
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 1, 1990                   TAG: 9004040846
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MUSKIE CHAMPION DIES

Carl Franklin of Salem was never the same from the day he landed his first muskie at Smith Mountain Lake back in 1971. The big, long-jawed fish built a bonfire of enthusiasm in him that lasted until his death Friday.

Franklin, 67, founded the Old Dominion Muskie Hunters Club in 1975 and served as its only president. He became an astute student and teacher of the species, spending long hours trolling the lake and instructing others on what he learned.

Franklin landed more than 20 muskies. Two of the hard-earned trophies came on back-to-back days, an 18 and 30-pounder.

"To consistently catch them takes an awful lot of persistence, or maybe it takes a nut," he once said.

Club members were aware of his heart problem and were talking seriously about removing him as president shortly before his death. They were going to make him chairman of the board.

by CNB