The Spoonpluggers Forum

Craig Hubbard, a great friend and fellow spoonplugger, and fellow member of the ILS, passed away last night. Craig was always right there when volunteers were needed for the club.

Craig Hubbard was a great friend and fishing partner completely dedicated to Spoonplugging in all regards. In fact, in the history of Illinois Spoonpluggers Club, Craig was hands down the attendance award winner having never missed a single meeting since well before 2000 until heart valve replacement around 2015 (missed just one). That was even a few years after quadruple bypass surgery which hadn’t stopped him as he fought back and ably attended the very next club meeting. If there was something that needed doing Craig offered to do it. If there were only a couple people for a get-together, Craig was one of them. If things were challenging Craig worked through it. If Craig faced a mountain he figured it out and moved forward. Craig’s "glass half-full attitude" was inspiring and made the world a better place.

Craig built things with his hands and he appreciated simple things in life for the value they represented. This was evident in his love of woodworking, and in his career: developing a successful furniture business (C&J Refinishing) which he and his dear wife Jenny ran for almost 40 years to refinish and repair furniture. Their work ranged from treasured family heirlooms, to functional pieces in one’s home, to helping remodel the Schaumburg Public Library. Outside his business, Craig was generous with his talents and quick to roll up his sleeves but did not like being thanked (!). Being of help and service was how he lived.

Craig and Jenny began Spoonplugging together after he attended a community college extension fishing class taught by Jim Duplex. He and Jenny learned the ropes of fishing together, and with the Illinois Spoonpluggers Club on waters from Chicago area’s cooling lakes, to Shabbona, Petenwell and Lake Barkley. Jenny’s 24 inch smallmouth on Heidecke Lake caught on a Spoonplug was no doubt Craig's favorite story to tell! I was fortunate to fish with Craig on many trips and he also teamed with Phil Szafranski before Phil moved to Florida. Craig’s fishing included several Muskegon Outings, Indiana, Kentucky, Southern Illinois (Kinkaid), and of course many waters in Wisconsin and the Chicago area. This year we fished Whitewater Lake (couple dozen pike), and the North Fox Chain (4 lb smallie, and another day he caught three muskies).

Along with the memories, Craig will be remembered for his kindness and the example he set!

Scott Duff

Scott, no one could have said it better.

Scott, well said and THANK YOU!

Sorry to hear this. He looked so good in Scotts reports this summer.
RIP

Always had the greatest respect for Craig for all the reasons Scott Duff so eloquently stated. The Illinois Spoonpluggers were fortunate to have such a member. Prayers and thoughts go out to Jenny and family. RIP, Craig.

Craig was always the first to volunteer and the last to leave after all the work was done. Craig and his wife, Jenny, were a team in the truest sense of the word. If you ever attended an Illinois Spoonpluggers Winter Seminar, it was Craig who organized the lunches and Jenny who made the cookies. The seminars would not have been a success without them.

Craig on the water chasing those Blues.

Lake Barkley when other fish get in the way This was part of a club outing in 2007, chasing bass on an 18' roadbed bumping bottom next to 60' main channel. The big Blue used most of that depth once hooked and provided quite a workout, and many laughs!