This past month, several of the founding members of the Burnt Store Anglers attended a Celebration of Life for one of our founding members, Richard (Rick) Knox. Rick passed away on May 1, 2025. Many of our anglers not only fished with Rick but also learned how to play golf from Rick, who was also the community golf professional. Rick and Andrea, also a wonderful fisher person, managed our golf club.
Twenty-four years ago, when Susan, my wife, and I moved to Burnt Store Marina to live in a place we loved to visit and fish, we were introduced to Rick. During his down time from the golf club, Rick ran a Thursday “Let’s go Fishing” informal group. Each Thursday, seven boats full of anglers would leave the marina and follow Rick out to one of his secret fishing spots. Being such an avid fisherman, he took folks out to one of probably a hundred spots he loved to fish. When arriving, Rick jumped out of his boat and started to walk along two or three feet of water. He was a wade fisherman and fishing from the boat was not his first choice. As boats rode by, they observed a small army of anglers following Rick, casting and bringing in fish after fish. You would never see one of the anglers not smiling as Rick always had a funny story to tell as the group moved along the sand bar. His stories would fill a classic book about the fun of fishing. Most of the anglers who fished on Thursday with Rick also became charter members of the newly formed Burnt Store Anglers. Rick and Andrea were one of the best husband and wife fishing teams in our community. You knew that if we were having a formal fishing tournament the team to beat were the Knox duo. Rick, besides teaching the Thursday group about fishing Charlotte Harbor, taught cast net throwing and bait fishing to the Anglers during the early years of the Angler’s Fishing school.
During the celebration for Rick, we learned that a very special day for Rick is planned on the banks of the Chenango River. Friends and family will offer stories and special remembrances of Rick’s Life by conducting a fish release into the river in his honor.
The Burnt Store Anglers “Fish from the Wall Tournament” will have a special dedication to Rick, with the winning trophy bearing Rick’s name. The Burnt Store Anglers owe a great deal of the club’s success to Rick Knox for all his teaching, recruiting, and tournament encouragement. The many Burnt Store Anglers wish TIGHT LINES to our friend and fellow angler Richard (Rick) Knox January 18, 1952 – May 1, 2025.
Tight Lines
