In the Voices of the River series, we take a journey down the river and hear from the people who depend on the river for their living, or whose lives are changed because they live close to it.
In the second part of the series we hear from Bruce Knipper and Robin “Dude” Emmett. Knipper owns Trout River Fish Company in Panama Park near downtown Jacksonville.
Both Knipper and Emmett say some of their best times took place out on the St. Johns River.
“That’s the only quiet time you get,” Emmett said. “You’re surrounded by people the rest of the week, the rest of the day. We see a bunch of faces in here everyday. So that time alone is nice.”
Knipper says he also appreciates the alone time out on the water.
“You don’t have the general public messing with you,” Knipper said. “That’s what he means by peaceful.”
Knipper says he misses spending time out on the water.
“If it was a continuous, guaranteed living, I’d rather be on that river starting tomorrow than being inside this building,” Knipper said.
Emmett says it’s an addiction.
“It’s definitely fun. It’s a good, good life,” Emmett said. “I’m 50 now, and I can’t remember not being on a boat.”
Knipper and Emmett also shared some stories of their fishing buddy, Pete Smith.
One of their stories was about Smith being struck by lightning, and another was about him being picked up by a tornado.
“He was always going to stretch a fishing lie,” Knipper said. “But he would never say anything bad about a fellow man.”
Knipper and Emmett say the river has always been a huge part of their everyday lives.
The interviews for the Voices of the River series were produced using recordings from the Florida Department of State.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J42SCMjHxo
