Do You Remember Virgil Ward?

If you’re in your teens right now…you’ve probably never heard of him.   If you’re in your 20’s, well…odds are still probably against you ever having seen or heard of the TV show Championship Fishing.   Granted, if you are in your 30’s there’s a slim possibility the name Virgil Ward might ring of some familiarity.   Yet, if you’re in your 40’s or older chances are then damn good Virgil Ward made an impression on your life…at least to some degree.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.   On Sundays when I go to church with my family I often daydream by rewinding my life 35 years to a point when I was a young, antsy child tired of sitting on the hard, oak church pews.   Nope, the payoff would be coming home from church…entering the house to the smells of a nice roast cooking for the traditional Sunday meal…and plopping down on the floor to watch Roland Martin and then Virgil Ward introduce me to the many piscatorial wonders of the great outdoors.

At the time it seemed like a fair trade off…I would worship in God’s house for an hour and the reward would be a relaxing afternoon watching TV shows that truly amazed my young mind.   I guess you could say that Virgil Ward probably influenced me as an outdoorsman more than any other person I’ve never personally met.   And I bet there’s a lot of others who can say that very same thing.

“From the lakes of northern Canada
To the Gulf of Mexico.
Wherever fish are biting
That's where we're going to go.
There's a lot of exciting country
Just waiting to be explored.
So join us now in the great outdoors,
The World of Virgil Ward.”

What an awesome theme song.   Even 30 years later I can see the eagles flying and the deer scampering up the hillside (along the lake) as this theme song plays on.

Indeed, Virgil was like the father or uncle so many of us wish we had.   Knowledgeable about fishing…but not cocky as if he already knew it all.   In my mind Virgil was the quintessential outdoorsman who didn’t seem to flaunt his persona like so many would-be outdoor stars of today seem to do.   Nope, instead, Virgil…often accompanied by his Grandson, Greg Ward, would invite you along in the boat as if you were his special guest for the day.

As a young angler and sportsman I never felt intimidated by Virgil.   Today so many TV show hosts think they need to dazzle you by sharing their vast knowledge of the outdoors.   No, Virgil seemed to be content just being out on a lake and fishing.   If I wanted to see the big lunker fish I would tune in to Roland (Martin) and his show…but Virgil just made it feel like being outdoors and enjoying nature was one of the most important things in life to be doing.

And so my Sunday afternoons would go…laying in front of the TV vicariously enjoying the outdoors through this legend and his experiences.   Oddly enough, it would be years later when I fully realized the true effect Virgil would have on my life.

Of course, I was not alone in that feeling.   Had it not been for Al and Ron Lindner being touched by this inspiration of a man, perhaps the Lindners would never have gotten into television.   Yes, Virgil Ward in his quiet, unassuming demeanor touched the lives of so many people around him.   Even though I never had the pleasure of actually meeting him I have to believe his persona was as genuine and rare as they come.

Yes, even now when I am fishing up north on a Minnesota lake viewing the glorious sights and sounds of nature in between bites…if you listen close enough you just might catch me humming that Championship Fishing tune.

In 2004, at the age of 93 years, we lost Virgil in body, but not in spirit.

Makes me wonder if there a modern day Virgil Ward out there to inspire today’s would-be sportsmen?   I sincerely hope so…but I’m not overly optimistic there can ever be another “Virgil Ward.”

May 25, 1911 to September 13, 2004

2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Tags: Virgil+Ward, Championship+Fishing

Comments

[Moose]

Wow that's a blast from the past. As a kid growing up in the city my love for the outdoors was shaped by many of these shows. I think he also had a radio show if I remember right that I caught on occasion while surfing the dial with my am transistor radio. I don't fish much anymore but as a kid much of my summer vacation was dedicated to catching bass & pickerel at a nearby pond. I bet many of lures were made popular by his use and demonstration at the end of his show. Good Memories.
-Moose-

[Dave]

I remember as a kid watching the Virgil Ward Championship Fishing show with my dad on Sunday afternoons. I remember that big aquarium that he demonstrated his lures and techniques in at the end of the show. I grew up just south of Houston, Tx. and my dad and I would go fishing at a private lake owned by a local rice farmer. My favorite lure was always a Bass Buster Beetle Spin. It wasn't until "surfing the internet" as an adult that I learned that Bass Buster was Virgil Wards company and the Beetle Spin was his creation. Wow, great memories! The world could use more men like Virgil.

