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Angler's Profiles
by Hugh Markey
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| A series of articles introducing RISAA members to the rest of the club. |
| (From the May, 2003 Newsletter) RUSSELL CROSSMAN |
As I pull up to the handsome colonial style home on a bright
early spring day, Russell Crossman
is relaxing on his porch, arms stretched across his bench, legs well in
front and crossed at the ankle. Just returned from experiencing the
first day of winter flounder season with good friend and fellow RISAA member
Don Smith, Russ is in good humor. His wife Susan is
there as well: “So, you’re going to interview my husband, eh?” she
says as we head to the finished basement for our chat. “Maybe I should
go down there with you guys to act as truth detector!” For some strange
reason Russell declines the kind offer of aid, and we leave her laughing
at the top of the stairs. FLUKIN’ AROUND
“We weren’t there to catch fish,” Russell
claims of his cold morning adventure. Although the two came up empty
for their efforts, Crossman seems perfectly happy. “We knew there was
almost no chance of getting anything,” he says. “We just wanted to
be out there.” Crossman devotes much of his fishing hours to pursuing fluke and flounder. “I just love to fluke fish!” he enthuses. “Even while the bass are in during May, I’ll stop and go after fluke. It’s just so much more relaxing than jockeying back and forth over bass. When I set to drift for fluke, if I go past where the fish are, I’ll just let ‘er go and wait for the next fish.” 
The family room of the Crossman house reflects Russ’
love for fishing. The shelves and walls are decorated with numerous
fish, some stuffed, others carved or painted. He proudly shows me a
needlepoint of a man fishing for bass which his wife created for him recently.
“She knows when Saturday comes around, I’m gone. But she’s pretty good
about it…she lets me take a nap when I come home!”Through a set of doors is a crowded but tidy area that accounts for Crossman’s method of keeping fishing in mind during the cold months. He has a small workbench where he has created dozens of fluke rigs. “I make most of my own rigs,” he says, as he shows me the many professional quality lures he has hanging in neat rows from pegs above the bench. “We pour the lead in the back yard, I’ll paint them and tie them…It’s really a lot of fun.” Has he ever thought of starting a business on the side? “Absolutely not,” he says without a moment’s hesitation. “To me, this is just a relaxing hobby, and I want it to stay that way.” FISHERMAN, 9, HOOKS HIS EYE
When you ask a person for their favorite or most
unusual fishing story, most times it will
involve the biggest or the one that got away. In this case, the story
revolved around the above headline, reprinted here from the way it appeared
in a newspaper years ago. “I was out with a couple of friends,” Russell begins. “We rode our bikes out to Blackamore Pond in Cranston. There were three of us fishing together, and you know how it is when a bunch of kids that age are fishing in close quarters. One of my friends brought his rod back to cast and…” Well, the rest you can probably figure out. Fortunately for Russ, the hook caught him in the lower lid, and after a quick trip to the emergency room, he was none the worse for wear. As for the news article, “It must have been a slow news day that day!” he laughs. Fishing mishaps like those didn’t stop Crossman from fishing trips throughout his youth. “When I was about eleven, my grandfather introduced me to freshwater fly fishing. He’d come for me at seven o’clock every Sunday morning!” Although Russ has abandoned the sweet for the salt, he obviously has fond memories of those days. “I used to love fishing for carp. They’d put up a hell of a fight! But that was ages ago…” RISAA RIGHT THROUGH
Since Russell was introduced to RISAA about three
and a half years ago, he has been an active member. “I’ve worked delivering
the newsletter, as well as being on the boat ramps committee,” he explains.
Unfortunately, his father’s retirement from the family business placed a
much greater demand on Crossman’s time, and he had to step back from those
jobs. Still, “I have never missed a meeting!” he says proudly.
(to page 29) We talk of the tremendous growth the club has experienced in recent years, and of the vast amount of information about both boating and fishing he’s been able to pick up by being a member. “My fear is that they’ll outgrow the Elk’s club,” where RISAA’s monthly meetings are held. “They treat us really well, and they do a terrific job with the dinners there.” TOGGIN’, TOO
In addition to his committee work, Russell has also
been an active participant in some of RISAA’s tournaments. Two of the
decorations on his wall are the plaques he received for another favorite
type of fishing, tautog. “You gotta be right there, or you won’t get
anything,” he says, slapping his thigh for emphasis. “Tautog fishing
is like that. You could be catching fish, and the guy ten feet away
from you won’t be doing a thing.” So… where exactly did he catch the ‘tog that earned him his plaques? “Well, let’s just say it was out in Narragansett Bay,” he laughs. “After all, I can’t give away all my secrets!” |
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