COLEHARBOR — Oh my did the wind blow! Gusty and nasty, but not so harsh to keep stout veterans from venturing onto the water. Fortunately, they were rewarded for their perseverance.
Hometown Heroes staged a fishing event on Lake Audubon on May 14. The wind was blowing hard at sunrise and picked up from there, gusting to over 30 miles per hour. The gale force winds out of the west created challenging fishing conditions for anglers and boat operators alike with fishing primarily limited to shorelines offering protection from the wind and waves.
“We definitely had some hurdles to overcome with the wind, but everybody had a good time,” said Dan Brasfield, Minot, North Dakota Hometown Heroes director.
Hometown Heroes events, whether on the water or in the field, are designed to give military veterans an opportunity to spend time with other veterans while immersed in an outdoor activity. The Audubon fishing event was, in effect, a therapy session on the water.
“It’s got great value for me,” said Ari Schwartz, Foston, Minnesota. “I’m a 100% disabled veteran. On trips like this I’m able to connect with other vets. It’s been phenomenal for my mental health.”
Schwartz, a Navy veteran, served two six-month tours in the volatile Persian Gulf. Like many other fellow veterans, he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and bouts of social anxiety and depression. Time in a fishing boat, clearing the mind of other distractions, is what the Hometown Heroes day was all about.
“It’s great therapy to fish and talk and communicate with others. There’s moments when you just need somebody,” said Schwartz.
One of the volunteers participating in the event was Theopolis Toliver, Minot. Despite the high winds, he brought a boat and hosted a veteran on the water. A vet himself, Toliver knew the importance of the day.
“I love helping vets out, getting vets outdoors,” explained Toliver. “It means a lot to me to give back to my veteran community.”
Toliver stressed that being outdoors helps people relax.
“At the end of the day we were both happy,” remarked Toliver, referring to veteran Brian Williams of Mountain who was a guest in Toliver’s boat.
Kellen Latendresse, Minot, was also a volunteer boat operator for the event. The well-known fishing guide felt a need to be part of the day.
“I never served in the military, but I appreciate them,” said Latendresse. “The least I can do is offer what I can to those who serve and say thank you to them. And we create some memories.”
Colton Blomberg, Minot, also volunteered to pilot a boat. The devoted bass angler put his veterans on enough fish to narrowly edge Latendresse for most fish in the boat, winning bragging rights for the day.
“I was very blessed to be able to spend the day with these guys,” said Schwartz. “It’s amazing, invaluable. Hometown Heroes saves lives. They've been huge in my recovery.”
At the same time Hometown Heroes were on the water at Lake Audubon 40 teams tangled with the wind and waves at the annual Souris River Basin Longbeards fishing derby at Lake Darling. The field had a few less boats than usual as some anglers chose not to spend a day on rough water.
However, some of those that did venture out were able to land some fish even though feeling a bite in high winds isn’t easy. Here’s a list of the winners:
Souris River Basin Longbeards Lake Darling Derby
May 14
Walleye Division:
1st -- Dave & Rak Reisenauer, 5 fish, 9.9 lbs.
Northern Pike Division:
1st -- Jacob Carlson & Tim Hoagland, 3 fish, 20.91 lbs.
Smallmouth Bass Division:
1st -- Curt Eichberg & Travis Krebill, 2 fish, 6.13 lbs.
