I am deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of my friend and guide Bob Turner. He was one of the nicest people that I have met. Not only fishing but as all around man. He made my trip to your establishment the most memorable trip of my life. I have many great memories of that trip and of Bob especially.
He will be missed by me and by all who knew him. I am truly sorry for the loss of your and my friend.

Sincerely
Jeff Frerotte

It's a real tragedy, Bob was a great guy and a good friend, he was always there if you needed a hand, I will miss him as much as anyone will, his smiling face and good nature (most of the time) were always a welcome sight.  He liked to come off as a gruff outsider, but actually he was a kind and gentle man on the inside - he was one of those rare people who will always be remembered not so much for what he did as for what he was - A true friend to anyone who needed a helping hand.

God rest his soul,
Bill Sherer

What an unbelievable loss.  He will be greatly missed not only as a professional Fly Fishing guru but as a sincere, honest and gentle person.  For me personally, it is truly a sad day!  I learned so much from him with his unauthorized, wading, fishing, casting and talking.  I will never forget him as he was truly a wonderful person to me and my clients that had the pleasure of fishing with him over the past three years.  He will be greatly missed and I personally will never forget him.

Guy R. Walkingstick “Stick”  

Our community has suffered a tragic loss.  Bob Turner was a great guide and better person.  The day I spent with him and my father will always be one of my fondest fishing memories.  He will be dearly missed by all fortunate enough to have known him.  
 
Deeply saddened,
Elias Isaacson

Bob was our gift to Montana.

We met Bob when he came into our store in The Dalles, Oregon in 1994. He
came in to buy tools to use in building guitars and fishing gear. He was
always complaining about the reels he bought; they just wouldn't stand
up to a Chinook salmon or a Deschutes River steel head once they decided
to run with the current. He was building his own designs of
"super-reels" that were up to his standards of fishing.

It didn't take long until he was working for us. We sold small machine
tools and Bob had a skill - a way of taking things apart and putting
them back together so they worked better than new.

We moved the company to Michigan in the summer of 1995 and Bob came with
us. Every Friday after work Bob was off in his black Mustang looking for
the best places to fish. He'd drive as fast and far as he could looking
for great places to fish. Monday, he'd be back with a report - nothing
measured up to the fishing out west. Then the winter came, the ice got
thichk and the fishing stopped.

After a year of fishing everyplace you could drive to in a few days, Bob
decided he couldn't take it anymore and headed back west. We were sad to
see him go but, his heart belonged on a river out in the sunset.

He called later that fall and said he gotten as far as Montana. He was
fishing and he was happy. He'd found the place he wanted to stay
forever. It didn't seem to matter that he was camping out in his car and
running out of money. He had found where he wanted to be.

As we continued to talk that fall and it began turning to winter, he
made the comment that he better start looking for a place to stay that
winter. He'd been retrieving line and icicles were forming on the tip of
his rod. I don't remember where he stayed that first winter.

We talked over the years. Bob seemed to have found the place he fit
perfectly in this world. That's not something that many of us get to
say. He loved being on the river. We used to joke that Bob could walk by
water and from smell alone, tell you where the fish were.

We, his friends and fellow employees here at Smithy Company, were
saddened to learn of his death. We are happy though, for having known
him and for many years of absolute joy that he had in his life as a
guide in Montana. Thank you for the great images of a wonderful person
that you have shared with us.

I am going to miss his laugh.

Kerry Ballard
Smithy Company, The Dalles, Oregon & Ann Arbor, Michigan

I am quite proud to consider myself a member of Bob Turner's family.

A year ago last August, one of my best friends in the world (Steve Walsh) introduced me to the Bighorn (as well as Michael and Ellyn) as part of a week-long fishing adventure with Steve and his father (Tom) and brother (Patrick).  My time with Bob was quite memorable—he was funny, instructive, sarcastic, and highly focused on helping me catch big fish (including the infamous “4 by 4”).

Unbeknownst to me at the time, this Montana fishing trip would become a week I will remember for the rest of my life. 

My days on the river with Bob represented both an escape and a re-engagement with normal life.  I often look back on the two days we spent together as the beginning of my healing process.  You see, I had just lost my fiancé that Spring to a sudden and tragic passing.  Her name was Melissa, and she was not just my girlfriend but also my best friend.  She was happy, healthy, beautiful, and quite genuinely loved by many, many people.  My good friend Steve (also a very close friend of Mel’s) and I were both devastated by our loss.  And though we rarely mentioned it, our fishing trip to Montana was a concerted effort to begin healing our internal wounds and (for me) to re-arrange priorities in life.

Bob unwittingly became a big part of that process.  Though we only spoke briefly and sporadically about Mel, Bob could sense the depth of loss and utter confusion within me.  Like with Bob’s passing, it’s very hard to understand losing someone so full of life with so much ahead of them.  We spoke a little about Bob’s past relationships and told many jokes about women for much of our drift down the river.  (No offense intended, ladies…we know you do it to us as well!)

Bob’s message was abundantly clear—remember Mel by living the rest of your life the best way you know how.  And when you think about her, do it with a smile and a remembrance of the good times you so fortunately shared…not with a frown and a tear for opportunities seemingly lost.

I strongly believe Bob would give us the same advice as we mourn for him now.  I know I will always remember his smile, his zest for life, and the warmth in his eyes as he helped me heal.

Thanks so much, Bob.  I will never be able to repay you for what you gave me.  Because of you, I’m a better fisherman and a better human being.  Your family was and is much bigger than I’m sure you ever knew.

And remember…no mend, no fish.

Warmly,