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14WestPalmBeachFishingClub14passagesGlenGrossofLakeParkFloridalosthisbattlewithcancerthispastJanuary.Hewas72yearsold.GlenwasamemberoftheWestPalmBeachFishingClubforover42years.HeissurvivedbyhisbelovedwifeGinnywhoisalsoalongtimeclubmember.TheMichigannativewassuccessfulinlifeinmanyways.BeforemovingtosouthFloridaGlenworkedatGeneralMotorsasatoolanddyeman.Glenwasalsoarespectedteachersharinghisme-chanicalknowledgewithkidsbyteachingaShopclass.TeachingwassomethingthatcamenaturallytoGlen.Hewasagenerousmanespeciallywhenitcametokids.Glenwasafull-timetinkererwhichexplainedwhyhewassuchanaccomplishedcommercialandrecreationalsherman.Likemanyanglershealsohadapropensitytosometimesstretchthetruth.GlenGrosswasamastertellerofshsto-ries.FordecadeshebeganeachmorningwithavisittoLottBrothersTackleShopforacupofcoffee.ThetaleshewouldtellwhilehuddledaroundthecoffeepotatLottsisthestuffoflegend.Thosepresentoftenmetthecaptivatingperformancewithequalpartsofamazementrespectandskepticism.TosaythatGlenGrosswasagenuinecharacterwouldbeanunderstatement.IrstmetGlenovertwentyyearsagowhenImovedtoNorthPalmBeach.HelivedfourhousesdowntheEarmanRiverfrommeontheoppositesideofthewater-way.YoualwaysknewwhenGlenwasonhisdockeithershingortinkeringonhisboat.Youcouldhearhim.De-spiteourdocksbeingover100yardsapartGlenwouldbegintocarryonconversationswithmewheneverhesawmeonmydock.Hisvoiceboomeddownthewaterway.Speakingsoloudlywouldbeun-naturalformostbutIthinkitfeltnormaltohim.Ialwayssensedexcitementinhiswordswhetheritwastoinformmethatseveralsnookwereswimmingmydirectionorlettingmeknowthatthekingshbitewasgoingoff.Hisenthusiasmwasinfectiousandneverfailedtobringasmiletomyface.Glenwasalwayseagertosharewhatheknewaboutsh-ingwiththoseofuswhodidnthavenearlyasmuchtimeonthewaterashedid.HisinnovativeshingrigsluresandtechniqueswereunlikeanythingIhadeverseenorreadaboutinthepagesofpopularshingmagazines.AvisittoGlensgaragewaslikepeekingintoSantasworkshop.Hewasalwaysdreamingupsomenewcrazywaytocatchsh.Wheneverneighborsdrovebyhishouseandsawhisgaragedooropentheywouldbecompelledtostopinandseewhathewasworkingon.ItwasnotunusualtondGlenTheEarmanRiverisQuiet...RememberingGlenGrossbyTomTwyfordcraftingmetalkingshjigsoutofoldbutterknivesorstringingcolorfulbeadsheboughtatacraftstoreonpompanorigsorpaintingpiecesofspeciallycutmetaltubingfordolphinlures.Itseemedasthoughhismindwasalwaysmethodicallyprocessingthenextideathatwouldfoolash.GleniscreditedwithcomingupwithwhatIcalltheEarmanRiverSnookRig.TherigiscomprisedofaZaraSuperSpookoutttedwithextrastrongtreblehooksashortpieceofnumber10wireleaderandalargebarrelswivel.Seasonedsnookanglersviewingtherigforthersttimeoftentakeonelookandlaughaloud.ButIassureyouwhenworkedproperlyitisincrediblyproductiveontheslobsnookthatcruisejustbelowthesurfaceoftheEarman.LeaveittoGlentocomeupwithsuchanunorthodoxrig.OneofmyfondestmemoriesofGlenGrossisthersttimehegaveaseminarattheFishingClub.Afteryearsofhear-ingGlentalkabouthissnappershingtechniquesIencouragedhimtogivetheseminar.Imcertainhespentweekspreparing.Themasterperformerdidnotdisappoint.Afewhighlightsincludedtheitemshebroughtforshowandtelllikethebicycletirerimthatheusedforyellowsnapperhandlining.Heconvincinglyprofessedthatthelargediameterwheelallowedhimtospoollineoutmoreefcientlytochummeduptails.Glenalsointroducedustohisbottomrakeaheavymetalbarwithprotrudingboltsanddanglingchains.Hedesignedthecontraptiontostirupcrabsoversandbottomwhichinturnwouldattractmuttonsnapperandcobia.Glenconcludedthemeetingbygivingeveryoneoneofhishomemadeyellowtailjigsandasmalltubofhisshpasteaconcoctionofshpartsandshoilhecookedupinhiskitchen.Herevealedthatrubbingthepotentpasteonjigssignicantlyimprovedhiscatchrateonsnapper.ItwasamemorableeveningvintageGlenGross.NotlongafterGlensdeathIwasshingoffmydock.ItwasearlyinthemorningjustmeandmydogCharlie.IsaidtoCharlieYesItalktomydogLetsseeifGlencancatchusasnook.Andpromptlyontherstcastthewishwasansweredwithalegalslot-sizedsnook.Ireleasedthesh.IndayspastIwouldhaveheardGlensboisterousvoicefromdownthecanal.HewouldhavebeenquizzingmeonhowIcaughttheshandwhyintheworldIwasgoingtoletitgo.ButonthisdaytheEarmanRiverwasquiet.CoffeeTime....GlenGrosswasamastertellerofshstories.FordecadeshebeganeachmorningwithavisittoLottBrothersTackleShopholdingcourtaroundthecoffeepot.