Ted and Bill Rivalry

imageIn the 1940s and ‘50s, an unpopulated California reigned as a sportsman’s paradise. While famous fly fishing names sprouted out of the Bay Area like wildflowers (Myron Gregory, Jack Horner, Phil Mirravelle, Buddy Tarantino, Jimmy Green), two of the sport’s most accomplished anglers lay nestled away on California’s remote north coast.

From the 1940s-90s, Bill Schaadt and Ted Lindner were two of the most successful and dedicated anglers fly fishing ever produced. With origins tied to the golden years of California’s Russian River, these close friends would eventually become bitter enemies.

imageTed Lindner, the WWII veteran, was a hard-nosed, highly successful and highly competitive angler. A product of the Great Depression, Lindner learned to embrace the quiet resourcefulness and self-reliance that defined his generation.

To Lindner’s counter-point was the flamboyant and loud Bill Schaadt. With an endless bag of angling tricks that included razor blade flies and cutting anchor ropes, Schaadt was a larger-than-life figure.

At first glance, they were polar opposites: Ted Lindner, the stern authoritarian and Bill Schaadt, the reckless talent. But at closer inspection, they were both completely devoted anglers who shared more similarities than disparities. Their unique lives and spirited feud became a metaphor for the rise and collapse of California’s north coast fisheries.

NOTE: In Rivers of a Lost Coast it is stated that Ted Lindner retired at age 50.  In actuality, Ted Lindner retired at age 57 shortly after a divorce, ending a marriage of ten years. During that marriage, Ted Lindner was heavily involved with his step-daughter, who he remained close with until the day he died. After leaving California’s Eel River in the mid-late 90s, Ted was able to enjoy a few trips to pursue salmon outside of the state. Most notably Ted fished Alaska with good friends, Kim and Chino Yip along with Rivers of a Lost Coast star Dave Strong at the age of 93. In 2001 Ted was scheduled to make one last trip to Alaska at the age of 94 but unfortunately his flight was canceled due to the events of September 11th.