"We just want to get out there and get the veterans on the boat and catch anything. It is about catching fish," said Samantha Marzean, organizer of the 4th annual Veterans Fishing Day Tournament held Saturday in Barbeau.
The tournament was hosted by the St. Marys Walleye Club.
Any showers or thunderstorms in the area stayed far enough away and helped make the tournament a huge success.
"We had the least amount of boats but the highest number of veterans. We had 29 boats with captains with 63 veterans total. It was a great turnout," Marzean said.
There was no entry fee. Everyone donated their time and equipment with multiple area businesses donating items.
The walleye that were not kept or released, were cleaned, filleted and prepared for the participants at the The Cozy Corners after the event. Marzean did note that one lake trout was caught and served for dinner.
Over 70 walleye were brought to the scales with a few other species including some pike, bass, perch and huge catfish.
Rick Drewyour, age 70, served in the U.S. Army Military Police and has made three of the four tournaments. In previous years, Drewyour was not lucky in catching any fish. Saturday, he made up for those three years.
"Samantha came through for me and put me on the right boat with the right captain. We did quite well. We caught nine or ten walleyes," Drewyour said.
Drewyour and his fishing partner, Bob Lear, took 5th Place in the Biggest 5 Walleye Basket category.
Drewyour, who lives near Traverse City but has a summer home around Paradise, appreciates all those who help to put on this tournament.
"As a veteran, I am very grateful for the St. Marys Walleye Club that puts this on and all the captains that donate their time and take all the veterans out on the water for a fishing day. Even if we didn't catch anything, it was nice being out there," Drewyour said.
Sara Gordon, co-owner of The Cozy Corners, says despite the business being busy on the summer weekends, she is more than happy they can help.
"It's super special because my husband (Ron, and co-owner) is a former professional fisherman in the walleye circuit and likes to take these guys out, anyway. These veterans are our neighbors, our customers, and our friends so for him to take them out in this tournament, he loves it," Gordon said.
Marzean did note that Andy Dewitt, a 97-year-old veteran, caught a 13.2lb, 40” muskie and he reeled it in all on his own.
Here is the list of winners:
1st Place Big Walleye
6.32lbs
Captain: Newell Vierra
Veteran: Doug Salvador
2nd Place Big Pike
7.12lbs
Captains: Randy & Liam MacDonald
Veteran: Roger Jacobson
3rd Place 2nd Biggest Walleye
6.31lbs
Captain: Garrett Gorsuch
Veterans: Bob Duemann, Gerald Fabry, Dave Wonnacott
4th Place Big All Species
9.59lb catfish
Captain: Brian Scwiderson
Veterans: Wayne Woods, Joe Hudeck
5th Place Biggest 5 Walleye Basket
Captains: John & Easton Goble
Veterans: Rick Drewyour, Bob Lear
Mystery Bass: 2.02lbs
Captain: Samantha Marzean
Veterans: Bill Kabelman, Tom Wrockledge
“Jack Horka” Smallest Perch
Captain: Nate Grenfel
Veterans: James Hinde & James Little
Captain Award in Memory of Mark Willis: Randy MacDonald
