May 31, 2019

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Cliff Floyd and Rondell White.

Terry Francona and Brad Mills.

Andre Dawson and Tim Raines.

Mike Fitzgerald and Tim Wallach.

Bill Lee and Rodney Scott.

They're among groups of former Expos, who became lifelong friends. Floyd and White are this-close, even to the point of living on the same street in Florida near Miami. Now, that is close.

There are other pairings we don't know about. Did you know there is a special bond between Bryn Smith and Bob McClure, who got acquainted with each other as Expos teammates from 1986-88 and then with the Cardinals in 1991-92.

"We're pretty tight,'' Smith told me the other day.

How close? Every year for close to 20 years, Smith and McClure have been travelling to the Bahamas for a week of fly-fishing. That's how close they are. They even make an effort to try and get to the Bahamas at least twice a year to improve their lot as saltwater anglers.

Fly-fishing? Smith had always been a fisherman but had never engaged in fly-fishing until McClure convinced in 1993 to give it a shot. At the time, Smith was pitching for the Rockies, McClure for the Marlins.

“I was in Miami and Bob asked me if I had ever caught a bonefish. ‘I said no.’ Bob said he had a gentleman at a fishing lodge in the Bahamas and they invited me down for the experience,’’ Smith was saying the other day. “I went the first time and I’ve been scooped ever since. We can’t wait to hook up again in October, sit around a barbecue pit after fishing and watch the World Series.’’

With the Expos, Smith and McClure began their friendship over regular fishing and baseball, swapping tales and strategies about both sports but mostly about baseball.

“We wanted to find an edge somewhere and we became very close friends,’’ Smith said. “We’re both pitchers and we both liked to fish. We talk a lot. We’d always be talking baseball and pitching. Even during spring training, we’d go fishing at night on the golf course or we’d go fish during the season before we went to the ballpark.

“In Montreal, we’d be on the St. Lawrence River a lot fishing for small bass. Coach Jackie Moore and a few of the guys would come along.’’

Smith lives in California and McClure in Florida so what they do is fly to Miami and then take a plane to a very remote archipelago called the Exumas, a barely known metropolis originally settled by slaves from the plantations. If you know the Bahamas, you’re more apt to recognize the mega-resort names of Freeport and Nassau.

It’s in the Exumas where fishermen and baseball legends Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams would often seek adventure. Smith said Dusty Baker has been known to go there for fundraising projects. There is little in the way of commercialism in the Exumas but the district boasts the most renowned fishing flats or marls in the world with miles and miles of shallows off the shoreline or amongst mangroves. I couldn’t reach McClure for comment but Smith filled in the empty spots.

“You can walk in three feet of water the same depth for three miles,’’ Smith was saying. “You’re self-taught. I think I learned so much from Bob and he learned so much from me.’’

Smith is quick to tell you that fly-fishing takes a certain sense of patience because bonefish, tarpon and permit are not exactly easy prey. Patience, patience, patience, not to mention that fly fishing is merely a thrill because the fish are not edible. Bonefish are huge suckers, too, who put up a fierce battle, if caught.

“Even with slow vibration, the fish will swim away,’’ Smith said. “It's a hard game. It’s like deer hunting in water. You have to be quiet. You have to sight the fish and see them before they see you. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. The fish can also become transparent and very spooky. It’s very mind boggling but it’s such a beautiful atmosphere.’’

Smith and McClure don’t necessarily stand side by side in the water casting their lines because sometimes curiosity gets the best of them. You may go days without catching a fish. If you catch three in a day, Smith said it’s tabbed a “grand slam.’’

“We split up on the flats,’’ Smith said, laughing. “Everybody has their own idea where the fish are.’’

Danny Gallagher has two recently produced books available in bookstores and at indigo.ca: Genius and Blue Monday.