Any of you old timers remember legend of the Cowlitz John Johnson?

[ICEMAN]

Any of you old timers remember a legend of the Cowlitz (plus most other SW Washington rivers) by the name of John "Johnny" Johnson?

[kentrek]

Not an old timer but I know of a few Johnson's that live along the river, can I ask why ??

[ICEMAN]

Sure. My great uncle. He has been gone for a few years....just thought I would see if anyone knew him, he had quite a long term reputation in the fishing community, steelhead, salmon, collector etc... He lived in Tumwater.

[kentrek]

Is he/you related to the castle rock Johnson's ?? Sounds like he lived a pretty great life, must have known how to hook a fish or two 

[metlhead]

You wouldn't be refering to Big J would you? Hello. New to the site but a long time reader. Heck yes I know Johnny. I learned how to pound the Nisqually king jacks from him. Caught many a Ward lake kokanee. Got advice on Chehalis springers (to remain secret). I would do chores for him in his later years. He helped me with advice on rebuilding my first sled's transom. By the way, what happened to his little blue sled? Johnny worked Winonna reels to an art. I first met him in the late 70's as he and my father were best of buds. I quickly got caught up in to their circle of friends and became a river addict myself. Very few of those legends, and in the local fishing loop they truly are, left. There was even an article written years back, Man of 5000 steelhead, I believe. A very fine and knowlegable man. I have some jars of Satsop silver eggs, 88' vintage, still work, that were J's

[ICEMAN]

metlhead, yes, that is the man! Glad to hear of your experience with him. Truly a fisherman's fisherman. He taught me to river fish years ago, great trips and experiences.... Miss Johnny alot! His wife Ruthie just passed recently. Miss them both.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Curious, did he live on the north side of I5 near a boat launch in the sound?  Name sort of rings a bell, might be a guy I bought a sled of of 9 years ago.

[ICEMAN]

He lived on the Tumwater hill, sort of straight up the hill from the old Olympia brewery, not real near the sound...

[metlhead]

Curious to know, are you looking for info or memorabillia?  My father had horse traded him so much stuff through the years. I even aquired some after my dad passed in '07. The both of them were rare to ever take any photos, but I can remember clearly the sunburns they would get roasting day after august day just slaughtering Ward kokanee. If anyone really wants to know, those two were probably responsible for that fishery demise. To h3ll with everyone else! they'd say. Sad to hear of your aunt's passing.  I hope that you get to enjoy many of the treasures that decades of fishing had accumulated.

[ICEMAN]

Thanks metlhead, no I am not looking for anything but good memories and smiles. Thanks for the nice words! Exactly what I was looking for.