Ted Williams – best blankety-blank fishing interview ever
Tom Farnam and I have the steelhead lending library in full swing, passing videos and magazines back and forth until the fishing really turns on. My best contribution was the latest copy of The Drake magazine. Newsstand price is, quote, “Five Bucks – $10 for bait fishermen.” I’ve laughed at that enough that it’s worth the subscription just to see that on the cover of a magazine.
Farnam returned the favor by loaning me a pile of his Wild Steelhead & Atlantic Salmon back issues. These things are wonderful. They’re about the size of a road atlas for a nice roomy format. I went right to the cover story – Baseball Great Ted Williams: As Outrageous and Colorful as Ever, on His Favorite Fish.
Key Takeaways
- Ted Williams, famed baseball legend and passionate angler, gave one of the most unfiltered and entertaining fishing interviews ever recorded—showing his genuine obsession with the sport.
- His colorful storytelling in
Wild Steelhead & Atlantic Salmon (Summer 1994) captures not just his salty humor but also his deep respect for releasing fish safely back into the water.
- Williams’ legacy extends far beyond baseball—his dedication to fishing, conservation, and outdoor adventure reflects a rare blend of athletic excellence and environmental awareness.
- The Wallowa River update highlights the unpredictable nature of steelhead fishing, where persistence, timing, and camaraderie make every trip memorable despite mixed catches.
- Passion for fishing, storytelling, and community—whether through legendary figures like Williams or local river outings—remains at the heart of outdoor adventure culture.
Volume 1, Number 2 Summer 1994
Tom has told me tales about Williams before, how he set some baseball record for hitting then hustled past the reporters hoping for interviews so he could hop a plane to get in one last day of fishing on a favorite stream before the season closed. If you love classic Northwest rivers as much as Ted Williams did, you’d appreciate the wild beauty of our Grande Ronde River rafting trips.
This writeup is one of the best things I’ve seen in print. Pretty much a transcript presented raw by Thomas R. Pero. The opening sentence goes like this: “Hell, I can tell you real simply. . . .” Pero has the good sense to stay out of the way and just let Williams talk. And, oh boy. It is colorful. Here’s a sampler, edited for people with tender eyes.
“[Blankety!] I said. ‘[Blank] . . . son of a [bleep] was THAT LONG! I got him on.’ He just sunk right down, stayed right in that slick. . . . So I just wound all the [bad word] line up and got it on my reel. . . .”
“Last year’s camera didn’t have any film in it. The other year’s camera – the guy didn’t know when to take the [bleeding] picture and we never got a picture. That’s all right. I don’t give a [hoot]. The best fish I caught in the last 10 years, I haven’t got any pictures of them. ‘Cause I’m so [blessedly] CONCERNED about getting ’em back in the WATER. You know – hurry up, hurry up, HURRY UP. You get a 30-pound fish and you hold him by the [filth, foul, filth] tail. You’re trying to hold him up. You can’t hold him. It’s kinda tough.”
It’s kinda tough to resist finding out more about this guy after beholding such an interview. It’s not just the unexpected salty language, Williams was full of interesting [things] to say so I ran him through [the] Google. Baseball Hall of Famer considered best with a bat, pretty much ever. Took time out to fight a war. Twice. WWII then Korea. Campaigned for children’s cancer research. Married models. Had his own line of outdoor equipment, sold through Sears. Serious fisherman. It’s easy to imagine him feeling right at home on one of our Salmon River rafting adventures, surrounded by wild water and big fish stories. You know that thing where people ask who you’d want to go back in time to have lunch with? I’d put rod racks on the DeLorean and see if I could go fishing with Ted Williams. For today’s anglers and adventurers, our private charter rafting trips offer that same sense of freedom and camaraderie out on the water.
Wallowa River update
Got out for an afternoon on the Wallowa River with Mikey Baird and Cam Scott. In an increasingly depressing trend this season, I caught nothing, Cam hooked but lost a big one, up in the 30-inch range, he says (my eyes hurt from rolling), Baird got into whitefish, trout, then I watched him hook this fish immediately after I’d gone through the same water. It looks small. And it is. But . . .
. . . this fish put on a display, rocketing out of the water three times and putting on such a show that we both thought it was closer to the 20-inch range. If this fish ever encounters a bear in the woods, the bear will almost certainly back down because this fish will appear larger than it really is.
Toward the close of day we got this nice curtain closer:
And I got this interesting shot. Looks like Mike’s truck is filled with gravel but really it’s a scree field behind me reflected in the window. Pretty tricky, I know. Don’t ask why I was standing next to Mike’s truck like that.
I said don’t ask. All I can tell you is this tire belongs to me now.
Frequently Asked Questions
This article dives into Ted Williams’ legendary passion for fishing, his famously colorful interview style, and a humorous look at a day on Oregon’s Wallowa River.
Who was Ted Williams?
Ted Williams was a Baseball Hall of Famer, widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. Beyond baseball, he was an avid outdoorsman—especially passionate about fishing. Williams balanced his career achievements with military service in WWII and Korea, and later championed children’s cancer research.
Why is Ted Williams famous in the fishing world?
Williams wasn’t just a casual angler—he was deeply skilled and obsessed with the sport. His enthusiasm, storytelling, and technical understanding of fishing earned him respect among serious anglers. His personality and colorful language made his fishing interviews as memorable as his baseball career.
What made Ted Williams’ fishing interview so memorable?
The 1994 Wild Steelhead & Atlantic Salmon interview by Thomas R. Pero stands out because it captures Williams’ unfiltered passion. He spoke with vivid, often profane excitement about fishing, showing raw emotion and genuine respect for the sport and the fish he pursued.
Did Ted Williams really prefer fishing to baseball?
In some ways, yes. Williams was known to skip postgame interviews or rush from the ballpark to catch a flight for one last day on the water. Fishing was a lifelong obsession—something he saw as pure, challenging, and deeply satisfying compared to the spotlight of baseball.
What kind of fish did Ted Williams love to catch?
Williams was particularly passionate about steelhead and Atlantic salmon. He admired their strength and the skill required to land them. His dedication to conservation and proper fish handling—like releasing large fish quickly—showed his deep respect for these species.
What’s the connection between Ted Williams and The Drake or Wild Steelhead & Atlantic Salmon magazines?
The Drake and Wild Steelhead & Atlantic Salmon are renowned fishing publications celebrating angling culture. The latter featured the iconic 1994 Ted Williams interview, while The Drake is humorously referenced in the story for its irreverent, angler-focused style—both reflecting the sport’s storytelling spirit.
What is the Wallowa River, and why is it mentioned?
The Wallowa River, located in northeastern Oregon, is a popular fly-fishing spot for trout and steelhead. The author recounts a day of mixed luck there—plenty of laughs, missed catches, and a reminder that great fishing isn’t just about the fish, but the experience and camaraderie.
Who are the other people mentioned in the story?
The story mentions Tom Farnam, Mikey Baird, and Cam Scott—fellow anglers and friends of the author. They share fishing outings, swap magazines, and embody the community spirit that defines passionate anglers everywhere.
What’s the tone or theme of the article?
The piece blends humor, nostalgia, and admiration. It celebrates Ted Williams’ fiery personality and love of fishing while reflecting the joy and humility that come with time on the water—even when the fish don’t bite.
What’s the main takeaway from this story?
Fishing, like life, is about passion, stories, and connection. Ted Williams embodied that fully—whether swinging a bat or casting a fly. The author reminds us that the best moments on the water aren’t always about catching fish, but about the people, places, and memories that come with it.
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