Fishing day attracts record numbers

The 16th annual Fishing Without Barriers Day saw record breaking numbers as more than 95 anglers participated in this year's event on Flathead Lake June 18.

Fishing Without Barriers is a program set up by the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department Crossing the Barriers Committee, led by chairman Jerry Howard, and the Montana Charterboat Association. The goal of the event is to give people with disabilities an opportunity to spend a day fishing with local experts.

"I do it for the faces that I see and the good time that everyone has each year," Howard said of organizing the event. "It's something we really love putting on. As it grows it just keeps getting better."

This year 22 charter and private boat captains helped the anglers catch about 100 lake trout. The fish ranged from a few pounds to about 15 pounds and the anglers ranged even more in age, from 5 to 107 years old.

Jim Landwehr of Glacier Fishing Charters has been volunteering his boat and his time since the event was first held.

"I have a good time and it's rewarding when I see everyone enjoying themselves," he said. "The more we can do to promote fishing the better, I think."

The anglers' helpers and many volunteers ensured that all of the participants were able to get out on the water, no matter what their age or disability.

"For so many of the participants this is the only time they get to go fishing," said FWP spokesman John Fraley. "It's such a privilege for those of us who love fishing and love fish. It's a gift that they give to us."

Barbara Lockhart participated in the event for the second year in a row, catching her first fish since she was a kid this year, which is also the largest she's ever reeled in.

"It was fun catching the fish and I got to drive the boat," Lockhart said. "(Fishing Without Barriers' lets you meet people from other towns and it gets you out doing something you wouldn't get to do otherwise."

After fishing the waters of Flathead Lake, the anglers, their helpers and family members gathered for a lunch and fish fry at the Woods Bay RV Park, which is adjacent to the Hidden Harbor marina where the boats were launched and later docked. The owners of both of these facilities and their staffs were just a few of the many people that donated their time, money and goods to the event. Jeff Rach and the Badrock Canyon Band, a bluegrass group, provided music for the barbecue.