Tred Barta

John Klingenstein

John Klingenstein

Well-known member
While painting some decoys today I turn on the DISH and flip to the Outdoor Channel.

It's the beginning of the show "The Good and Bad of Tred Barta" so I figure it's a rerun. For those that don't know Tred had a spinal stroke a while back and I had not heard much his condition.
Well to my surprise this is his first show since the stroke and there he is in Guatemala fishing for sailfish on TWO pound test while seated in a wheelchair.

I was never a fan of Treds but my opinion has changed and all I can say is..........God Bless him !
 
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Yeah I can't say I'm a fan, not at all, but I'm pulling for that tough SOB.

Tim
 
Same here, not much of a fan but got give him credit for not giving up.
 
Wasn't aware that he had gone through all of that. Great to hear he is still out there enjoying the outdoors.
 
all I remember is the show where Tred pissed in his waders cause he was too "busy" doing whatever he was doing to pull em down and piss like a normal person. I have alwys found him a bit over the top.

Glad to see he is doing better.

Mark W
 
he is a bit different, and in my opinion he does some things as a hunter that should not be done, much less on TV .......... but thats MY opinion ;)
 
I heard from one of his friends in the summer he was very sick its good to hear he got back to himself.....yeah hes nutts!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I have been fortunate enough to spend time with Tred doing two things he LOVES. Fishing in the NE Canyons, and helping folks in need.

Each July we gather to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Coastal Carolina in Beaufort, NC. We have raised around $650k over the years, and will not stop until we reach our goal of one million.

Tred is a character, but he's also a class act.

There's no one out there like him, and there never will be. His strength through his illness has been beyond belief, and I'd bet the best of Tred is yet to come.

His wife Anni is also one of a kind, and a major reason Tred was able to fight through his treatments, and get by with day to day tasks with a new disability.

I recommend that anyone who can, get down to Beaufort, NC in July and check out the great work we do.

Also become a fan of us on Facebook.

http://bartabillfish.com/

-D
 
Dave,
used to fish in the same NE Canyons back in the good old days. He could never be faulted for lack of effort or preparation. And he landed the fish to show for it.

But his TV show can be a bit much for folks who dont know him. I wouldn't try to change anyones mind on that.


However if you knew what he has done for Kids with the charity work or Fisheries awareness in BIG Tournament angling you would have to give the man a high mark.


To see that he is battling back does from injury not surprise me one bit. He is driven like a mad man when he sets his mind to something and just try to tell him no on the phone.
 
I grew up next door to Tred and have known him for over 30 years now. In those years I have been offshore to the canyons with him, shared duck blinds & goose pits, been to Walkers Cay, Bahamas with him twice (I was the official IGFA Barta Billfish Tournament Photographer), turkey hunted and shared countless other experiences with him.
While some people are not a fan of Tred's, and I can certainly understand why... he's a unique individual who does things his way. He's brash and believes in the survival of the fittest... and you better be "fit" or on your game if you hunt or fish with him or he gives it to you with both barrels. Several times he has pissed me off in fact, but I would have never done 90% of the things listed above if it were not for Tred's overwhelming generosity.
I attended one of the benefit's held for Tred this past fall and purchased an elk hunt donated by Dan Harrison, who can be seen on many of Tred's shows. I was glad to spend the money for a great elk hunt, but more importantly... the funds went to Tred's medical fun. After all he has done for me, it was the least I could do for him.
Get well Tred, and thanks for all the memories...
 
That man is someone I look up to. I've followed his accidect closely. Believe it or not his show has helped me through my own personal issues lately. Three years ago my daughter was born with cerebral paulsey and I had let myself get down in a bad way because of it. Seeing him, fight like a mad grizzly bear to get back to a happy life hit home with me. You can tell his heart and soul are the size of Alaska and its obvious that will never change, wheelchair or not. Honestly, someday I would like to thank him personally for the kick in the butt he gave me. I hope he continues to film his show
John
 
For whatever reason I've always liked Tred. The episode where he was going to stab a boar was priceless...remember how he was going around the house pulling knives out of every conceivable place...there was even a big pig sticker taped into the toilet tank lid....good stuff.

A couple years ago he went into a rant about fly fishing and how ridiculous it has become....."it's an EMBARASSMENT!" It's nice to hear somebody hit the nail on the head and speak their mind once in a while instead of sucking up to the industry and the sponsors.

I've always considered him pretty hardcore. A few years ago a friend filmed him for another outdoor show and he had Tred autograph a photo for me....it's kind of funny what he wrote having never met me. It fit.

I hope he's doing well...definitely inspiring to see somebody go to that length to continue their quests in the outdoors but I guess we shouldn't expect anything less from Tred Barta.
 
Tred Barta.. haha. I would have to say i can share alot of your opinions on this man. His over confidence is what really makes me think of him as arrogant (the line ive caught more tuna then any man alive in his show intro comes to mind) Im just a very humble person when it comes to hunting and fishing but deep down i think everyone tries to be the best they can they just dont say it as he does cause they know there is always someone better to slap it in thier face. On the other hand i can share his drive for the outdoors and if your not confident then you wont succeed, sometimes this means telling yourself over and over again to keep pushing and you will get what your after. I do respect the man although i dont agree with some of his arrogance, he looks to live a life i can only dream of by being able to hunt and fish all over the world. It just doesnt seem fair for something like his injury to happen to someone that enjoys the outdoors so much.. maybe its carma coming back to him for all his arrogance! i dont know, either way its a sad reality and im glad to hear he's coping well with it and i wish him the best.

One note on his television show though, you can bet he will always be a success because of his overconfidence.. even though people dont agree they will all watch just to see what he does or says next.

Another thing i do like his take on todays hunting, the show where he talked about how people can hunt things by paying money and clicking on the internet is ridiculous! these are the same people that go on guided trips everywhere and just pull the trigger cause they have money. Then they will come to you and tell you how to do it all! Im getting mad just typing this... Its the guy that has no money, never wears the latest and greatest camo, and spends all his time in the woods or the boat trying to figure out to the best he can the way weather patterns affect game and how to make his decoys more effective or hunt out of a boat he made and be successful... thats hunting.. pulling the trigger is just icing on the cake. Thats the guy i model my efforts after and i think in alot of ways tred is that guy. Thats why he has my respect as an outdoorsman. Thats also why i like this forum, i believe alot of those guys are on here and why i cant stand many other forums about hunting, especially duck hunting, they are the worlds worst for this in my expieriences.
 
He's doing more on two wheels then most of us can do with two legs. Bring it on , BBJs and chocolate milk. you go Tred.
 
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