Newest inductee into Oyster's "10 Class Club"

🏆 10 Class Club 🏆

Joel Dickey is our newest inductee into Oyster’s “10 Class Club”!

We met Joel at the “Shallow Water Expo” (shout out if you remember those days) over 20 years ago.

Below are Bill's words from Joel’s apron hanging ceremony. 📝 Editor’s note: Bill is rarely heartfelt in public, so I wanted to capture this moment on record. It’s worth noting that this was at the tail end of a 70-hour work week, but I think you’ll get the gist of it.

“We have a very special friend and student, Joel Dickey, here with us—the first straight-up local we’ve ever put on the wall, and we’re very glad to do it. Joel has been a buddy of ours and our tarpon guide down in the Keys every year since forever. He’s just an all-around good guy.

We met Joel at a fly fishing show in Atlanta over 20 years ago. Then, about 14 years ago, the TVA was ‘kind’ enough to wipe out all the trout in our river, and we were trying to rally some folks together. Joel called from the Keys and asked, ‘When and where do I need to be?’ He jumped in his car and made the 20-hour drive all the way here. It was then I knew he was a legit dude, and he hasn’t proven me wrong yet. So, Joel, thank you very much for coming back this 10th time.”