Who is Babe Winkelmen?

[wondering]

I've seen a few of his shows. What's his background? I'm always interested in how people got started, before the "promotional" part of this business.

[bigfish1965]

Babe Winkelman played for the Boston Red Sox in the 1920's. Known simply as the 'Babe' he was a force on and off the field. While known primarily for his batting prowess, he was an excellent pitcher and did well with the ladies. :)

[Juls_OH]

http://www.winkelman.com/about/index.html?cart=32551408296425200

The above link "About Babe" will tell you his background.

Juls

[SUPERTROLLER]

Thanks for the link Juls. That was a nice story and covered things quite well. I've been watching his shows since I was a kid.

[Nick(Ia)]

This dynamic young talent was traded away to America's team, the YANKEES! It was at this stage of his career that he bacame a legendary walleye fisherman. This trade has been labeled as the worst of all time. It seems that the Red Sox now suffer from "the curse of the Bambino" and as a result of this curse they are now only low-rent, weak-wristed, striped-bass fishermen that will never win the PWT or RCL Championships...or any other championship for that matter:-) The Babe now appears only on TV fishing events as his general physical condition has deteriorated due to a long history of fried shorelunchs and cleaning house cocktail hours. He is still a hit with the ladies. Long Live the BABE! :-)

[Tracker185]

Babe Winkelmen is a Fine fisherman w/ a Great Fishing show. Lots of information, fishing all over the Place.




Fish The Finest!!!!! Fish Tracker!!!!!




T185

[Love Babe & Al (Linder)]

There really was a Babe Winkelman that played b-ball, but not for the Yankee's or the Red Sox. These fisherman got things messed up with the Great Bambino. The real Babe Winkelman played for the St. Louis Cardinals and was a catcher in the bullpen.

The real Babe Winkelman -- Mr. Walleye himself, the man, the myth, the legend has definitely been eating too much of Kris's home cooking.

He's a very good fisherman, very knowledgeable and a super human being.

You gotta love both the Babe and Al!!!

the boy from Michigan

[bigfish1965]

Uhh..we were kidding.

[Toolman]

Big Fish,

I thought it was pretty funny! I also enjoy watching his "Good Fishing" shows, in the winter (when I can't get out fishing myself).

Tim

[MH]

Babe is the kid rock of walleye fishing, he's always got a Pabst in his lap. Rock on Babe.

[Homer]

We were fishing next to Babe on Michigan's Sturgeon Bay maybe 15 years ago, back when there was a hot bite on jumbo perch. Anyways, Babe was having a pretty rough time getting fish, and we always wondered if he would ever broadcast that show. Lo and behold, the next year, Babe was on TV slamming the jumbos out there. If you watched closely, though, you saw that he had on different clothing, or the weather was markedly different, for each fish he caught. He must have pieced together film over multiple days to make that show. I never looked the same at TV fishing shows after that.

[AKA Walleye Hitman]

Babe W. is a great anyd friendly person I have had a few drinks with him and his camers crew and partyed half the night with them on Pymatuning Lake and then we fished the next morning.And yes he is a good pool Player I watched him beat about 12 different pool players untill he played me I beat him two in a row and by that time we both had to many beverages that there were 2 cue ball 2 1 balls and so on but all around he is a great person.
Tight Line AKA Walleye Hitman

[Tom (mich)]

Probably over 15 years or so ago, I found myself drifting next to Babe's boat in the Trenton Channel on the Detroit River. It was snowing like heck, but the camera's were rolling. If you drifted the channel before, you know the boats get quite close. Anyway, the camera's rolling and Babe's all happy and such, catching no fish but talking up the Detroit River fishery pretty darn good. Next thing I know, off goes the red light, out come the smokes and a few F-bombs ensue - i.e. something like "holy freakin' crap it's cold out here". Actually it was refreshing to see he's a regular guy.

He did have on a Yankee cap though, and I swear I saw pinstripes under his outerwear.......

[Doc_wi]

I have had the pleasure of meeting with Babe on a number of occasions and can tell you he is a GREAT guy. He took the time to go out of his way to visit with me one day. We had lunch and looked at something I had been working on. He was honest, supportive and gave me a great deal of his time. We traded stories and had a few laughs including remarking that our bus boy looked just like Jerry Lewis in the nutty professer. I think Babe thought I hired an actor just to make the lunch more memorable or that he was on candid camera something, it was hilarious. We've talked and met since on a number of occasions, usually around a sports show, and he is SO genuinly glad to see someone he knows is a friend and a fan, you can tell it in his smile, handshake and hearty "Hi there Joel". I've met SO many who are not near as genuine, Babe Winkelman is one of the Icons in fishing television and I would still drop everything to fish with him. If you knew him , you would too. Nice guy, great fisherman and show host. I like the image of a hard working guy who is taking the time to involve his family in his fishing and hunting.
IMHO

[Fish_on]

The matter of Babe being sued by the Lindners for palguerism is a matter of public record so I do not know why that post was pulled. I'm sure that is something that Babe would rather forget, and he has probably learned from it. He has some other skeletons in his closet which do not need to be aired here (don't we all?). One thing is for sure, he really knows how to put together an entertaining TV show. He's one of the best, and his program has won a lot of awards.

[steve dover]

i have a few of babe winkelmen's videos which i found informative and reflective of a positive attitude towards the outdoors and fishing, so i took the opportunity to talk to him awhile at the Bass pro shop in mich a couple of years ago, and i found him to be very helpful, friendly, down to earth etc. and he gave me some good advice on how to "outfish" my friend next fall just before the bay (quinte) freezes. the thing i liked the best was that he agreed to sign his picture to me with "thanks for all the fishing advice, steve, your friend babe winkelmen", the fact he went along with my wacky sense of humour says a lot about him, as far as I'm concerned. at the same show, Gary Parsons signed a picture, again on my instruction, "thanks for the trolling advice, steve, best wishes gary parsons. My friends at work got a real kick out of those pictures and i smile when i see them behind the bar in my rec room. i won't forget the way Babe and also Gary took so much time to answer my questions etc and both showed a good sense of humour also.

[bigfish1965]

All these TV fishermen are Red Fisher wannabe's anyway...can't see how Lindner owns the rights to any of it. :);)

[Fred]

As far as pieceing all the shots together to look like he catches fish after fish, I think they all do it to some extent. ANYONE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER GADABOUT GADIS?!

[Al]

Aww jeez. Leave it to someone from the great white north to inject Red Fisher. With a Canadian show like Izumi's, you bring up Red Fisher......Eheyycurumba

[anybody remember?]

anybody remember reel fishing with bill saif? I have his autograph ! from the local sportsman show , he used to go for those western ny king salmon . i agree about babes kitchen