WFW

[Guest]

I just want to thank the boaters and all the volunteers that made the event a complete sucess no thanks to the weather. Nels you out did yourself again!!!

Bob and Bobby Sullivan(fishcleaner extrodinaires), Bryce(firstmate/capt. of second largest walleye), Mark(mayvillemark) it was good to see you guys, Ron(eagleeyes,largest sheepshead)

There were 190 vets that were preregistered for the event along with 90 boat captians, that combined brought in a total of 600+ walleyes. Best part of the event for me was how emotional the winning vet was over the whole experience. He brought in a 29.25" fish to the event.

I had the pleasure of taking out a husband and wife Vet. team and got them on a few fish. The wife caught her first ever walleye. The husband had a fused back with titanium rods inserted so it got a little too bumpy out there for my liking having him in the boat. So after the first pass just SW of the plug we motored over to the skinny water in front of the power plant and put 7 more eaters in the boat.

[jaybe]

Good job there everyone. It sounds like there were more vets than I had expected. I know there were a lot of happy folks - and they'll be eating well, too!

[eagle eyes]

Ditto to all that were there. It was nice. The high light for my father and son vets.It was when the BLACK HAWK came buzzing us at the docks. My vets said that was very to see that coming up the river and then landing by the hill. Yes,my young vet did win the biggest sheephead award. They were both rookies to bay walleye fishing and even thou the rain soaked us down,it did not deter them from continueing the quest for walleyes. We agreed together,come hell or high water,we were going to get some eyes.That rain didn't brother them at all. It was a slow bumpy ride back in.
Thanks to all who helped clean their fish.
Big bob,Get me list of guys that were cleaning fish with you and bobby. Send me a p/m Thanks

[fishhinds]

a black hawk buzzing the river? Now that is very cool... that is really going the extra distance. Way to go Nels!

[Twodogs84]

Even with the rain and the bumpy stuff we had a great time on the bay with our vet. We even put him on some nice fish, a 25" 5.9lb walleye that took second biggest fish! I would have also been happy with our 5 fish basket if it was a money tourney as we had 5 over 21'' Our vet was just thrilled with our day out there even with the lack of good weather. He said he was "As happy as a kid on Christmas with a brand new toy" Overall a great day and great event.

Big Thanks to Nels for all of the work.

[st.croixsuckerboy]

I had a blast cleaning fish again!

Joeb was also there again from the board cleaning fish. Congrats to everyone else who took vets out!!! Great job again nels!!!

My hands were cramped last night from cleaning all those fish!!!!

[FHB]

Dittos to all of the above. We had two Viet Nam vets on board. We put up our bimini, side curtains, and aux. windshield because it looked like rain. Fished between the plug and the dumping grounds and wound up with eight fish altogether, with only three keepers (17, 20, and 21 inches).

Our boat is aluminum, and light for its size, so with all the canvas up it's vulnerable to the wind. We got blown around once, and crossed one of our lines, losing a harness and bottom bouncer. My first mate daughter was fighting to keep the planer board from under the boat when the vets started to get one hit after another, comprising the five dinks. Chaos reigned for a few minutes. Also have a new trolling plate, and I wasn't sure how much power I could apply to battle the wind, without bending it up. Nels, can I register as a vet next year, so that I can go out with a boat captain that knows what the heck he's doing?

Got all the fish on harnesses, with one keeper caught on an opal spinner and the other two on perch patterns.

Headed back when the chop picked up again, around 1:00. On the bone-jarring run back to the river, our two vets were whooping and hollering like kids on a carnival fun ride (or were they just screaming in terror? I couldn't tell).

Anyway, it was a great weekend, and again, thanks again to Nels and everyone else involved. It has to be a lot of work and effort to carry this off, and my daughter and I welcome the opportunity to be a small part of it.

[catch-um]

Man I'll never forget lookoing down that river at the flashing lights and all the boats coming up the river at once,and then the thump-thump of the black Hawk as it buzzed the boats and river sure raised the hair on the back of my neck and brought a tear to my eyes thinking of the ones who gave all that weren't there with us,God Bless them all,Big Bob Sullivan

[Gatorbait]

Awesome tribute once again guys...wish I could of joined in. Next year for sure.