00 PM
Chuck
Post by: HACKSAW on December 20, 2005, 01:05:00 PM
I have modified a few of my bows using my dremel tool with great results that has improved my shooting a lot. I have always believed that bows and guns have to fit you right. I have never been afraid to rework a bow handle to fit my hand,or a rest to bring it closer to my line of sight.
Hacksaw
Post by: Olebow on December 20, 2005, 01:09:00 PM
in the hat band thing.... For what it represents,
and for who made it famous.
We all do that in my hunting camp. Been doing it
for years. Either some little feather we find,
or a little sprig of Douglas Fir, or my favorite-
a stalk of wild mint. Tradition now. Little
things mean so much for many of us old tradgangers
who savor the lore of the past.
Post by: 8elk on December 20, 2005, 03:07:00 PM
Post by: Hunt Stealth on December 20, 2005, 06:29:00 PM
Post by: Tedd on December 20, 2005, 06:52:00 PM
My Morrisons are cut pretty close, but not as much as Fred's
Tedd
Post by: Mark Fedrizzi on December 20, 2005, 07:46:00 PM
THIS IS VERY,VERY :thumbsup:
Post by: Killdeer on December 20, 2005, 08:13:00 PM
No, that was a lie. I don't have a coffee table.
But reading a book like that would be FUN, and help me get stoked for the next hunting season. :bigsmyl:
Killdeer~nudge, nudge..
Post by: Dano on December 20, 2005, 08:17:00 PM
Post by: Littlefeather on December 20, 2005, 08:28:00 PM
I've been after Charlie every time we are together to write the book. I think he need just a bit more prodding. I'd even hold the paper if he'd start writing the damn thing. CK
Post by: Van/TX on December 20, 2005, 08:59:00 PM
Post by: joe skipp on December 21, 2005, 10:29:00 PM
Post by: Terry Green on December 22, 2005, 02:19:00 PM
Thanks for sharing your words and the pics.
Post by: IB on December 22, 2005, 02:36:00 PM
Post by: SteveMcD on December 22, 2005, 02:40:00 PM