Fishing for all

WOODS BAY - One-hundred anglers with disabilities braved the choppy waters for a fun-filled day of fishing on Flathead Lake last Thursday during the 17th annual Fishing Without Barriers Day.

The event is held annually to provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to get out on Flathead Lake and enjoy fishing with the experts, John Fraley, of Fish Wildlife and Parks, said. More than 20 fishing boats from the Montana Charterboat Association and private charters from all across the lake volunteered their time and water craft to the event.

Anglers caught about 65 lake trout, some weighing more than 25 pounds and measuring up to 39 inches in length. Volunteers then filleted and chopped up the fish for a fish fry, where participants could relax, listen to music and make friends on the lawn. A number of "slot fish" ranging from 32 to 34 inches were caught and released.

Western Montana Mental Health Center in Polson bussed about 20 clients to the event, case manager Tammy Young said. Many of her group were making their debut at Fishing Without Barriers, but some had been going for years.

"Our clients loved it," she said. "It's so great for them to be able to get out and be around other people and do something fun."

Polson's Ernest Derflinger said he and his wife Cathy fish all the time, especially when they go camping.

"We don't have our own boat," Cathy said. "So this is just great. We can get out and fish. It really means a lot to us."

Neither Ernest nor Cathy could contribute a fish to the fish fry this year, but Ernest didn't go home empty-handed either.

"I caught a stick," he joked. "He told me to bring it in because it was wiggling around in the water."

Cathy added, "When it came up, we all laughed."

For the Derflingers, this day will be remembered forever.

"There's more enjoyment out here than any place in the world," Ernest said. "Being around this place, it just makes your day."

Polson's John Giltner Jr. attended each of the last three years. While he didn't catch anything this time out, he wasn't discouraged and plans to come back again next year, too.

"This is the best thing done publicly in the area," Giltner said. "I like the fishing, I like the picnic. They even have bands that suit me."

This year's band, the Bad Rock Canyon Band from Woods Bay, was rockin' all afternoon with blue grass tunes that put smiles on the faces of everyone involved. Giltner and his friends enjoyed the music and some fried fish on the lawn.

"From the bottom to the stomach, yum, yum," Giltner said. "They clean it and cook it and it shows up here ready to eat. You can't beat it."

Even with the rough waters and occasional sprinkle of rain, this year's Fishing Day was a ton of fun.

"It's our day to bring all these guys out," charter boat captain Matt McComb from MoFisch Charter in Lakeside said.

In his sixth year volunteering for the event, McComb said many of the participants have never even been on a boat before. For many of the anglers, it is their only fishing experience of the year. One of his passengers caught a 34-inch slot fish, but had to throw it back because it exceeded regulations.

"He brought it in all by himself," McComb said. "He was a pretty happy guy right there."