TWS Veterans Event

On Saturday we kicked off the first Team Walleye Slayerz Vets Ice Fishing Trip. It will be a weekend remembered by all who attended. We started our morning around six am. With coffee and fresh pastries, we wrapped up our pre event meeting and headed out. With a train of vehicles lined up with the same destination, it was all but too obvious we knew where the fish were biting as we had been fishing on Devils Lake all week long. Our plan was to get on some Jumbo Devils Lake Perch. But as one should know make a scene and the people with follow. And follow they did! As we sat and waiting for the sun to get a little higher, the constant sounds of augers and pickups filled the air around us. We picked off a hand full of eater sized perch along with just a few genuine jumbos. The quality of the fish just wasn't there unlike the day before. Was it the added fishing pressure that drove them away? Or was it... Simply they just moved on? Either way we stuck it out till 11 am, and nabbed a few more eater sized fish. As lunch time arrived, most of us were drooling at the smell of barbecued ribs. Yup that's right bbq ribs and fishing that's how we roll! After feasting on a mess of ribs, chicken wings, baked potatoes, coleslaw, and beans donated by the Usher House out of Moorhead,MN. We all met back at the lodge to regroup, and get ready for what the afternoon had in store.... With a police escort we made our way through town and on to our next destination. After the short drive we quickly talked up our game plan, and fired up the Augers. Our Jiffy ice drills made short work of turning the ice in to what looked like Swiss cheese. As we finished our last holes, We noticed one of the vets was already hooked up. Landing a solid eater class walleye and boy was he was thrilled to have a walleye top side. Shortly after that one of our own was hooked up, and well as they say on those beer commercials... "Here we go!". The sound of a drag ringing hook sets was the common sound the next few hours. As we ran around helping land countless fish after fish, I don't think there was anything that could of wiped the smiles off everyone's faces. That afternoon will go down as one of the best bites that any of us have been apart of. With well over one hundred walleyes caught and many quality size fish released in a four hour period, we can't say We've ever been apart of anything better. Seeing the Vets glowing with excitement as we meet back at the cleaning station was the icing on the cake. Once we finished up the post fishing activities we once again met up at the lodge to converse about the afternoon. We had a guest stop by as well. Jason Mittchell was on his way home from a trip of his own, and stopped by to share a few words and give thanks not only to the veterans who served this beautiful country but to the staff who have donated their time to organize such a great event. He was generous enough to hand out a few gifts to the Vets and take a few photos for all to cherish as well. Our Veterans are the single reason we get to do what we love and enjoy on a day to day basis. They have given so much... And received so little in return its a shame. It's amazing what the sport of fishing can do to people... You can be complete strangers and five hours later your planning hunting trips to Wyoming... If everyone could just get out in a boat or on the ice for day and slow down in life I think this world would be a much better place. ª#ŽClambleedblue¬ ª#ŽVexilar¬ ª#ŽJBLures¬ ª#ŽJiffyicedrills¬ ª#Žtargetwalleye¬ ª#ŽTRCRodcovers¬ We would like to thank our sponsors for all they have contributed Clam Outdoors, Vexilar, JB Lures, Jiffy Ice Drills, TRC Rod covers, Ackerman Achres Resort, Usher House, S and G Farms, Hot Shot Metal Services and Johnson Mottinger and Greenwood Law Firm.