[Tommy]

I am almost 41 years old. I remember watching Virgil Ward when I was young. I have many fond memories of fishing with my dad. If he had to work or weather wasn't fit for fishing, we watched Virgil. The one thing I remember most was Virgil's wife frying up the fish he had caught. I remember him saying " honey you've done it again" with a smile.

[CHUCK COMBS]

To this day when my father or I set the hook on a big ole bass we refer to that as putting the virgil on them. He always set the hook in a big way. I have broken 3 ugly sticks setting the hook with plastic worms the way the Mr. Ward did... And we loved the way he would demonstrate the use of baits in his big aquarium.

We truly miss him.

[David Scot King]

Howdy friend! I remember Virgil Ward, and I also remember Harold Ensley...I met Harold back in about 1970, when I was 5 at Weeks department store in Salina, Kansas. He signed a photo of himself for me, I still have it. Then I met him again here in Kansas City about 6 months before he passed away, again, he signed a photo, and let me have a photo taken with him, which his son took for me. Then he signed one of his books for my five year young Son...I was glad to see Bass Pro Shop decorate their store here in Olathe with his photo's etc. At age 43, I thank you for mentioning Virgil Ward, I am reading his book Championship Fishing Guide right now...timeless classics! Again Thank you-

[Kendall Boyd]

Being one of those "young" 30 year olds, I had the privilege of catching Virgil's show towards the end of its run. I even have a few recorded on VHS tape. Even though I was very young, I do remember watching Championship Fishing with my father and being engulfed by the fish he was catching. On the show, Virgil was all about catching fish, not about selling all sorts of equipment to viewers. He made fishing look simple, and above all he made it fun, which (to me) is what fising is all about. Virgil is in a better place now, however I will forever remember sitting on dad's lap and asking him when we, like Virgil, were going out into the great outdoors again. Thanks.

[Andrew]

HIk

[Andrew]

Just heard that Michigan lost one of my favorite outdoor PBS guys, Fred Trost. After reading about his death and how he loved to fish, I couldn't help but think of good ole " Virgil Ward". Reading the blogs, I am thinking someone purged my brain, because I can remember coming home from church in West Olive, MI, eating a throw down to remember, then we would all sit down and watch Virgil Ward on the tube. I still talk about Virgil Ward when fishing, especially when my buddy gets a snag or hung up with me yelling at him, " Virgil Ward" is gonna kick you out of the club with fishing like that. Nice to go back in time as I am right now, scary too. Thanks for the memories Virgil.

[Mike Cook]

The very first lure I purchased, after being hooked by Virgil Ward, (I'm only 46 now) was the Bass Buster Beetle Spin in the black with yellow lines! Had to have it cause Virgil told me it would catch fish and man'o'man did it ever! I miss those days. I miss the show. Most of all I miss the man & the legend.

[Paul]

Its ironic that I came across this. I was working in a plant the other day and some guys were trying to remember the name of the man that had the fishing show with the fish tank and he showed you in the tank how certain lures looked under water. I knew who they were talking about because I grew up watching his show.

[Dave]

Watching the show and hearing the theme song from back in the early 1970's are some of the last memories I have of spending time with my grandfather. Things were simpler back then, and we're luck that Virgil's show was a part of it. I thank you. Dave.

[John B. Witherspooin]

I am 53 years old, and I grew up in Fayetteville, AR. My most vivid memories of Mr. Ward, and his show, was his gentle nature, and the song that started each show: "gone fishin, instead of just a'wishin. Remember?
John B.

[Randy]

This is a definite slice of Americana...
and of my youth. I'm 47, and fondly recall a simpler time growing up in VA, and watching Virgil Ward. I vividly remember singing the theme song when it came on. He inspired me to get out with my dad, and a neighbor, and fish as often as possible. Guys like Virgil meant more to people in this country than they could ever have possible known. I'm sure he's up there wettin' a line!

[Danl]

Truly the first time I fished Ontario while coming back to camp after a great day of fishing I looked back at the sunset on the boat and thought of Virgil Ward. This was 15 years ago now but something that day clicked in my brain like I had finally done what Virgil had believed in. It was almost something very deep rooted in my mind from all those programs I had enjoyed as a young man. I knew then what Virgil felt and tried to teach us. His true legend was in his simplicity. I do miss him as well as his show.