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Location: Rhinelander | The third annual Lake of the Woods Pay It Forward event is serving 74 vets this weekend taking them all fishing on 6 man charters on famous LOTW out of Baudette, MN.
This year the event is thanking the Vets of the Vietnam war on its the 50th anniversary. The celebration of thanks features activities and some serious walleye fishing for World War 2, Korean, Vietnam and current conflict soldiers.
Multiple resorts have opened up cabins for the veterans at no charge, and coupled with Fishing for Life, Lake of the Woods Tourism, the Wounded Warrior Project, many volunteers and sponsors efforts, the VFW, the community, and the area resorts are providing a celebration of thanks for the service and sacrifice of the servicemen and women in attendance.
An opening banquet at Sportsman's Lodge kicked off the weekend, featuring a VFW Shore Lunch BBQ at noon today and dinner at Border View Lodge this evening after the day on the water.
Many of the Veterans caught their personal best or first walleyes and sauger today.
The event features several awards and 'bragging rights' for biggest fish, which the 'Ladies Charter' has dominated the last two years. Competition is heated between the 12 boats this year.
WalleyeFIRST is on the water covering the event with our friends from LOTW Tourism.
The fish caught today were on the average 18", with many 'slot' fish in the 20's. Fishing was best in 34' of water on the flats in Big Traverse Bay, trolling cranks 28' to 30' down on downriggers. Our boat caught near 30 fish today.
Thanks to Joe Henry and Tom Goodrich for the organizational work bringing a network of volunteers, lodges, charter captains, and many more to numerous to mention together, making this all possible.
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Location: Rhinelander | Today's charter was cut short by downpours and big winds from the West, but not until after we caught the lion's share of the rest of our available limit of sauger and walleyes. We started North, and ended up running to close to the Gap to be ready to bail if a big storm tracking toward us hit. The winds switched to West and picked up, so we headed in.
At 6 PM tonight at the fairgrounds, there's a walleye fry and celebration with the entire community welcome, keynote speaker, awards, and much more.
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Member
Posts: 2680
Location: Essexville, MI./Saginaw Bay. | Good for you Steve. Great to see these veteran honoring fishing events spreading across this country. Even as hate filled groups and people continue to burn our country's flag in hateful ignorance seem to multiply. Because Unlike many others, I've never felt or compared the right or freedom to do so, had any part in what these brave men fought and died for.
Edited by walleye express 8/28/2016 6:43 AM
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