Update on mike Farrior--all good news!

Post by **john elder** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:58 pm

Talk about a Christmas present! For those that don't know Mike Farrior, he is the historian and a past president of the Avalon Tuna Club, arguably the home of saltwater big game sportfishing. At any rate, about a year ago, he had an operation in which he lost his one and only kidney and he has been on dialysis and fighting assorted infections ever since. Well, he had a cousin that stepped forward for testing and had a usable genetic match...he got a new kidney on thursday and will be coming home tomorrow. apparently, everything went like textbook and he is good to go! got some recoup time ahead, but looks like he is getting that second chance in life. got to get him back on the water at first op!

Post by **Brian F.** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:17 am

Very good news, John.To add some information, Mike is a former member and was the subject of an article in one of the very first Reel News publications. Tom Harwood, then ORCA president, wrote about getting around to visit with other members and one of the fellows he visited was Mike and his incredible big game reel collection. Wishing Mike a speedy recovery. Very good news for the Holidays indeed.

drexelantiques · Post by **drexelantiques** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 11:22 pm

Good to hear! Mike had been after me to sell an odd sized Zane Grey for a few years, and I hadn't heard from him for the last year or so, which made me wonder what had happened to him. . Very nice guy, always has been helpful when I had questions on big game clubs and tackle.

drexelantiques · Post by **drexelantiques** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 10:58 pm

I was watching the travel channel today on TV and they had two guys on jetskis who traveled over to Catalina island. One of the places they visited was the Avalon Tuna Club. They showed a small selection of the tackle there.

One thing the show told me, that I had not known before, is that some of the members of the tuna club still fish with linen line and the old tackle. That some was even used in tournaments. Is that correct, or is that something the TV show got wrong?

Post by **Brian F.** » Sun Dec 25, 2005 11:09 pm

Yes Mike informed me a while back that the Tuna Club does hold a yearly tournament, the Linen One, in which fish must be landed on antique tackle to qualify as a catch. Not sure of the linen line rating limits or the minimum age of the tackle. Another Tuna Club member who was also an ORCA member but recently passed on stated "That's where all those big old reels go - everyone was buying them up to fish". Mike also said the line and reels held up fine but the bamboo rods were frequent casualties.

Post by **john elder** » Mon Dec 26, 2005 3:18 am

Here's a real nice article that just appeared in the paper. Talked with him yesterday and he has to stay away from germs for awhile, but is feeling great and ready to jump back into life!

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib ... tdoor.html

Dale Noll · Post by **Dale Noll** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 9:48 pm

Incredible story. I am bringing this post back - so those who may have missed this post, originally like I did - will take the time to review this wonderful Christmas story.

Dale.