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Mike “Smitty” Smith

9/10/56 – 7/10/10

Mike passed away on Saturday July 10^thin a tragic motorcycle accident. He was traveling west bound on Hwy 80 at 10:22 PM and took the Penryn exit but failed to complete the turn safely. Reports say he passed away quickly.

The family would like to thank everyone for your love, support and compassion. This obviously has been very difficult time on all of us and will be even tougher on the family in time to come. Please show your support for all of them, but especially his wife Tara and two sons Zack and Zane.

Donations for the family can be placed through Safe Credit Union: “Mike Smith Memorial Fund”.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, August 7^th starting at 1:00pm at 6092 Oakview Dr. Granite Bay, CA 95746.

The event will be mainly put on by the Biffs Fishin’ Mission Guys. Our funds are a little slim this year so any donations of money or food for the cause. Volunteers are needed and appreciated. Call Jeff or Steve to donate or volunteer. Let’s give Smitty a proper Biff Brother send off!

Mike was part of a diverse cultural family and will be part of a traditional American burial as well as in Hindu tradition. Mike will be cremated and part of his remains will be placed in a cemetery in Fair Oaks, CA. (immediate family only). For all friends and family there will be a spreading of some of his ashes in Calaveras County on a date to be determined, not far into the future.

Tara knew the Fishin’ Mission was a big part of his life and wanted us to spread some of his ashes at a ceremony for him on the next Mission. We will be honored to do so! Many of you know how important Mike was to the Mission. His first Mission was in 1991. He was always there to help shop, set up, drink a RF with you and always was there for tear down on Mondays. I am personally thankful for that alone. I hope someone knows how to set up the mess tent, since he was the expert! He was also always ready to help outside the Mission. I am sure he trimmed many of your trees. Most importantly to me and I am sure for you as well, was his friendship. We were truly blessed to have him as a friend. The Mission will never be the same without him!

We are also having a Horseshoe tournament in his menory to raise funds for a memorial park bench to be placed on the beach at Scotts flat Lake. The management of the lake already gave the permission to do so. This bench will be dedicated with plaques with the names of fellow Biffster’s that were taken to soon. When a date is picked, set it aside or feel free to donate to the cause. Anyone is welcome to the tournament including non Biffster’s and yes even women. I know, but we are raising money here!

Click here for Mike’s obituary and for on line guest book signing.

Click here to see his brother Dave's memorial to Smitty on I'm hooked on fishin.com

For those whom knew Smitty, but did not know much about his personal life I will share that with you:

· Married to Tara for 22 years

· Two sons, Zack 21 and Zane 20

· Lived in Granite Bay area for many years with his family, Mother in law Linda and father in law Ram. Shortly after Mike & Tara were married Ram had a severe stroke that left him needing care. They took Linda and Ram into their home to give them the help they deserved. When the time came when Great Grandmother also need help, they added onto the house and brought her into their home. This tells you what kind of people they are!

· Worked for SMUD for 25 years as Tree Trimmer, Tree crew Foreman, Work Planner and then up to the position of Vegetation Management Supervisor.

· 18 year Fishin’ Mission Brother

· Things Mike loved in his life were his Family, friends, fishing and his Harley. And let’s not forget Trees – he was a Certified Arborist and Utility Arborist.

Below are a few pictures and a video of Smitty and as some said Snitty after a few drinks!

"If you have any pictures of Smitty please call or send them to us"

This is a letter Mike wrote to his brother Dave after the 2010 Fishin mission.

Hey Dave,

Just thought I'd drop you a note. I had a good "Mission" this year. The fishing as whole was better than usual. I have to confess, this trip isn't all about fishing for me, but that said, I caught 1 fish and guess what?. It was the biggest trout of the mission @ 1.32 lbs! It got me 1st place trout so I won $100 gift cert to Bass Pro Shops. I went out on Biff's boat (yes, that's Biff's Fishin' Mission Biff) on Saturday afternoon. I was advised that gold Kastmasters were the hot lure. I put my largest one on Biff's rod (it had lead-core). His reel was a big Penn with a nasty drag issue (I found out). I was 2 colors off the back, plus leader, a good 120 feet. Biff and his son-in-law were 10 ' down on down-riggers to the side with another pole off the back like mine. Since I hadn't got a fish yet, and they were both on the fish board, he said I could have first shot at his 2 poles also. That was the set-up, so here's how it went down...

We were trolling up the lake towards the mouth, nice easy troll. Biff's down-rigger pole dips, then dips again, so I jump over and grab the pole. I pop the line and take out slack..... nothing. He definitly got hit, but it didn't pop the line. We were in 30' of water and he was only down 10. So he says just get it back in the clip. So I start to bring up the weight when Albert (son-in-law) says Smitty, Smitty, you're on! I look over to my rod. It's hammering. I give the pole to Biff and jump over to my pole. I start to reel. Biff's not cutting the motor, so I'm reeling against that. This big Penn reel is pulling in line at what seems like 20 feet per crank. I look back and see my fish on top of the water, belly up, mouth wide open, "skiing" up to the boat. I'm thinkin "crap, this isn't good" so I loosen the drag a little....well, it's all drag or no drag, take your pick! So just as I'm trying to figure out the best way to get this fish to the boat without yelling at the captain to shut off the fucking motor, the fish is maybe 50' off the stern, I hear Albert say, "OH SHIT" and he starts waving his arms and clapping his hands, and into my field of vision swoops this big osprey. He comes down to within 2 feet of the water, talons out, ready to take MY FISH! He starts to back pedal for some reason. Maybe it was Albert; maybe it was the very unnatural attitude of my fish; but he pulls up. So now the chase is on and I say fuckit and start to reel again. Well this bird decides he's really hungry, so he comes in again just as I get the fish up to the boat. But then I think he thought this was a bit too close so he pulls off and, guess what? I WIN!!!

And, me and my teammate took 1st place in horseshoes! I've been throwing at the mission since I started going, almost 20 years, I finally took first.

It was a good mission!!

Talk to you soon,

Mike Click here to see video of Smitty catching winning trout 2010