is it okay to breathe yet?
Op Muskie 2 sounds like a go. let me know if there's anything i can do to help support it and "pay it forward" so someone else can have this awesome experience too!
Please feel free to look and learn about this wonderful program that we have started. If you have any questions or would like to donate to Operation Muskie, please feel free to contact us or leave us a message below in the comments section.
We live in the land of the free and the brave. Because of this, there are many soldiers out there who put themselves in harms way on an almost daily basis, to ensure that you and I remain that way. Operation Muskie was concieved and started as a way to honor those troops and just say "Thanks for serving and protecting us." To read the complete story on how this wonderful plan took shape, and the people who are working hard to bring this to life, look under the "About Us" tab in the history.
There are many people who have put countless hours into this Operation in order to make it a success. First of all, a huge thanks needs to be given to the Walsh's for graciously donating the use of their resort for the outing. Such acts only come from truly great people. Also a big thanks to Irwin Jacobs and the FLW Tour, for graciously donating $9,500.00 to make sure this got off the ground and running.
There are many other people/organizations that have given much to see that Operation Muskie is the best that it can possibly be and I will make sure that they are recognized here as well.
If you would like to donate to this, monetary donations can be sent to:
Operation Muskie
c/o Vonnie Johnson
407 Lake Street NW
Warroad, MN 56763
-Bret
is it okay to breathe yet?
Op Muskie 2 sounds like a go. let me know if there's anything i can do to help support it and "pay it forward" so someone else can have this awesome experience too!
Damn,I did forget a very important contributor-and friend.Bret Miller took a week off to help with Op M not to mention advance help with the menu,food ordering,and many other things.Thanks Bret!
PS He also showed his 'boat'how to catch muskies on the way to Wileys Point for lunch.:-)
Op M was a wonderful success.Everyone seemed to have a great time and it's starting to appear it will have legs and happen again.(a few legal 'changes'may be necessary and are in the works)
A few 'thank yous'are due:
First of course to the Vets for their service and for participating in this event.We were honored and privileged to be involved with you.
Next,and most of all,to Frank and Laura Walsh for donating Baystore Camp to us free of charge.Way above and beyond-the world is full of talkers but they are doers.There's a reason its the 'best little muskie camp'in the world.
The 'organizers'worked their ***** off for a year or so to make it happen.Thanks Bret,Doug and Frank!
The guides-well all I can say is thanks!Job well done-mission accomplished.Awesome!
A few unsung heros need to be mentioned.Vonnie Johnson,Dougs wife,is our treasurer.She did,continues to do,our 'banking'and bookkeeping-lord knows we need her there.Thanks Vonnie!
Jim and Pam Best who were always ready with a helping hand,recall Jim cooking with smoke in his eyes while we feasted and partied?Not to mention opening their beautiful cabin(palace?)to the guides.
Baystore staff.Job well done Travis,Jake,Mary and all!
Paul Kleins wife Dianna worked hard while on 'vacation'-ha,quite a vacation!Thanks Dianna.
A selfish thanks to my wife Bets who was there and pitched in.She's been involved behind the scenes since my initial contacts with Bret Wold.As usual,a real trooper.Love ya Dear!
Finally a special thanks to all our contributors.Simply would not have,could not have,happened without you.What can I say?'Thanks'seems so inadequate.God bless ya.Folks,support all the contributors who helped with this event.They deserve it!
I sure hope I didn't miss anyone.I appologize if I did.
As mentioned,Operation Muskie Two is being considered as I type so stay tuned.Meanwhile,nothing stopping anyone from helping a vet or two in other ways.They deserve it.Take care,
Dick
There were a great many people that were touched by Operation Muskie. We have received many emails and phone calls at the ofices of TNB - Esox Angler Magazineabout the event. The most recent was an email from Rick Hanke of Appleton, WI. Rick said that a great time was had by all... that you couldn't, "wipe the smiles off our faces." And he asked us to thank everyone who donated time and money to make Operation muskie happen. He commented that, "the vets are proud to serve and protect people like you."
There is no doubt that the event required a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work and numerous months of planning and coordination. To everyone involved in making this event a success, congratulations!
And to veterans everywhere... it is you that make us proud. You have our deepest respect.
Teresa Webinger
TNB - Esox Angler Magazine
Like Doug, Pete and every guide or Vet that I talked with has said, it was the best muskie fishing trip we have even been a part of. All I did was show up and drive the boat around and say "cast there". So much thanks to those who really invested the time and efforts to make this possible. Just an outstanding experience for all involved and I hope and pray it happens every year because our Veterans sacrifice so much and they deserve it!
You men stay safe and keep your bait off the rocks!
LOL
Ed Spoerl
A tremendous time! I've never felt better coming home from a fishing trip. Great folks and a great event. It was an honor to be involved and to meet all the veterans.
Thanks to all who put forth efforts in organizing and supporting this great event. (Like Doug Johnson mentions, even the muskies seemed excited to be involved.)
Pete
It was AWESOME!!! I had a great time! Saying "Thanks" to everyone involved can't even begin to express the way I feel! I am humbled to have been one of the luck "Vets" chosen to be part of this! I will remember last week for the rest of my life!
SALUTE!!!
Dave
It was great, even the muskies thought so!
Many thanks to the Vets for their great work and many sacrificies.
Hope we can do it again!
Doug Johnson
Good luck to all. Have a safe and enjoyable trip. And above all else THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
boat is packed for a couple days of "pre-fishing" in northern MN...now i've just got to pack the clothes and suffer through 2 more days of work!
Hope you guys have a great time! Catch some good fish and thanks for the service to our country!!! We all appreciate it more than you know.
James
Wo'nt be long now.
Best of luck to EVERYONE!!!
Phil
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Like Mike Winther said... If there is anything I can do to help "Pay It Forward", please let me know. This was definately the best Musky experience I have ever been a part of. I even got along with the Packer fans that came up from wisconsin! Thanks to all who had a part in Operation Muskie 2008. Hope to be a part of the years to come.